RPI Engineers men's ice hockey

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.
== History ==
Men's ice hockey at RPI dates back to 1901 and is one of the oldest programs in the United States. The team played as an independent NCAA Division I team from its inception in 1901 through 1938. 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. 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. After a six-year drought the program again made the NCAA Tournament in 1961, finishing fourth. 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.
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. 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. 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==
== Records vs. Current ECAC Hockey Teams ==
As of the completion of 2018–19 season
School	Team	Away Arena	Overall Record	Win %	Last Result
 	 	 	63–30–9 	 	0-3 L
 	 	 	51–97–11 	 	2-5 L
 	 	 	65–63–5 	 	1-2 L (OT)
 	 	 	38–63–11 	 	3-2 W
 	 	 	46–42–11 	 	2-5 L
 	 	 	37–58–8 	 	1-3 L
 	 	 	69–37–11 	 	6-2 W
 	 	 	7–17–9 	 	1-2
 	 	 	60–83–7 	 	6-5 W
 	 	 	53–40–11 	 	0-0 T
 	 	 	57–52–6 	 	0-4 L
==Head coaches==
As of the completion of 2019–20 season
Tenure 	Coach 	Years 	Record 	Pct.
1901–1904, 1906–1917, 1923–1924	No Coach 	15 	14–34–3 	
1917–1923 	Leroy Clark 	6 	3–17–1 	
1924–1925 	W. J. Cook 	1 	2–2–0 	
1925–1931, 1936–1937 	Marvin Callan	8 	6–20–2 	
1949–1963 	Ned Harkness 	14 	176–96–7 	
1963–1964 	Rube Bjorkman	1 	18–8–0 	
1964–1969 	Garry Kearns 	5 	44–63–4 	
1969–1972 	Leon Abbott 	3 	41–31–4 	
1972–1979 	Jim Salfi 	7 	103–94–7 	
1979–1989 	Mike Addesa 	10 	186–124–9 	
1989–1994 	Buddy Powers 	5 	94–63–13 	
1994–2006 	Dan Fridgen 	12 	211–193–38 	
2006–2017 	Seth Appert 	11 	152–221–48 	
2017–Present 	Dave Smith 	3 	33–65–9 	
Totals 	13 coaches 	101 seasons	1083–1031–145	
==Current roster==
As of September 17, 2020.
==Statistical Leaders==
===Career points leaders===
Player	Years 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
 	1951–1955	80 	155	110	265	43
 	1982–1986	131	117	108	225	207
 	1982–1985	98 	66 	150	216	52
 	1961–1964	71 	110	106	216	20
 	1987–1991	124	69 	144	213	157
 	1956–1959	63 	93 	118	211	118
 	1951–1954	61 	102	104	206	22
 	1992–1996	141	80 	113	193	146
 	1962–1965	71 	90 	97 	187	99
 	1982–1986	117	84 	99 	183	70
===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
Player	Years 	GP 	Min 	W 	L 	T	GA 	SO	SV% 	GAA
 	2018–Present	49 	2839	18	24	5	107	6 	.929	2.26
 	2012–2016 	88 	5025	38	37	9	200	7 	.920	2.39
 	2008–2011 	83 	4898	37	34	8	202	4 	.914	2.47
 	2000–2004 	115	6638	57	50	6	282	10	.917	2.55
 	2009–2013 	56 	3102	18	30	5	134	3 	.903	2.59
Statistics current through the start of the 2020–21 season.
