RPI Engineers men's ice hockey

Last updated
RPI Engineers men's ice hockey
Hockey current event.svg Current season
RPI Engineers.svg
University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Conference ECAC
First season 1901–02
Head coach Dave Smith
7th season, 75–131–17 (.374)
Assistant coaches
Arena Houston Field House
Troy, New York
ColorsCherry and white [1]
   
NCAA Tournament championships
1954, 1985
NCAA Tournament Frozen Four
1953, 1954, 1961, 1964, 1985
NCAA Tournament appearances
1953, 1954, 1961, 1964, 1984, 1985, 1994, 1995, 2011
Conference Tournament championships
1984, 1985, 1995
Conference regular season championships
1952, 1953, 1954, 1984, 1985
Current uniform
ECAC-Uniform-RPI.png
RPI vs. Michigan ice hockey 2014 02.jpg
November 2014 game against Michigan
RPI Engineer Altti Nykanen with the puck.jpg
Altti Nykänen in 2023

The RPI Engineers men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). The Engineers are a member of ECAC Hockey (ECACH). They play at the Houston Field House in Troy, New York. [2] [3]

Contents

History

Men's ice hockey at RPI dates back to 1901 and is one of the oldest programs in the United States. [4] The team played as an independent NCAA Division I team from its inception in 1901 through 1938. [4] The team resumed after World War II for the 1949–50 season, and in the following season Rensselaer joined Clarkson, Colgate, Middlebury, St. Lawrence, and Williams to form the Tri-State League for the 1950–51 season. [4] The next three seasons, the 1952–1954 team won the Tri-State League season championships. RPI's first NCAA tournament berth in 1953, coming in third, and the following season in 1954 the team won its first NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Championship. [4] After a six-year drought the program again made the NCAA tournament in 1961, finishing fourth. [4] The 1960–61 season would be the last season RPI competed in the Tri-State League, as RPI and fellow Tri-State League members Clarkson and St. Lawrence joined the new ECAC Hockey League. [5]

Depending on how the rules are interpreted, the RPI men's ice hockey team may have the longest winning streak on record for a Division I team; in the 1984–85 season it went undefeated for 30 games, but one game was against the University of Toronto, a non-NCAA team. Continuing into the 1985–86 season, RPI continued undefeated over 38 games, including two wins over Toronto. [6] Adam Oates and Daren Puppa, two players during that time, both went on to become stars in the NHL. Joe Juneau, who played from 1987 to 1991, also spent many years in the NHL. Graeme Townshend, who also played in the late 1980s, had a brief NHL career. He is the first person of Jamaican ancestry to play in the National Hockey League.

Traditions

The hockey team plays a significant role in the campus's culture, drawing thousands of fans each week to the Houston Field House during the season. The team's popularity even sparked the tradition of the hockey line, where students lined up for season tickets months in advance of the on-sale date. Today, the line generally begins a week or more before ticket sales. [7] Another tradition since 1978 has been the "Big Red Freakout!" game held close to the first weekend of February. Fans usually dress in the schools colors Red and White, and gifts such as tee-shirts are distributed en masse. From 1995 to 2009, RPI's Division III teams were known as the Red Hawks. However the hockey, football, cross-country, tennis, and track and field teams all chose to retain the longstanding Engineers name. The Red Hawks name was, at the time, very unpopular among the student body; a Red Hawk mascot was frequently taunted with thrown concessions and chants of "kill the chicken!" This was a major factor behind "Engineers" being restored for all teams in 2009.

The official hockey mascot, The Puckman–an anthropomorphic hockey puck with an engineer's helmet–has always been popular.

