# RPI–Union men's ice hockey rivalry

The RPI–Union men's ice hockey rivalry is a college ice hockey rivalry between the RPI Engineers men's ice hockey and Union Garnet Chargers men's ice hockey programs. The first meeting between the two occurred on February 26, 1904.

## History

Rensselaer was one of the first schools outside of the Ivy League to play varsity ice hockey, holding their first game during the 1901–02 season. Two years later, The Cherry and White met their capital district counterparts for the first time. Because neither program had an on-campus rink, the game was played at the Empire Rink in nearby Albany, New York. The converted curling venue wasn't well suited for ice hockey and only used sparingly by RPI. Both programs were forced to suspend operations over the next few years due to warm winters that prevented natural ice surfaces from being usable. They renewed their series in 1908, however, Union played just one game over the following two years before shuttering the program for a decade.
After World War I, Union restarted its program and the two eventually began to play annually. Helping the budding rivalry were on-campus rinks that had been built in the interim. While both venues were of the open-air variety, they were a vast improvement over the previous situation. Unfortunately, just as the rivalry was beginning to grow, financial difficulties brought on by The Great Depression caused Rensselaer to suspend its program in 1931. The Engineers attempted to return in the mid-30's but were only able to play 4 total games before having to halt once more. Union continued on in their rival's absence but they too were forced to suspend play after the outbreak of World War II. Once the war was over, the Skating Dutchmen tried to rekindle the program but their poor facilities became an issue. Inconsistent weather conditions wreaked havoc with open-air rinks and it had become apparent that Union could need an enclosed arena if they were to continue playing hockey. After only being able to play a single game in 1949, the program suspended until a permanent solution could be found.
Coincidentally, the following year Rensselaer finally returned to the ice when the Houston Field House was completed. Rensselaer was able to use the new rink to great effect and became a preeminent program for a time. They won the 1954 National Championship under Ned Harkness and were a founding member of ECAC Hockey several years later.
In the mid-70's, after more than 25 years without a game, Union College resurrected its ice hockey program. The completion of the Achilles Rink in 1975 gave the Dutchmen the home they had needed while Harkness set about rebuilding the program from scratch. When Union returned, however, they did so at the Division II level and were able to immediately become a successful team. While there was an expectation that the program would soon make the jump to the top level, school administrators had other ideas. A dispute between Harkness and the college caused the coach to leave mid-way through his third season and set the program back by several years. It would be seven years before the Dutchmen would post another winning record and any rumors about their promotion to Division I were quashed.
in spite of the difficulties for Union, the program was able to restart its rivalry with Rensselaer in 1981. The two played at least one annually over a decade with the Engineers, predictably, dominating the play. When Union finally made the jump to Division I in 1991, they joined the Engineers in ECAC Hockey, where they have remained ever since (as of 2022).
Since becoming conference rivals, the two have played at least twice every year. They have also met several times during the conference postseason. In 2006, the two began jointly hosting the Governor's Cup, a four-team in-season tournament. The series was discontinued after the third edition. The trophy that was used was called the 'Mayor's Cup'. Rather than discard the award, it was used for a new annual game held at the end of January. The first two meetings were at the Herb Brooks Arena before being moved to the MVP Arena in Albany.

