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TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's hockey team hosts the 59th Annual Rensselaer Holiday Tournament this weekend, welcoming three teams to the Houston Field House for games on Friday and Saturday. In addition to the Engineers, Bentley College, Lake Superior State University and Union College will be a part of the action.

The nation's oldest holiday tournament begins on Friday at 4pm as Union and Lake Superior State face-off. The Engineers host Bentley at 7pm. Saturday's games will also take place at 4pm and 7pm, with the Engineers playing the late game regardless of Friday's outcomes.

RPI, which is led by fourth-year head coach Seth Appert, is currently 7-5-1 with a 3-1-0 ECAC Hockey mark. The Engineers, who have won their own holiday tournament 16 times, have not claimed the title since 2001 when they defeated Massachusetts, 3-2 in overtime on December 29.

Individually, the Engineers are led by junior forward Chase Polacek (Edina, MN/Academy of Holy Angels), who leads the team in scoring with nine goals and eight assists for 17 points. His four power play goals and short-handed tally are also team-highs.

Freshman forwards Brandon Pirri (Toronto, ON/Georgetown Raiders) and Jerry D'Amigo (Binghamton, NY/U.S. National Under-18 Team) round out the top three, recording 12 and 11 points, respectively. Pirri, a 2009 draft pick of the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks, has scored six goals with six assists, while D'Amigo, a 2009 NHL draft selection of the Toronto Maple Leafs, has posted four goals and seven assists. Both have played in all 13 of Rensselaer's contests.

Sophomore netminder Allen York (Wetaskiwin, AB/Camrose Kodiaks) has backstopped the Engineers in 11 games this season, posting a 6-4-1 record in that time. He also has a 2.44 goals against average with a .915 save percentage.

Bentley, which defeated Brown University on Tuesday, is currently 5-5-2 with a 4-3-2 record in Atlantic Hockey. Under the direction of eighth-year head coach Ryan Soderquist, the Falcons are playing in their first RPI Holiday Tournament and are guided by senior forward Mark Menzione. He has seven goals and seven assists for 14 points. In goal, junior Joe Calvi (3-1-1) has a 2.77 goals against average and a .911 save percentage.

Area and league-rival Union, which has made three appearances in the RPI Holiday Tournament, shows senior forward Mario Valery-Trabucco leading the team with five goals and nine assists for 14 points. The Dutchmen, who are led by seventh-year head coach Nate Leaman, are backstopped by junior Corey Milan (3-2-3), who has a 2.63 GAA and a .903 save % in eight games.

Lake Superior State, which claimed victory over Rensselaer in the 47th Annual Holiday Tournament (1997-98), is guided by fifth-year head coach Jim Roque. The Lakers show juniors Chad Nehring (8 goals, 3 assists) and Rick Schofield (5 goals, 6 assists) along with senior Zac MacVoy (2 goals, 9 assists) at the top of the stat sheet with 11 points each.

Live stats for all four tournament games will be available at http://www.sidearmstats.com/rpi/mhockey/index.htm and can also be seen live on a pay-per-view basis with B2 Networks at http://www.b2livetv.com/. The games will also be broadcast courtesy of WRPI radio on 91.5 FM or log on to www.wrpi.org and click on sports.