Since Lee-nerd offered a preview and capsule of the Minnesota team,
and asked that someone do it for RPI, I am obliged, and will offer
my views on the RPI Engineers.
RPI finished the regular ECAC Season in 6th place with a conference
record of 10-9-3 and 23 points.
Overall RPI finished at 16-13-3 (15-13-3 according to the NCAA)
Regular Season Results:
H RPI 10 McGill 3
H BU 5 RPI 1
A RPI 3 Merrimack 2
H Army 5 RPI 2
H RPI 7 Clarkson 1
H RPI 7 St. Lawrence 5
A Lowell 5 RPI 2
A RPI 3 Brown 0
A RPI 4 Harvard 3
H RPI 4 Union 3
A Prince 9 RPI 1
H RPI 7 Merrimack 4 (RPI Invitational)
H Maine 8 RPI 5 (RPI Invitational)
H RPI 7 BC 2
H Colgate 6 RPI 3
H RPI 4 Cornell 1
A Union 5 RPI 2
A RPI 6 Yale 5 (OT)
A RPI 4 Air Force 3
A RPI 7 Air Force 3
H Vermont 6 RPI 1
H RPI 9 Dartmouth 4
A St. Law 3 RPI 1
A RPI 2 Clarkson 2 (OT)
A Dart 7 RPI 3
A Vermont 2 RPI 1
H RPI 4 Yale 3
H RPI 2 Princeton 2 (OT)
H Harvard 5 RPI 3
H RPI 6 Brown 1
A RPI 2 Cornell 2 (OT)
A Colgate 3 RPI 0
A RPI 2 Harvard 2 (OT) (ECAC Quaterfinals)
A RPI 3 Harvard 1 (ECAC Quarterfinals)
N RPI 2 Colgate 1 (ECAC Semifinal)
N RPI 5 Princeton 1 (ECAC Championship)
RPI started out the season with a 2-2 record before the ECAC season
started. A blowout of McGill, and thumping by BU, a close one at
Merrimack and a pitiful display at home against Army.
THe ECAC season started on a high note as RPI went 5-0 with a sweep
of the North Country teams, a sweep against Brown and Harvard on the
road, and a nailbiter against Union.
Then a devastating blowout by Princeton that seemed to signal the
beginning of the RPI woes.
The tournament produced good efforts with a win against Merrimack,
and then an early 3-0 lead on Maine was erased as Maine went on to
take the title.
January started with a blowout of BC, and a loss to Colgate, who were
starting their hot streak. A win agaisnt Cornell and then a loss
to bitter rival Union got the Engineers down.
A 4-2 lead for Yale into the third evaporated as the Engineers tied it
and won it in overtime on Jeff Matthews goal.
Two games agaisnt Air Force were next and then the stretch run in
the ECAC. It started with a loss to Vermont and a pull-away win
against Dartmouth.
Then February hit.
A sweep in the North Country by St. Lawrence and Clarkson, a sweep
in the upper NE are by Dartmouth and Vermont, and RPI was spinning.
A home weekend followed with a win and tie against Yale and Princeton.
Then a power plpay fest for Harvard on National TV, and a convincing
win over Brown in the Big Red Freakout.
The season ended with a tie at Cornell, and with a chance at gaining
home ice for the Quarterfinals, Colgate shut out RPI 3-0.
RPI went to face Harvard in the ECAC Quarterfinals and blitzed Harvard
with a great defensive effort by the defense and junior goalie Mike
Tamburro.
The ECACSemifinal against Colgate was the RPI defense once again.
They took control and did not allow Colgate to the slot.
THe ECAC Championship was all RPI as they doiminated Princeton.
Now some capsules on the players to watch.