## Game results

Full game results for the rivalry, with rankings beginning in the 1998–99 season.
| Rensselaer victories | Union victories | Tie games |
| No. | Date | Location | Winning team | Winning team | Losing team | Losing team | Notes |
| 1 | 26 February 1904 | Empire Rink; Albany, NY | Rensselaer | 6 | Union | 2 | |
| 2 | 22 February 1908 | Empire Rink; Albany, NY | Rensselaer | 14 | Union | 2 | |
| 3 | 22 February 1924 | Union Rink; Schenectady, NY | Union | 7 | Rensselaer | 0 | |
| 4 | 10 January 1925 | RPI Rink; Troy, NY | Rensselaer | 4 | Union | 0 | |
| 5 | 13 February 1926 | RPI Rink; Troy, NY | Rensselaer | 3 | Union | 2 | |
| 6 | 14 January 1928 | RPI Rink; Troy, NY | Tie | 4 | Tie | 4 | |
| 7 | 11 February 1928 | Central Park Rink; Schenectady, NY | Rensselaer | 3 | Union | 0 | |
| 8 | 14 February 1931 | Union Rink; Schenectady, NY | Union | 4 | Rensselaer | 2 | |
| 9 | 19 November 1981 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Rensselaer | 5 | Union | 4 | |
| 10 | 5 January 1982 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Rensselaer | 3 | Union | 1 | |
| 11 | 23 November 1982 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Rensselaer | 6 | Union | 1 | |
| 12 | 18 January 1983 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Rensselaer | 7 | Union | 4 | |
| 13 | 13 December 1983 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Rensselaer | 9 | Union | 5 | |
| 14 | 8 January 1985 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Rensselaer | 3 | Union | 2 | (OT) |
| 15 | 9 November 1985 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Rensselaer | 6 | Union | 3 | |
| 16 | 8 November 1986 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Rensselaer | 6 | Union | 1 | |
| 17 | 7 November 1987 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Rensselaer | 13 | Union | 0 | |
| 18 | 5 November 1988 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Union | 4 | Rensselaer | 3 | (OT) |
| 19 | 29 December 1989 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Rensselaer | 8 | Union | 2 | |
| 20 | 28 December 1990 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Rensselaer | 12 | Union | 2 | |
| 21 | 27 December 1991 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Rensselaer | 6 | Union | 4 | ECAC Play Begins |
| 22 | 25 January 1992 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Rensselaer | 5 | Union | 3 | |
| 23 | 11 December 1992 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Rensselaer | 9 | Union | 3 | |
| 24 | 29 January 1993 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Rensselaer | 8 | Union | 3 | |
| 25 | 14 January 1994 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Rensselaer | 8 | Union | 2 | |
| 26 | 15 January 1994 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Rensselaer | 5 | Union | 3 | |
| 27 | 11 March 1994 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Union | 4 | Rensselaer | 3 | ECAC Hockey Quarterfinal Game 1 |
| 28 | 12 March 1994 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Rensselaer | 5 | Union | 1 | ECAC Hockey Quarterfinal Game 2 |
| 29 | 13 March 1994 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Rensselaer | 8 | Union | 3 | ECAC Hockey Quarterfinal Game 3 |
| 30 | 3 December 1994 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Rensselaer | 4 | Union | 3 | |
| 31 | 13 January 1995 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Union | 5 | Rensselaer | 2 | |
| 32 | 20 January 1996 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Rensselaer | 4 | Union | 2 | |
| 33 | 16 November 1996 | Knickerbocker Arena; Albany, NY | Union | 2 | Rensselaer | 0 | |
| 34 | 18 January 1997 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Rensselaer | 5 | Union | 2 | |
| 35 | 25 January 1997 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Tie | 3 | Tie | 3 | (OT) |
| 36 | 7 March 1997 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Rensselaer | 3 | Union | 1 | ECAC Hockey Quarterfinal Game 1 |
| 37 | 8 March 1997 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Rensselaer | 3 | Union | 1 | ECAC Hockey Quarterfinal Game 2 |
| 38 | 11 November 1997 | Pepsi Arena; Albany, NY | Rensselaer | 3 | Union | 2 | |
| 39 | 17 January 1998 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Rensselaer | 7 | Union | 2 | |
