Box Score / Video

TROY, N.Y. – The fourth-ranked Northeastern University men's hockey team scored the first four goals of the game on its way to a 5-1 victory over Rensselaer in the consolation game of the 58th Annual Rensselaer Holiday Tournament at the Houston Field House. With the win, the Huskies improve to 10-3-2 on the season, while the Engineers fall to 2-10-1.

Northeastern senior Rob Rassey (Shelby Township, MI) took a feed from across the low slot from classmate Dennis McCauley (Billerica, MA) and buried it into an open net to give the visitors a 1-0 lead at 13:23 of the first period. Sophomore Mike Hewkin (St. Charles, MO) picked up the second assist.

Junior Chris Donovan (Fairfax Station, VA) pushed the Huskies lead to 2-0 when he flipped the puck - from behind the RPI net - off of the back of Engineers freshman goalie Allen York's (Wistakiwin, AB) and into the goal. Donovan's power play tally, which came at 16:56, was unassisted.

The Huskies extended their lead to 3-0 just 38 seconds into the second period. Senior Ryan Ginand (Milford, MA) took a snap shot from the left circle that York got a piece of, but found the back the net. Rassey earned the lone assist.

Tyler McNeely (Burnaby, BC) recorded his sixth goal of the season to give Northeastern a 4-0 lead at 13:00 of the second frame. Taking a pass from freshman Mike McLaughlin (Seaforth, ON), McNeely flew up the left wing, cut across the net to his backhand and lifted a shot over York's left shoulder.

The Engineers pulled to within 4-1 at 16:10 of the second period on a shorthanded marker by senior captain Matt Angers-Goulet (St. Augustin, PQ). Sophomore defenseman Jeff Foss (Moorhead, MN) picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone and flipped it ahead to Angers-Goulet, who stick-handled around Huskies netminder Brad Thiessen (Aldergrove, BC) for the goal.

Freshman Steve Quailer (Arvada, CO) put Northeastern back up by four at 5-1 with less than one tick to go in the second. After a face-off to the right of the RPI cage was pushed toward the net, Quailer scooped it up and pushed it under a sprawling York for the tally. Sophomore Steve Silva (Tyngsboro, MA) earned the only helper.

Thiessen (9-3-2) made 25 saves in picking up the victory, while York (1-3-1) made 30 stops. Northeastern was 1-9 on the power play, while RPI was unable to convert on seven man-advantage opportunities.

Ginand joined Mercyhurst forwards Scott Pitt (Ottawa, ON) and Ryan Toomey (Bolton, ON) on the All-Tournament Team along with Lakers defenseman Kirk Medernach (Cudworth, SA) and Princeton blue-liner Matt Godlewski (Elk River, MN). Mercyhurst sophomore netminder Ryan Zapolski (Erie, PA) earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team to go along with Most Outstanding Player honors.

The Engineers return to action next Friday and Saturday, when they visit ECAC Hockey foes Yale and Brown, respectively. The Huskies resume Hockey East play when they host Maine on Friday. All three games are set for 7pm starts.