Festivus Faceoff Broadcasts Streamed Free of Charge

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. --- If you can’t make it to Saturday’s, Dec. 10, Festivus Face-off in Lake Placid, N.Y., catch all of the action on WhitefaceLakePlacid.tv. The free broadcast begins at 4 p.m. and is partnership between the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) and the Pack Network.  Veteran college hockey broadcaster Dan Parkhurst will call the action with Bruce Bosley the analysis.
 
Play begins in the Olympic Center’s 1980 Herb Brooks Arena when ECAC rivals Union College takes on RPI at 4:05 p.m.  That’s the first of two games.  The second match-up features Clarkson University and St. Lawrence University. The puck drops for these north country foes at 7:30 p.m.
 
It’s been an up and down season for the 10th-ranked Dutchmen and their first year head coach Rick Bennett.  Union comes into Saturday night’s game with a 7-3-5 overall record and 3-2-2 in ECAC play.  Predicted to finish second in the ECAC coaches poll, in October, Union is currently third in conference play, trailing top ranked Cornell by five points.
 
The Engineers also had high expectations heading into this season.  Picked to finish fourth by the conference coaches, RPI is off to a 3-12 overall start and are 1-6 against conference rivals.  RPI’s biggest challenge this season is scoring goals.  Through 15 games, the Engineers have been shut out five times and are averaging slightly over one goal per game.
 
The Golden Knights and the Saints are trying to keep pace in the league with first year coaches each. Casey Jones has Clarkson off to an 8-6-4 overall start and 2-4-2 in conference play, good enough for fifth place in league standings.  October’s pre-season poll had them tabbed for an 11th place finish.
 
St. Lawrence is still adapting to new coach Greg Carvel, who’s filling in for Joe Marsh while he’s on medical leave.  It was a tough start for the Saints when they dropped their first five games, but they’re becoming more comfortable now.  The Saints ripped off five wins in their first six conference games before suffering a pair of losses, last weekend, to 16th-ranked Cornell and 12th-ranked Colgate.  The Saints come into Saturday’s game with a 4-4 league mark and are 5-9 overall.
 
Tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling the Olympic Center box office at 518-523-3330, or on-line at http://www.whiteface.com/events/festivus.php.  Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for juniors, seniors and students.
 
For more information on all of the events and activities taking place at ORDA’s venues, log on to www.whitefacelakeplacid.com.