| 40 | 31 January 1998 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Tie | 3 | Tie | 3 | (OT) |
| 41 | 6 November 1998 | Glens Falls Civic Center; Glens Falls, NY | Rensselaer | 3 | Union | 2 | (OT) |
| 42 | 20 November 1998 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Union | 5 | Rensselaer | 4 | (OT) |
| 43 | 16 January 1999 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Rensselaer | 4 | Union | 1 | |
| 44 | 23 October 1999 | Glens Falls Civic Center; Glens Falls, NY | Rensselaer | 6 | Union | 3 | |
| 45 | 14 January 2000 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Union | 3 | No. 9 Rensselaer | 2 | (OT) |
| 46 | 15 January 2000 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | No. 9 Rensselaer | 5 | Union | 0 | |
| 47 | 4 November 2000 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Union | 4 | Rensselaer | 2 | |
| 48 | 1 December 2000 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Tie | 2 | Tie | 2 | (OT) |
| 49 | 1 December 2001 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Tie | 1 | Tie | 1 | (OT) |
| 50 | 16 January 2002 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Union | 5 | Rensselaer | 4 | |
| 51 | 7 December 2002 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Rensselaer | 4 | Union | 2 | |
| 52 | 10 January 2003 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Tie | 3 | Tie | 3 | (OT) |
| 53 | 7 March 2003 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Rensselaer | 2 | Union | 1 | ECAC Hockey First Round Game 1 |
| 54 | 8 March 2003 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Rensselaer | 3 | Union | 2 | ECAC Hockey First Round Game 2 |
| 55 | 9 January 2004 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Rensselaer | 5 | Union | 1 | |
| 56 | 10 January 2004 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Rensselaer | 3 | Union | 1 | |
| 57 | 12 November 2004 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Union | 5 | Rensselaer | 4 | |
| 58 | 13 November 2004 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Union | 3 | Rensselaer | 2 | |
| 59 | 3 February 2006 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Union | 3 | Rensselaer | 2 | |
| 60 | 4 February 2006 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Tie | 1 | Tie | 1 | (OT) |
| 61 | 11 November 2006 | Pepsi Arena; Albany, NY | Tie | 3 | Tie | 3 | (Rensselaer Shootout Win); Governor's Cup Semifinal |
| 62 | 30 December 2006 | Gutterson Fieldhouse; Burlington, VT | Union | 5 | Rensselaer | 1 | Catamount Cup Consolation Game |
| 63 | 12 January 2007 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Union | 5 | Rensselaer | 0 | |
| 64 | 13 January 2007 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Rensselaer | 3 | Union | 2 | |
| 65 | 26 October 2007 | Pepsi Arena; Albany, NY | Rensselaer | 3 | Union | 2 | Governor's Cup Semifinal |
| 66 | 18 February 2008 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Union | 2 | Rensselaer | 1 | |
| 67 | 19 February 2008 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Union | 4 | Rensselaer | 1 | |
| 68 | 24 October 2008 | Pepsi Arena; Albany, NY | Tie | 2 | Tie | 2 | (Union Shootout Win); Governor's Cup Semifinal |
| 69 | 6 February 2009 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Union | 3 | Rensselaer | 0 | |
| 70 | 7 February 2009 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Union | 2 | Rensselaer | 1 | (OT) |
| 71 | 30 October 2009 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Rensselaer | 4 | Union | 3 | (OT) |
| 72 | 28 November 2009 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Union | 5 | Rensselaer | 4 | (OT); Rensselaer Invitational Championship |
| 73 | 9 December 2009 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Union | 5 | Rensselaer | 4 | |
| 74 | 16 January 2010 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Union | 3 | Rensselaer | 1 | |
| 75 | 30 October 2010 | Herb Brooks Arena; Lake Placid, NY | Tie | 3 | Tie | 3 | (OT); Mayor's Cup series begins |
| 76 | 12 November 2010 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | No. 12 Union | 2 | No. 18 Rensselaer | 1 | |
| 77 | 13 November 2010 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | No. 18 Rensselaer | 4 | No. 12 Union | 3 | (OT) |
| 78 | 15 November 2011 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | No. 7 Union | 5 | Rensselaer | 1 | |
| 79 | 10 December 2011 | Herb Brooks Arena; Lake Placid, NY | No. 10 Union | 5 | Rensselaer | 2 | |