RPI's lineup is usually:
Perardi Hamelin Healey
Matthews Askew Clarke
Regan Richardson O'Connor
Battaglia Brick Maye
Bartell Kiley
Rochon Tapper
Pirrong Brownlee
Tamburro Masotta Spadafore
Others:
Aldous, Kwasniewski, Rolanti, Swanson, Boykins
RPI's usual Power play Unit
Regan Richardson O'Connor
Healey Hamelin Clarke
Bartell Askew
Rochon Pirrong
Penalty Kill Units
Regan O'Connor
Hamelin Matthews
Perardi Brick
Bartell Rochon
Pirrong Brownlee
RPI Stats:
No Name G A P PP SH
19 Bryan Richardson 23 24 47 13 0
14 Craig Hamelin 15 29 44 7 1
17 Wayne Clarke 15 13 28 5 0
27 Tim Regan 12 19 31 5 2
23 Jeff O'Connor 11 14 25 2 0
21 Patrick Rochon 4 22 26 1 0
10 Kelly Askew 8 16 24 2 0
15 Eric Healey 13 11 24 2 0
20 Adam Bartell 3 19 22 1 0
24 Jeff Matthews 8 9 17 0 1
12 Eric Perardi 6 13 19 0 0
5 Jon Pirrong 3 9 12 0 0
9 Jeff Brick 4 5 9 4 0
25 Bryan Tapper 4 3 7 0 0
4 Pat Brownlee 1 6 7 0 0
7 Chris Maye 1 5 6 0 0
16 Doug Battaglia 1 4 5 0 0
22 Chris Kiley 0 5 5 0 0
18 Ken Kwasniewski 2 1 3 0 0
30 Mike Tamburro 0 1 1 0 0
26 Chris Aldous 0 1 1 0 0
3 Mike Rolanti 0 0 0 0 0
29 Tim Spadafore 0 0 0 0 0
1 Bryan Masotta 0 0 0 0 0
Capsules on each player (numerically)
1 Bryan Masotta G Freshman
Masotta is a freshman and was the highest American Goalie taken in last years
NHL Entry Draft, 81st by the Ottawa Senators. Played at the Hotchkiss
school. A record of 5-6, 87% and 4.27.
Played good games against BC, Cornell and Merrimack, but was the receipient
of a lot of the bad losses for RPI (Army, Princeton, Colgate). Never
adjusted too well, and still needs seasoning. Is now the backup to Tamburro.
3 Mike Rolanti D Sophomore
One of 2 sophmores on the RPI team. Mike is a physical defensman, but has
only dressed for 3 games this season, and twice did not see the ice while
dressed.
4 Pat Brownlee D Freshman
Pat started out the season on a rough note. After taking a while to
learn the college game, he has become a solid physical defenseman that
can handle the puck very well. He is paired with Jon Pirrong, and Pirrong
has taught him a lot.
5 Jon Pirrong D Junior
Jon is perhaps the most improved defenseman on the RPI team, He has
become a force physical and offensively often leading a rush. He
has become one of RPI's best all-around defenseman.
6 Kobie Boykins F Junior
Kobie has yet to play a game as an Engineer.
7 Chris Maye F Senior
Chris is a walk-on that has earned an everyday spot in the lineup. He
is determined and gritty. He is an excellent board worker, and can
tie anyone up along the boards. Loves to go behind the goaltender and
work the backboards.
9 Jeff Brick F Senior (A)
Jeff was a scorer in his junior year on the Regan-Richardson line, but
is now the center of the 4th line, checking line. He is tenacious
and gritty, but has a tendencey to let his emotions get to him, and
takes bad penalties.
10 Kelly Askew F Senior (A)
One of the fastest skaters in Division I. His end to end rushes are
amazing to watch (see Maine game), and open ice is his territory. He
has been hampered all season long with injuries to his ankle, hip and
now knee.
12 Eric Perardi F Senior
A big bruising forward who can hit along the boards. His size helps
him, and he loves board work. He will also stand in front of the
goalie to create screens. A hard working soft spoken man.
14 Craig Hamelin F Senior
Craig was the Engineers Hobey Award Candidate this season. He is also
the 8th all-time on the Assists leaders board at RPI. WHile soft spoken
he is known to giving fiery speeches in the locker room. He can pass
to almost anyone.
