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THE FACEOFF
Rensselaer (1-0-0) takes on the top ranked team in the country in the University of Minnesota (1-0-0) in the Championship Game of the Ice Breaker Tournament hosted by the University of Notre Dame at the Compton Family Ice Rink in South Bend, Indiana.  

HOW THEY GOT HERE
The Engineers defeated the Fighting Irish, 3-2, in Friday's second semifinal behind a 31 save performance from junior Jason Kasdorf and goals from three different players (Viktor Liljegren, Jacob Laliberte & Mark Miller). Kasdorf was the first star and Miller, who scored the game-winning goal, the third. The Gophers advanced past Minnesota Duluth, 4-3, behind a goal and two assists from the game's first star, Kyle Rau, and 24 saves from Adam Wilcox.

IN THE LINEUP
There were seven seniors, five juniors, three sophomores and five freshmen in the Rensselaer lineup on Friday. Making a return to the goal crease was junior Jason Kasdorf, who missed most of last season due to an injury. In their first collegiate games were forwards Viktor Liljegren, Lou Nanne and Drew Melanson at forward and Mike Prapevessis and Jared Wilson on defense.

THE SERIES
Sunday is the 13th meeting between RPI and the Gophers, with Minnesota holding a 10-2-0 advantage. Rensselaer last defeated the Gophers on December 10, 1988 in Minneapolis with the only other win taking place on March 13, 1954, which gave the Engineers their first NCAA Championship.

PREVIOUS ICE BREAKERS
RPI has played in two previous Ice Breaker Invitationals, the first in 2002 and again in 2007. The Engineers finished second in 2002, defeating Wisconsin in Madison, 5-1, and losing to Boston University the following day, 5-1. In 2007, the Engineers were fourth, losing to Minnesota, 4-3, and Boston College, 4-1. That year the event was held in St. Paul, Minn. 

SEASON REVIEW & PREVIEW
 The Engineers are coming off a season in which they finished 15-16-6 overall and 8-9-5 in ECAC Hockey. They finished seventh in the regular season and saw their year come to an end in the first round of the league playoffs, 2 games to 1 to Dartmouth. RPI returns 10 forwards, five defensemen and three goaltenders. There are eight newcomers (4 forwards, 3 defensemen, 1 goalie). Senior defenseman Curtis Leonard will wear the 'C' for the Engineers, while classmates Luke Curadi, Matt Neal and Mark McGowan are the alternate captains.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Of the 20 teams ranked in the Preseason USCHO.com Poll, Rensselaer will face 10 of them with a chance to play an 11th. Those opponents include No. 1 Minnesota (potentially), No. 5 Union (3x), No. 6 Colgate (2x), No. 8 Michigan (2x), No. 11 Miami (2x), No. 12 Notre Dame, No. 14 Cornell (2x), No. 15, Quinnipiac (2x), No. 18 Denver (2x), No. 19 New Hamphire and No. 20 Boston University.

DRAFTED
Rensselaer has three student-athletes who have been selected in the NHL Entry Draft. Freshman defenseman Mike Prapavessis was selected by the Dallas Stars in the fourth round, 105th overall, of the 2014 draft. Freshman forward Lou Nanne was taken in the seventh round (188th overall) in the 2012 draft by the Minnesota Wild and junior goaltender Jason Kasdorf was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the sixth round, 157th overall, of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.