Season

The RPI Engineers men's ice hockey typically plays between 35 and 42 regular season games per season in the ECAC Hockey Conference. They also usually play one exhibition game against a Canadian college hockey team from Ontario, Nova Scotia, or Quebec. During the season, RPI will play 22 conference games against the other 11 teams in the ECAC. RPI will play each team home game at the Houston Field House and each away game at the respective university's campus. The conference games are typically played on Friday and Saturday nights, with the ECAC scheduling reflecting the Ivy League scheduling of having traveling partners. RPI's travel partner has been Union College since they joined the league in the 1991-92 season. They also play 10-12 non-conference games against teams not in the ECAC. These games typically take place at the beginning of the season in October and around the Thanksgiving and New Year holidays. RPI also plays one non-conference game against their Capital District geographic rival, Union, at the Times Union Center, typically on the last Saturday of January in what has become known as the Mayor's Cup. RPI has opened ECAC Hockey conference play on the last weekend of October against Union since the 2012–13 season. The first conference home game is known as Black Friday or Black Saturday which alternates each year. Other highlights of the season include the Big Red Freakout, which is played on the last or second to last Saturday home game in February.

At the conclusion of the regular season the team will play a minimum of two postseason games in the ECAC Hockey men's ice hockey tournament in the beginning of March. If RPI wins the ECAC Tournament or is invited to the NCAA tournament as an at-large team, they would then play at least one postseason game in late March in the single elimination tournament. RPI last played in the NCAA tournament in 2011.

Season-by-season results

Source: [8]

Records vs. current ECAC Hockey teams

As of the completion of 2018–19 season [9]

SchoolTeamAway ArenaOverall recordWin %Last Result
Brown University Bears Meehan Auditorium 63–30–9.6620-3 L
Clarkson University Golden Knights Cheel Arena 51–97–11.3552-5 L
Colgate University Raiders Class of 1965 Arena 65–63–5.5081-2 L (OT)
Cornell University Big Red Lynah Rink 38–63–11.3883-2 W
Dartmouth College Big Green Thompson Arena 46–42–11.5202-5 L
Harvard University Crimson Bright-Landry Hockey Center 37–58–8.3981-3 L
Princeton University Tigers Hobey Baker Memorial Rink 69–37–11.6376-2 W
Quinnipiac University Bobcats People's United Center 7–17–9.3481-2
St. Lawrence University Saints Appleton Arena 60–83–7.4236-5 W
Union College Dutchmen Achilles Rink 53–40–11.5630-0 T
Yale University Bulldogs Ingalls Rink 57–52–6.5220-4 L

Head coaches

Dave Smith David Smith, RPI Engineers ice hockey coach.jpg
Dave Smith

As of the completion of 2023–24 season [10]

TenureCoachYearsRecordPct.
1901–1904, 1906–1917, 1923–1924No Coach1514–34–3.304
1917–1923 Leroy Clark 63–17–1.167
1924–1925 W. J. Cook 12–2–0.500
1925–1931, 1936–1937 Marvin Callan 86–20–2.250
1949–1963 Ned Harkness 14176–96–7.643
1963–1964 Rube Bjorkman 118–8–0.692
1964–1969 Garry Kearns 544–63–4.414
1969–1972 Leon Abbott 341–31–4.566
1972–1979 Jim Salfi 7103–94–7.522
1979–1989 Mike Addesa 10186–124–9.597
1989–1994 Buddy Powers 594–63–13.591
1994–2006 Dan Fridgen 12211–193–38.520
2006–2017 Seth Appert 11152–221–48.418
2017–Present Dave Smith 675–131–17.374
Totals13 coaches104 seasons1,125–1,097–153.506

Current roster

As of September 19, 2023. [11]