15 Eric Healey F Freshman
Eric has asjusted very well to the college game. Loves to go to the
net and grind it out. He fits in well with his center Hamelin. Was
amember of the ECAC All-Rookie team this year.
16 Doug Battaglia F Freshman
Doug had a rough start and is now a 4th line winger. He has potential
and is starting to use it. Grinds and loves to shoot.
17 Wayne Clarke F Senior
One of the Engineers pure scorers. Love to shoot from the right wing
and has great accuracy. Finds the open seams of the ice.
18 Ken Kwasniewski F Senior
A walk-on, Ken has played in more games this season than in his previous
3. Ken grinds, and has a good touch with the puck.
19 Bryan Richardson F Junior
Bryan is one of the Engineers best offensive weapons. He can pass, and
has a deadly wrist shot. Can score in places which only small objects
can get through. Is a stong passer on the power ply.
20 Adam Bartell D Senior (C)
Adma is a tough physical force that can handle the puck very well. He
also shows signs of offensive prowess on the blue line. Can ride
a man off and hard into the boards.
21 Pat Rochon D Junior
Pat is the most offensive of all the defenseman on the team. He has speed
through the neutral zone and is not afraid to go deep with the rush.
Has also been known to throw a huge check every so often.
22 Chris Kiley D/F Junior
Finally emerged after 2 plus seasons on defense. Was shifted to center
for awhile earlier on, but has worked his way back to defense and
has become a consisten player in the last 5 weeks. Soft hands and good
vision.
23 Jeff O'Connor F Junior
A tough grinding forward that creates the screens in fron tof the goalie
for Richardson. Good forecheck and determination.
24 Jeff Matthews F Senior
A walk-on that has been a great penalty killer. Is tough on the boards
and has a soft tough with the puck.
25 Bryan Tapper D Freshman
Tapper had a great beginning of the year, but has settled into a purely
defensive role. He is not afraid to rush the puck though. Good vision
and good in the corners.
26 Chris Aldous D Freshman
Chris has trouble adjusting to the college game. Has seemed very shaken at
times, and has not consistently handled the puck. Has lost his position
in the starting lineup.
27 Tim Regan F Junior
Timmy is a tough grinding forward that loves to trash talk. Tim is
usually seen driving the net and around the goaltender, or in a defenseman's
face. The leader in PIM on the team.
28 Eric Swanson F Sophmore
A late transfer to RPI, Eric has not seen ice time this season.
29 Tim Spadafore G Senior
A walk-on, got his first action this season. Showed good signs on the
ice, and won his first ever start against Air Force. Is wearing all
of Neil Little's equipment.
30 Mike Tamburro G Junior
Small in size, but does not offer many open spots to the net. Is very
quick and agile, and has lightning reflexes. Has been named the ECAC
Player of the Week for two consecutive weeks running.
Preview of the Minnesota-RPI game
Look for RPI to continue to try and use the team concept approach.
A team defense is in order, and the defense has come up big, with the
defensemenm and goalie Mike Tamburro.
Look for neutral zone play to be a key. The Engineers will try to hold
up the Gophers at the blue line, and then break from there.
They will also try to push all the forwards to the sides and boards
as they enter the offensive zone. That way they clear the net in front
of Tamburro.
Also look for quick passing from the defensemen, especially on the
breakout pass.
Power play opportunities should also loom large. The Engineers have
waken up on the power play after an 0-17 drought. They are now
5-17 on their last 17 opportunities.
Penalty killing has been outstanding for RPI as they have shut down the
opposition for 24 opportunties.
Should be a good low-scoring battle with opportunities making the
difference.
See you in Wisconsin!
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* The Wisconsin Bound * *
* Jayson Moy RPI '89 '93 * One of the Voices of Rensselaer Engineer *
* [log in to unmask] * Hockey, Baseball, Football, and Basketball *
* The "Asian Invasion" * on Crystal Clear 91.5FM WRPI, Troy *EASM* *
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