==Awards and honors==
===Hockey Hall of Fame===
*Adam Oates (2012)
===US Hockey Hall of Fame===
*Ned Harkness (1994)
===NCAA===
====Individual Awards====
NCAA Scoring Champion
* Frank Chiarelli: 1952
* Jerry Knightley: 1964
NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
* Abbie Moore: 1954
====All-Americans====
AHCA First Team All-Americans
*1952-53: Herb LaFontaine, D; Frank Chiarelli, F
*1955-56: Garry Kearns, F
*1957-58: Paul Midghall, F
*1958-59: Paul Midghall, F
*1962-63: Bob Brinkworth, F
*1963-64: Bob Brinkworth, F; Jerry Knightley, F
*1964-65: Jerry Knightley, F
*1983-84: John Carter, F; Adam Oates, F
*1984-85: Ken Hammond, D; Adam Oates, F
*1985-86: Mike Dark, D
*1989-90: Joé Juneau, F
*1999-00: Joel Laing, G
*2001-02: Marc Cavosie, F
*2009-10: Chase Polacek, F
*2010-11: Chase Polacek, F
*2012-13: Nick Bailen, D
AHCA Second Team All-Americans
*1951-52: Frank Chiarelli, F
*1953-54: Frank Chiarelli, F; Abbie Moore, F
*1983-84: Daren Puppa, G
*1984-85: John Carter, F
*1990-91: Joé Juneau, F
*1992-93: Neil Little, G
*1996-97: Eric Healey, F
*1997-98: Eric Healey, F
*1999-00: Brian Pothier, D; Brad Tapper, F
*2001-02: Matt Murley, F
*2010-11: Nick Bailen, D
*2013-14: Ryan Haggerty, F
===ECAC Hockey===
====Individual Awards====
Player of the Year
* Bob Brinkworth: 1963, 1964
* Marc Cavosie: 2002
* Chase Polacek: 2010, 2011
Rookie of the Year
* Bob Brinkworth: 1962
* Don Cutts: 1972
* George Servinis: 1983
* Jerry D'Amigo: 2010
* Jason Kasdorf: 2013
Ken Dryden Award
* Joel Laing: 2000
Most Outstanding Player in Tournament
* Adam Oates: 1984
* Daren Puppa: 1985
* Mike Tamburro: 1995
====All-Conference====
First Team All-ECAC Hockey
* 1961-62: Bob Brinkworth, F
* 1962-63: Bob Brinkworth, F
* 1963-64: Bill Sack, D; Fred Kitchen, F; Bob Brinkworth, F; Jerry Knightley, F
* 1964-65: Jerry Knightley, F
* 1984-85: Ken Hammond, D; John Carter, F; Adam Oates, F
* 1985–86: Mike Dark, D
* 1989–90: Joé Juneau, F
* 1992–93: Neil Little, G
* 1997–98: Eric Healey, F
* 1998–99: Dan Riva, F
* 1999–00: Joel Laing, G; Brad Tapper, F
* 2001–02: Marc Cavosie, F; Matt Murley, F
* 2009–10: Chase Polacek, F
* 2010–11: Nick Bailen, D; Chase Polacek, F
* 2012–13: Nick Bailen, D
* 2013–14: Ryan Haggerty, F
Second Team All-ECAC Hockey
* 1961-62: Brian Robins, D; Tom McMahon, D; Jim Josephson, F
* 1962-63: Brian Pryce, D; Jerry Knightley, F
* 1963-64: Bill Grisdale, D
* 1967-68: Dale Watson, F
* 1971-72: Don Cutts, G
* 1972-73: Don Cutts, G
* 1977-78: Ian Harrison, G
* 1983-84: John Carter, F; Adam Oates, F; Marty Dallman, F
* 1990–91: Joé Juneau, F
* 1991–92: Stephane Robitaille, D
* 1992–93: Brad Layzell, D
* 1993–94: Ron Pasco, F
* 1994–95: Adam Bartell, D
* 1995–96: Patrick Rochon, D
* 1996–97: Eric Healey, F
