# 2023–24 RPI Engineers men's ice hockey season

The 2023–24 RPI Engineers Men's ice hockey season was the 104th season of play for the program and the 62nd in ECAC Hockey. The Engineers represented Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, played their home games at Houston Field House and were coached by Dave Smith in his 6th season.

## Season

From the very start of the season, Rensselaer encountered a problem that would plague them all year long. In their first four games, the defense surrendered a veritable avalanche of shots to the opposing teams. While their opposition at this time would all end up finishing the year ranked in the top 20, the porous defense persisted. Their three goaltenders, who weren't brilliant to begin with, suffered as a result. RPI allowed at least 4 goals in ten of their first twelve games and gave the team little chance to win from night to night. At one point, the team turned to Brett Miller, a senior who had seen very little playing time in his college career, as starter but that experiment lasted just a few games. It wasn't until after Christmas that the Watson was able to settle down and string together some decent performances.
After winning four of five coming out of the winter break, Rensselaer miraculously found itself in the middle of the conference standings. The reprieve, however, was short-lived. The defense faltered and team won just twice in its final fourteen games. The Engineers stumbled to a last-place finish in ECAC Hockey and entered the postseason with no momentum or expectations. However, once the postseason began, RPI found itself with an opportunity. Rensselaer was pitted against its long-time rival, Clarkson, and they relished the chance to ruin the Golden Knights' season. The Engineers scored twice in the first period to take an early lead all the while letting Clarkson sleep-walk through the opening 40 minutes. After Sutter Muzzatti increased the team's lead in third, the Knights finally fought back and ended up firing 22 shots in the third period. They managed to get the puck past Watson twice but he held up over the final two minutes and carried the Engineers to victory.
The rather surprising upset caused RPI to be set against defending national champion Quinnipiac in the quarterfinals. The first match was entirely controlled by the Bobcats but RPI gave a good performance in the rematch. The match remained close throughout until Quinnipiac scored two-empty-net goals in the final 70 seconds.
Rensselaer finished the season with one of its worst defensive performances. RPI had allowed more than 4 goals against on average and were the second-worst defensive team that season. Only Stonehill, who was in the process of transitioning from Division II, was worse.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Kyle Hallbauer | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (signed with Adirondack Thunder) |
| Louis Helsen | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Rory Herrman | Forward | United States | Graduation (signed with Cardiff Devils) |
| Mason Klee | Defenseman | United States | Graduate transfer to Ohio State |
| Reid Leibold | Defenseman | United States | Left program (retired) |
| Ryan Mahshie | Forward | Canada | Graduate transfer to Connecticut |
| James McIsaac | Forward | Canada | Left program (retired) |
| Henri Schreifels | Forward | United States | Transferred to Stonehill |
| T. J. Walsh | Forward | United States | Graduate transfer to Sacred Heart |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Ryan Brushett | Forward | Canada | 25 | Verdun, QC; graduate transfer from Massachusetts Lowell |
| Tyler Hotson | Forward | Canada | 20 | Stratford, ON |
| Jimmy Goffredo | Defenseman | United States | 20 | Mount Laurel, NJ; joined team mid-season |
| Lucas Matta | Defenseman | Canada | 20 | Kleinburg, ON; transfer from Western Michigan |
| Brad McNeil | Forward | United States | 21 | Royal Oak, MI |
| Jérémie Payant | Forward | Canada | 20 | Saint-Lazare, QC |
| C. J. Regula | Defenseman | United States | 25 | West Bloomfield, MI; graduate transfer from Ohio State |
| Nathan Sullivan | Forward | United States | 19 | Calgary, AB |
| Dovar Tinling | Forward | Canada | 20 | Pointe-Claire, QC; transfer from Vermont |

## Roster

As of September 19, 2023.