No. S/P/CPlayerClassPosHeightWeightDoBHometownPrevious teamNHL rights
1 Flag of Manitoba.svg Carson CherepakSophomore G 6' 0" (1.83 m)170 lb (77 kg)2002-10-09 Winnipeg, Manitoba Dauphin  ( MJHL )—
3 Flag of Finland.svg Lauri SerttiSenior D 6' 2" (1.88 m)200 lb (91 kg)1999-07-11 Espoo, Finland Amarillo  ( NAHL )—
6 Flag of Ontario.svg Jack AgnewSenior D 5' 11" (1.8 m)195 lb (88 kg)2001-10-22 Oakville, Ontario Boston College  ( HEA )—
7 Flag of Michigan.svg Max SmolinskiSophomore F 5' 11" (1.8 m)180 lb (82 kg)2003-04-02 Bloomfield Hills, Michigan Fargo  ( USHL )—
8 Flag of Michigan.svg C. J. RegulaGraduate D 6' 3" (1.91 m)205 lb (93 kg)1998-05-29 Bloomfield Hills, Michigan Ohio State  ( Big Ten )—
9 Flag of Quebec.svg Ryan BrushettGraduate F 6' 0" (1.83 m)185 lb (84 kg)1998-06-14 Montreal, Quebec UMass Lowell  ( HEA )—
10 Flag of Michigan.svg Dylan DaviesSenior D 6' 3" (1.91 m)195 lb (88 kg)2001-02-09 Traverse City, Michigan Sioux Falls  ( USHL )—
11 Flag of British Columbia.svg Nick ArdanazSophomore D 5' 10" (1.78 m)175 lb (79 kg)2002-05-30 Surrey, British Columbia West Kelowna  ( BCHL )—
12 Flag of Minnesota.svg Austin HeidemannSenior F 6' 0" (1.83 m)195 lb (88 kg)1999-06-27 Blaine, Minnesota Mercyhurst  ( AHA )—
14 Flag of British Columbia.svg John EvansSophomore F 5' 10" (1.78 m)150 lb (68 kg)2002-04-08 South Surrey, British Columbia West Kelowna  ( BCHL )—
15 Flag of Finland.svg Altti NykänenSenior F 6' 3" (1.91 m)200 lb (91 kg)2001-09-26 Vihti, Finland Bishop's College  (CISAA)—
17 Flag of Ontario.svg John BeatonSenior F 6' 2" (1.88 m)190 lb (86 kg)2000-10-30 Stittsville, Ontario Youngstown  ( USHL )—
18 Flag of Ontario.svg Jakob LeeSenior F 6' 0" (1.83 m)190 lb (86 kg)1999-02-12 Owen Sound, Ontario Merrimack  ( HEA )—
19 Flag of Michigan.svg Sutter MuzzattiSophomore F 6' 6" (1.98 m)240 lb (109 kg)2003-06-28 Okemos, Michigan Austin  ( NAHL ) NSH , 143rd overall  2023
20 Flag of Alberta.svg Nathan SullivanFreshman F 6' 3" (1.91 m)191 lb (87 kg)2004-05-31 Calgary, Alberta Camrose  ( AJHL )—
22 Flag of Quebec.svg Danny CiccarelloSophomore F 6' 0" (1.83 m)200 lb (91 kg)2001-03-23 Kirkland, Quebec Fort McMurray  ( AJHL )—
23 Flag of Minnesota.svg Nick StromJunior D 6' 0" (1.83 m)190 lb (86 kg)2000-03-21 Dayton, Minnesota Western Michigan  ( NCHC )—
24 Flag of Virginia.svg Jack BrackettSenior F 5' 10" (1.78 m)180 lb (82 kg)2000-12-31 Manassas, Virginia Maryland  ( NAHL )—
25 Flag of Quebec.svg Dovar TinlingJunior F 5' 11" (1.8 m)185 lb (84 kg)2003-03-03 Pointe-Claire, Quebec Penticton  ( BCHL )—
27 Flag of Quebec.svg Jake GagnonSenior F 5' 10" (1.78 m)175 lb (79 kg)1999-11-04 Pointe-Claire, Quebec Wellington  ( OJHL )—
28 Flag of Ontario.svg Tyler HotsonFreshman F 6' 0" (1.83 m)163 lb (74 kg)2003-03-17 Stratford, Ontario Sioux City  ( USHL )—
29 Flag of British Columbia.svg Brendan BudyGraduate F 5' 11" (1.8 m)190 lb (86 kg)2000-06-06 Langley, British Columbia North Dakota  ( NCHC )—
30 Flag of Michigan.svg Brett MillerSenior G 6' 2" (1.88 m)185 lb (84 kg)1999-04-26 Northville, Michigan Austin  ( NAHL )—
34 Flag of Ontario.svg Jack WatsonJunior G 6' 3" (1.91 m)195 lb (88 kg)2000-03-14 Toronto, Ontario Coquitlam  ( BCHL )—
43 Flag of Michigan.svg Brad McNeilFreshman F 6' 0" (1.83 m)181 lb (82 kg)2002-03-15 Royal Oak, Michigan Maryland  ( NAHL )—
51 Flag of Ontario.svg Finn BrownSophomore F 6' 3" (1.91 m)195 lb (88 kg)2002-04-06 Toronto, Ontario Alberni Valley  ( BCHL )—
61 Flag of Ontario.svg Lucas MattaSophomore D 6' 2" (1.88 m)185 lb (84 kg)2002-10-04 Kleinburg, Ontario Western Michigan  ( BCHL )—
71 Flag of Quebec.svg Jérémie PayantFreshman F 5' 10" (1.78 m)170 lb (77 kg)2002-10-07 Saint-Lazare, Quebec Nanaimo  ( BCHL )—