* 1999–00: Brian Pothier, D
* 2003–04: Nathan Marsters, G; Scott Basiuk, D; Kevin Croxton, F
* 2009–10: Allen York, G
* 2012–13: Jason Kasdorf, G
* 2015–16: Jason Kasdorf, G
Third Team All-ECAC Hockey
* 2005–06: Keith McWilliams, D; Kevin Croxton, F
* 2006–07: Jake Luthise, D
* 2010–11: Allen York, G
ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team
* 1987–88: Bruce Coles, F; Joé Juneau, F
* 1989–90: Allen Kummu, D; Francois Cadoret, F
* 1990–91: Neil Little, G
* 1991–92: Wayne Clarke, F; Craig Hamelin, F
* 1992–93: Tim Regan, F; Bryan Richardson, F
* 1994–95: Eric Healey, F
* 1995–96: Matt Garver, F; Alain St. Hilaire, F
* 1996–97: Pete Gardiner, F
* 1998–99: Matt Murley, F
* 1999–00: Marc Cavosie, F
* 2000–01: Nathan Marsters, G
* 2002–03: Kevin Croxton, F
* 2003–04: Oren Eizenman, F
* 2005–06: Mathias Lange, G
* 2007–08: Chase Polacek, F
* 2008–09: Patrick Cullen, F
* 2009–10: Jerry D'Amigo, F; Brandon Pirri, F
* 2012–13: Jason Kasdorf, G
* 2014–15: Drew Melanson, F
* 2015–16: Cam Hackett, G
==Engineers in the NHL==
	= NHL All-Star Team		= NHL All-StarPlayers are identified as an All-Star if they were selected for the All-Star game at any time in their career.			= NHL All-Star and NHL All-Star Team		= Hall of Famers
Player 	Position 	Team(s) 	Years 	
Erik Burgdoerfer	Defenseman	BUF, OTT 	2016–Present	0
John Carter 	Left Wing 	BOS, SJS 	1985–1993 	0
Don Cutts 	Goaltender	EDM 	1979–1980 	0
Jerry D'Amigo 	Left Wing 	TOR, BUF 	2013–2015 	0
Marty Dallman 	Center 	TOR 	1987–1989 	0
Mike Dark 	Defenseman	STL 	1986–1988 	0
Tim Friday 	Defenseman	DET 	1985–1986 	0
Ken Hammond 	Defenseman	LAK, EDM, NYR, TOR, BOS, SJS, VAN, OTT	1984–1993 	0
Eric Healey 	Left Wing 	BOS 	2005–2006 	0
Joé Juneau 	Center 	BOS, WSH, BUF, OTT, PHO, MTL 	1991–2004 	0
Jason Kasdorf 	Goaltender	BUF 	2015–2016 	0
Larry Landon 	Left Wing 	MTL, TOR 	1983–1985 	0
Neil Little 	Goaltender	PHI 	2001–2004 	0
Player 	Position 	Team(s) 	Years 	
Mike McPhee 	Forward 	, MNS, DAL 	1983–1994 	1
Matt Murley 	Left Wing 	PIT, PHO 	2003–2008 	0
Kraig Nienhuis 	Left Wing 	BOS 	1985–1988 	0
Adam Oates 	Center 	DET, STL, BOS, WSH, PHI, ANA, EDM	1985–2004 	0
Brandon Pirri 	Center 	CHI, FLA, ANA, NYR, VGK 	2010–Present	0
Brian Pothier 	Defenseman	ATL, OTT, WSH, CAR 	2000–2010 	0
Daren Puppa 	Goaltender	BUF, TOR, TBL 	1985–2000 	0
George Servinis 	Left Wing 	MNS 	1987–1988 	0
Steve Stoyanovich	Center 	HFD 	1983–1984 	0
Brad Tapper 	Right Wing	ATL 	2000–2003 	0
Graeme Townshend 	Right Wing	BOS, NYI, OTT 	1989–1994 	0
Allen York 	Goaltender	CBJ 	2011–2012 	0
Mike Zalewski 	Left Wing 	VAN 	2013–2017 	0
File:Brandonpirri.jpg|Brandon Pirri
==References==
==External links==
*RPI Engineers men's ice hockey
 
Category:Ice hockey teams in New York (state)