## Standings

2023–24 ECAC Hockey Standingsvte :
| | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record |
| | GP | W | L | T | OTW | OTL | SW | PTS | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| #6 Quinnipiac † | 22 | 17 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 99 | 39 | 39 | 27 | 10 | 2 | 160 | 79 |
| #9 Cornell * | 22 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 44 | 74 | 45 | 35 | 22 | 7 | 6 | 115 | 65 |
| Colgate | 22 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 43 | 85 | 68 | 36 | 16 | 16 | 4 | 120 | 112 |
| Dartmouth | 22 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 37 | 66 | 60 | 32 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 92 | 91 |
| Clarkson | 22 | 12 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 36 | 62 | 58 | 35 | 18 | 16 | 1 | 95 | 97 |
| Union | 22 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 32 | 75 | 75 | 37 | 16 | 18 | 3 | 123 | 121 |
| St. Lawrence | 22 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 49 | 64 | 39 | 14 | 19 | 6 | 90 | 118 |
| Harvard | 22 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 28 | 49 | 64 | 32 | 7 | 19 | 6 | 70 | 106 |
| Princeton | 22 | 8 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 25 | 70 | 90 | 30 | 10 | 16 | 4 | 89 | 114 |
| Yale | 22 | 7 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 46 | 57 | 30 | 10 | 18 | 2 | 63 | 91 |
| Brown | 22 | 6 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 22 | 43 | 69 | 30 | 8 | 19 | 3 | 61 | 98 |
| Rensselaer | 22 | 6 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 58 | 89 | 37 | 10 | 23 | 4 | 93 | 150 |
| Championship: March 23, 2024 † indicates conference regular season champion (Cleary Cup) * indicates conference tournament champion (Whitelaw Cup) Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll |||||||||||||||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Site | TV | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Exhibition ||||||||||
| October 7 | 3:00 pm | Union* | Houston Field House • Troy, New York (Rivalry, Exhibition) | ESPN+ | | T 2–2 $^{SOW}$ | | |
| October 8 | 3:00 pm | Guelph* | Houston Field House • Troy, New York (Exhibition) | ESPN+ | | W 6–4 | | |
| Regular Season ||||||||||
| October 12 | 7:00 pm | at Maine* | Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine | ESPN+ | Watson | L 1–4 | 4,135 | 0–1–0 |
| October 13 | 7:00 pm | at Maine* | Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine | ESPN+ | Cherepak | L 3–6 | 5,143 | 0–2–0 |
| October 20 | 7:00 pm | at #3 Boston College* | Conte Forum • Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts | ESPN+ | Watson | L 1–6 | 5,802 | 0–3–0 |
| October 21 | 7:00 pm | at #10 Providence* | Schneider Arena • Providence, Rhode Island | ESPN+ | Cherepak | L 2–4 | 2,026 | 0–4–0 |
| November 3 | 7:00 pm | at Union | Achilles Rink • Schenectady, New York (Rivalry) | ESPN+ | Watson | W 8–6 | 1,979 | 1–4–0 (1–0–0) |
| November 4 | 7:00 pm | Union | Houston Field House • Troy, New York (Rivalry) | ESPN+ | Cherepak | L 1–5 | 3,250 | 1–5–0 (1–1–0) |
| November 10 | 7:00 pm | at Clarkson | Cheel Arena • Potsdam, New York (Rivalry) | ESPN+ | Cherepak | W 4–2 | 2,881 | 2–5–0 (2–1–0) |
| November 11 | 7:00 pm | at St. Lawrence | Appleton Arena • Canton, New York | ESPN+ | Cherepak | L 4–2 | 1,386 | 2–6–0 (2–2–0) |
| November 25 | 7:00 pm | Northeastern* | Houston Field House • Troy, New York | ESPN+ | Cherepak | T 3–3 $^{OT}$ | 1,930 | 2–6–1 |
| November 26 | 7:00 pm | Northeastern* | Houston Field House • Troy, New York | ESPN+ | Cherepak | L 2–9 | 1,856 | 2–7–1 |
| December 1 | 7:00 pm | #5 Quinnipiac | Houston Field House • Troy, New York | ESPN+ | Cherepak | L 1–5 | 1,856 | 2–8–1 (2–3–0) |
| December 2 | 7:00 pm | Princeton | Houston Field House • Troy, New York | ESPN+ | Miller | L 4–6 | 2,241 | 2–9–1 (2–4–0) |
| December 9 | 4:00 pm | at #16 New Hampshire* | Whittemore Center • Durham, New Hampshire | ESPN+ | Miller | L 0–1 | 5,299 | 2–10–1 |
| December 15 | 7:00 pm | Minnesota State* | Houston Field House • Troy, New York | ESPN+ | Miller | W 4–3 $^{OT}$ | 1,477 | 3–10–1 |
| December 16 | 7:00 pm | Minnesota State* | Houston Field House • Troy, New York | ESPN+ | Miller | L 2–4 | 1,635 | 3–11–1 |
| December 29 | 3:00 pm | at Canisius* | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | FloHockey | Watson | W 6–3 | 719 | 4–11–1 |
| December 30 | 1:00 pm | at Canisius* | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | FloHockey | Watson | W 2–1 | 735 | 5–11–1 |
| January 5 | 7:00 pm | Yale | Houston Field House • Troy, New York | ESPN+ | Miller | L 1–2 | 1,677 | 5–12–1 (2–5–0) |
| January 6 | 7:00 pm | Brown | Houston Field House • Troy, New York | ESPN+ | Watson | W 2–1 | 1,572 | 6–12–1 (3–5–0) |
| January 12 | 7:00 pm | St. Lawrence | Houston Field House • Troy, New York | ESPN+ | Watson | W 6–3 | 1,600 | 7–12–1 (4–5–0) |
| January 13 | 7:00 pm | Clarkson | Houston Field House • Troy, New York (Rivalry) | ESPN+ | Watson | L 1–4 | 3,026 | 7–13–1 (4–6–0) |
| January 19 | 7:00 pm | at Harvard | Bright-Landry Hockey Center • Boston, Massachusetts | ESPN+ | Watson | L 3–6 | 1,905 | 7–14–1 (4–7–0) |
| January 20 | 7:00 pm | at Dartmouth | Thompson Arena • Hanover, New Hampshire | ESPN+ | Miller | L 2–6 | 1,578 | 7–15–1 (4–8–0) |
| January 27 | 6:00 pm | vs. Union* | MVP Arena • Albany, New York (Mayor's Cup) | | Watson | L 3–5 | 5,698 | 7–16–1 |
| February 2 | 7:00 pm | at Brown | Meehan Auditorium • Providence, Rhode Island | ESPN+ | Watson | W 3–1 | 679 | 8–16–1 (5–8–0) |
| February 3 | 7:00 pm | at Yale | Ingalls Rink • New Haven, Connecticut | ESPN+ | Watson | T 1–1 $^{SOL}$ | 1,674 | 8–16–2 (5–8–1) |
| February 9 | 7:00 pm | #13 Cornell | Houston Field House • Troy, New York | ESPN+ | Watson | L 1–4 | 2,317 | 8–17–2 (5–9–1) |
| February 10 | 7:00 pm | Colgate | Houston Field House • Troy, New York | ESPN+ | Watson | T 5–5 $^{SOL}$ | 4,290 | 8–17–3 (5–9–2) |
| February 16 | 7:00 pm | at Princeton | Hobey Baker Memorial Rink • Princeton, New Jersey | ESPN+ | Watson | W 4–3 | 1,098 | 9–17–3 (6–9–2) |
| February 17 | 7:00 pm | at #9 Quinnipiac | M&T Bank Arena • Hamden, Connecticut | ESPN+ | Watson | L 2–7 | 3,261 | 9–18–3 (6–10–2) |
| February 23 | 7:00 pm | Dartmouth | Houston Field House • Troy, New York | ESPN+ | Watson | L 1–5 | 2,186 | 9–19–3 (6–11–2) |
| February 24 | 4:00 pm | Harvard | Houston Field House • Troy, New York | ESPN+ | Watson | T 2–2 $^{SOL}$ | 2,465 | 9–19–4 (6–11–3) |
| March 1 | 7:00 pm | at Colgate | Class of 1965 Arena • Hamilton, New York | ESPN+ | Watson | L 2–6 | 908 | 9–20–4 (6–12–3) |
| March 2 | 7:00 pm | at #13 Cornell | Lynah Rink • Ithaca, New York | ESPN+ | Watson | L 1–3 | 3,723 | 9–21–4 (6–13–3) |
| ECAC Hockey Tournament ||||||||||
| March 9 | 7:00 pm | Clarkson* | Cheel Arena • Potsdam, New York (First Round, Rivalry) | ESPN+ | Watson | W 3–2 | 2,834 | 10–21–4 |
| March 15 | 7:00 pm | at #7 Quinnipiac* | M&T Bank Arena • Hamden, Connecticut (Quarterfinal Game 1) | ESPN+ | Watson | L 1–5 | 2,721 | 10–22–4 |
| March 16 | 7:00 pm | at #7 Quinnipiac* | M&T Bank Arena • Hamden, Connecticut (Quarterfinal Game 2) | ESPN+ | Watson | L 2–5 | 2,909 | 10–23–4 |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. Source: ||||||||||