Statistical Leaders

Source: [12]

Career points leaders

PlayerYearsGPGAPtsPIM
Frank Chiarelli 1951–19558015511026543
John Carter 1982–1986131117108225207
Adam Oates 1982–1985986615021652
Bob Brinkworth 1961–19647111010621620
Joé Juneau 1987–199112469144213157
Paul Midghall 1956–19596393118211118
Abbie Moore 1951–19546110210420622
Bryan Richardson 1992–199614180113193146
Jerry Knightley 1962–196571909718799
Mark Jooris 1982–1986117849918370

Career goaltending leaders

GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Minimum 30 games

PlayerYearsGPMinWLTGASOSV%GAA
Owen Savory 2018–2021492839182451076.9292.26
Jason Kasdorf 2012–2016885025383792007.9202.39
Allen York 2008–2011834898373482024.9142.47
Nathan Marsters 2000–200411566385750628210.9172.55
Bryce Merriam 2009–2013563102183051343.9032.59
Joel Laing 1996–20009053455231623113.9262.59

Statistics current through the end of the 2022–23 season.

Awards and honors

NCAA

Individual awards

All-Americans

AHCA First Team All-Americans

AHCA Second Team All-Americans

ECAC Hockey

Individual awards

All-Conference

First Team All-ECAC Hockey

Second Team All-ECAC Hockey

Third Team All-ECAC Hockey

ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team

Olympians

This is a list of Rensselaer alumni were a part of an Olympic team.

NamePositionRensselaer TenureTeamYearFinish
Joé Juneau Left Wing1990–1993 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg CAN 1992 Silver medal icon.svg Silver

Engineers in the NHL

As of July 1, 2023.

= NHL All-Star team = NHL All-Star [15] = NHL All-Star [15] and NHL All-Star team = Hall of Famers

Source: [16]

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The 2022-23 RPI Engineers Men's ice hockey season was the 103rd season of play for the program and the 61st in the ECAC Hockey conference. The Engineers represented Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, played their home games at Houston Field House and were coached by Dave Smith, in his 5th season.

References

  1. ↑ Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Brand Style Guidelines (PDF). Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  2. ↑ "RPI Engineers – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Athletics Facilities".
  3. ↑ "Inside College Hockey – Rensselaer Engineers".
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Statistics". USCHO.com.
  5. ↑ "ECAC Hockey" (PDF).
  6. ↑ "RPI Hockey FAQ" . Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  7. ↑ "at the beginning of the Hockey Line". RPI History Revealed. 2009-09-08. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2010-03-08.
  8. ↑ "Rensselaer Men's Hockey Results by Season" (PDF). RPI Engineers. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Rensselaer Men's Hockey Record vs. Opponents" (PDF). RPI Engineers. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Rensselaer Men's Hockey Head Coaches" (PDF). RPI Engineers. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  11. ↑ "2023-24 Men's Hockey Roster". RPI Engineers. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Rensselaer Men's Hockey Career Records" (PDF). RPI Engineers. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Legends of Hockey". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  14. ↑ "United States Hockey Hall of Fame". Hockey Central.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
  15. 1 2 Players are identified as an All-Star if they were selected for the All-Star game at any time in their career.
  16. ↑ "Alumni report for R.P.I." Hockey DB. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
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