On Feb. 8, nearly 500 alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents, and community members gathered at the Heffner Alumni House for the Big Red Freakout Ice House.
The annual Ice House tradition, held in conjunction with the Big Red Freakout hockey game, features a buffet dinner and pep-rally, complete with visits from Puckman and the RPI Pep Band, and face-painting and “tattoo” services provided by the Red & White Student Organization. Many fans were already in the spirit on Saturday, after participating in Friday’s RPI Spirit Day.
Mike Zalewski scored the game’s first goal just 34 seconds into play, while Mark McGowan netted the final tally to go along with an earlier assist, leading the Engineers to a 4-1 win over Brown in the 37th annual Big Red Freakout game.
Rensselaer outshot the Bears, 29-19, and held a 38-32 advantage in faceoffs. Scott Diebold made 18 saves between the pipes for the Engineers, while Tyler Steel finished with 25 saves for Brown.
Fans were invited to return to the Heffner Alumni House post-game for drinks, desserts, and snacks, and the chance to meet the team and coaching staff.
A men’s hockey alumni reunion also took place during Freakout weekend. Fifty-nine former players returned to lace up their skates for the annual alumni game, and to reconnect with teammates. They met the current coaches and team, and were feted in an on-ice ceremony during the game. Also recognized between periods was our 1963-64 team, who competed in the NCAA Final Four. The group of eight alumni was led by their captain, Jerry Knightley ’63, who had been inducted into Rensselaer’s Hockey Ring of Honor the previous evening.
Rensselaer is now 20-8-5 all-time in Big Red Freakout games.