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| Austin Heidemann | F | 37 | 11 | 16 | 27 | 8 |
| Sutter Muzzatti | F | 33 | 10 | 15 | 25 | 79 |
| Tyler Hotson | F | 37 | 13 | 9 | 22 | 32 |
| Ryan Brushett | C | 37 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 14 |
| Dovar Tinling | C | 34 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 43 |
| Jake Gagnon | RW | 30 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 8 |
| Max Smolinski | D | 37 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 50 |
| John Beaton | C | 32 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 2 |
| Jakob Lee | C | 23 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 41 |
| John Evans | F | 16 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 2 |
| Jack Brackett | F | 33 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 4 |
| Brad McNeil | F | 36 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 9 |
| Lauri Sertti | D | 36 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 16 |
| C. J. Regula | D | 29 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 22 |
| Jack Agnew | D | 37 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 16 |
| Nick Strom | D | 37 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
| Jimmy Goffredo | D | 22 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 19 |
| Danny Ciccarello | F | 25 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Jérémie Payant | C | 19 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 |
| Altti Nykänen | F | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| Nick Ardanaz | D | 18 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Lucas Matta | D | 32 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 |
| Finn Brown | LW | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Nathan Sullivan | F | 21 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| Dylan Davies | D/F | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Brett Miller | G | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Carson Cherepak | G | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brendan Budy | LW | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Jack Watson | G | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | | | 95 | 152 | 247 | 429 |

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut Outs | SV % | GAA |
| Jack Watson | 23 | 1351:41 | 8 | 12 | 3 | 81 | 681 | 0 | .894 | 3.60 |
| Brett Miller | 7 | 397:00 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 25 | 198 | 0 | .888 | 3.78 |
| Carson Cherepak | 9 | 473:53 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 34 | 242 | 0 | .877 | 4.30 |
| Empty Net | - | 22:17 | - | - | - | 10 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 37 | 2243:51 | 10 | 23 | 4 | 150 | 1121 | 0 | .882 | 4.01 |

## Rankings

| Poll | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 (Final) |
| USCHO.com | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | – | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | – | NR |
| USA Hockey | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | – | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
Note: USCHO did not release a poll in weeks 11 and 25. Note: USA Hockey did not release a poll in week 12.