| 80 | 14 January 2012 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | No. 14 Union | 5 | Rensselaer | 1 | |
| 81 | 9 March 2012 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | No. 8 Union | 3 | Rensselaer | 2 | ECAC Quarterfinals Round Game 1 |
| 82 | 10 March 2012 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | No. 8 Union | 4 | Rensselaer | 2 | ECAC Quarterfinals Round Game 2 |
| 83 | 2 November 2012 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | No. 10 Union | 4 | Rensselaer | 2 | |
| 84 | 3 November 2012 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | No. 10 Union | 7 | Rensselaer | 3 | |
| 85 | 26 January 2013 | Times Union Center; Albany, NY | No. 19 Union | 3 | Rensselaer | 2 | |
| 86 | 15 November 2013 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Union | 4 | No. 10 Rensselaer | 3 | |
| 87 | 16 November 2013 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Union | 4 | No. 10 Rensselaer | 1 | |
| 88 | 25 January 2014 | Times Union Center; Albany, NY | Rensselaer | 2 | No. 3 Union | 1 | |
| 89 | 31 October 2014 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Rensselaer | 6 | No. 2 Union | 1 | |
| 90 | 1 November 2014 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Rensselaer | 2 | No. 2 Union | 1 | (OT) |
| 91 | 24 January 2015 | Times Union Center; Albany, NY | Union | 8 | Rensselaer | 3 | |
| 92 | 15 November 2015 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Rensselaer | 5 | Union | 1 | |
| 93 | 16 November 2015 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Rensselaer | 3 | Union | 2 | |
| 94 | 23 January 2016 | Times Union Center; Albany, NY | No. 16 Rensselaer | 5 | Union | 2 | |
| 95 | 28 October 2016 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Union | 4 | Rensselaer | 1 | |
| 96 | 29 October 2016 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Union | 3 | Rensselaer | 2 | (OT) |
| 97 | 24 January 2017 | Times Union Center; Albany, NY | No. 5 Union | 3 | Rensselaer | 2 | (OT) |
| 98 | 27 October 2017 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Union | 4 | Rensselaer | 3 | |
| 99 | 28 October 2017 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Union | 4 | Rensselaer | 2 | |
| 100 | 27 January 2018 | Times Union Center; Albany, NY | Union | 4 | Rensselaer | 3 | |
| 101 | 26 October 2018 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Rensselaer | 5 | No. 11 Union | 3 | |
| 102 | 27 October 2018 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Rensselaer | 4 | No. 11 Union | 2 | (OT) |
| 103 | 29 January 2019 | Times Union Center; Albany, NY | Tie | 0 | Tie | 0 | (OT) |
| 104 | 25 October 2019 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Rensselaer | 3 | Union | 2 | |
| 105 | 26 October 2019 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Union | 2 | Rensselaer | 1 | |
| 106 | 25 January 2020 | Times Union Center; Albany, NY | Tie | 1 | Tie | 1 | (OT) |
| 107 | 29 October 2021 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Rensselaer | 4 | Union | 2 | |
| 108 | 30 October 2021 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Rensselaer | 3 | Union | 0 | |
| 109 | 29 January 2022 | Times Union Center; Albany, NY | Union | 2 | Rensselaer | 0 | |
| 110 | 28 October 2022 | Achilles Rink; Schenectady, NY | Rensselaer | 2 | Union | 1 | |
| 111 | 29 October 2022 | Houston Field House; Troy, NY | Union | 6 | Rensselaer | 0 | |
| Series: Rensselaer leads 56–43–12 ||||||||

## Series facts

| Statistic | Rensselaer | Union |
| Games played | 111 | 111 |
| Wins | 56 | 43 |
| Home wins | 27 | 20 |
| Road wins | 21 | 15 |
| Neutral site wins | 8 | 8 |
| Goals scored | 387 | 306 |
| Most goals scored in a game by one team | 14 (22 February 1908) | 8 (24 January 2015) |
| Most goals in a game by both teams | 16 (22 February 1908 – Rensselaer 14, Union 2) | 16 (22 February 1908 – Rensselaer 14, Union 2) |
| Fewest goals in a game by both teams | 0 (29 January 2019) | 0 (29 January 2019) |
| Fewest goals scored in a game by one team in a win | 2 (four times) | 2 (six times) |
| Most goals scored in a game by one team in a loss | 4 (five times) | 5 (13 December 1983) |
| Largest margin of victory | 13 (7 November 1987) | 7 (24 February 1924) |
| Longest winning streak | 9 (19 November 1981 – 7 November 1987) | 10 (15 November 2011 – 16 November 2013) |