Here we sit on the eve of another RPI season.
Here's my view of the Engineers this season.
The biggest change for the Engineers will be in 2 places.
The first is at Head Coach. 5 year assistant Dan Fridgen takes over
for the Bowling Green bound Buddy Powers. Fridgen has a lot to
live up to. Last season was the Engineers first to the NCAA tournament
since 1985, the year of the Championship.
Pressure will certainly be there, as Dan Fridgen has a one-year contract.
It shows that RPI is waiting to see if Dan Fridgen can indeed fill the shoes
and take over a program which has been nationally ranked for 2 consecutive
seasons.
What Fridgen brings to this team that Buddy Powers perhaps lacked, or
did not emphasive are 2 main things. The first is the intensity and fire
of a former player that is 3rd on Colgate's all-time scoring list. In talking
with some of the team before the season begins, it is obvious that Dan
Fridgen is what people could label as a "player's coach". While he is a
very loose and joking guy, he has been characterized as being a coach with
the fire and intensity that few possess. With a team that rides on emotion
as much as this Engineer team does, perhaps Dan Fridgen is the perfect fit.
The other thing is his style of systems. Dan Fridgen is a coach that will
emphasive the defensive aspect of the game. In saying so, he will bring to
this team an ethic of two-way play. Comparing his system to the system
that Powers had, we should see an emphasis on hard hitting, and back and
fore checking coming to a front on this Engineer team.
The other major change is the graduation loss of Alll-American Hobey Baker
finalist Neil Little in goal. This leaves Jr Mike Tamburro and Fr Bryan
Masotta as the battlers for the starting spot. Do not rule out Sr Tim
Spadafore either. The biggest question is whether or not the 3 goalies
have enough experience to back a team in Div I College Hockey. Tamburro
has played in 7 games in 2 years, Masotta 0, and Spadafore 0. With this
situation in net, one of the goalies will have to step up and be the
man this year. Do not be surprised if a platoon system is used. If not
one goalie can emerge as a starter, there should be no hesitation to start
2 or even 3 goalies. Tamburro is a reaction goalie, while Masotta and
Spadafore are stand-up goalies.
Up front the Engineers return 6 of the top 8 scorers from last season.
Offensive firepower is not a problem for the Engineers, even though the
team was shut-out for the last 7 1/2 periods of hockey last season against
Clarkson, Harvard, and UNH. The spearhead on offense should be Jr Bryan
Richardson's line. Richardson has the potential to be a Hobey Baker
and All-American candidate. Joining his lilne should be the rugged Jr
Tim Regan, and on LW, look for freshmen Doug Battaglia. Battaglia has
been tagged as one of the rookies to watch out for in the ECAC. Given his
touch and size (6-1), he should give the Engineers a scoring LW that could
light up the board. Taking Sr Assistant Captain Jeff Brick off this
line, only adds him to a second line which could be close in terms of
offensive output. Put either Sr's Craig Hamelin or Kelly Askew in the middle
and RW Wayne Clarke, and you have a line which can score. Add the other
center to a line with Jeff Matthews and Eric Perardi, and you have a rough
and tumble line that works at it's finest, and can score if given the
chance. Top that off with a line of Fr Eric Healey at Center, Jeff O'Connor
and Chris Maye on the wings, and you have a very capable line. Reserves
Ken Kwasnieski and Kobie Boykins should provide a charge as well.
On defense the Engineers again face the question of whether or not they can
hold up. Sr Captain Adam Bartell will be the only Sr on the defense this year
and is looked at as the man to lead. His defense partner will either be one
of the outstanding freshmen, or Chris Kiley. With defensemen at an abundance
now, you have to wonder who will stay in the lineup. Jrs Patrick Rochon
and Jon Pirrong should be playing every game. Last year Pat Rochon stepped
up and became a pohysical defensemen, and surprised all as he began an
offensive spurt starting with Dartmouth last year. Pat Rochon is heady on
defense, and will not be afraid to be offensively minded. Plus he is one
of the hardest hitters on the Engineer squad. Pirrong will be relied on
to be a physical force as well. He will be asked to play the defense side
if Rochon will take it forward. Chris Kiley should see time as well.
Kiley is the defensemen with the softest hands, and has the ability to
be an offensive force if given the chance. Add So Mike Rolanti to the
mix. Rolanti has been working on the physical part of his game and should
be one to pprovide the large hits. He will be relied on to clear the
crease as well. This brings us to the freshmen. 3 large freshmen recruits
were brought in this year. Bryan Tapper, Chris Aldous, and Pat Brownlee.
Brownlee will be a physical force when he is in the game. At 6-3, he has the
muscle and sense to clear the crease and work the corners. Tapper will be
a force on both ends of the puck. He can be physical and offensive. Chris
Aldous will be asked to do the same.
The starting defensive front will be hard to come up with, as the Engineers
are 8 strong, and all seem to be improving.
To be realistic, the Engineers must have defense in mind. While they will
be able to score, the Engineers can be hit with slumps, and when it seems
that the sllumps occur, they hit everyone. The golatending situation must
be the first area of concern as inexperience rules. The defense is young,
and have a lot to prove.
In my personal eyes, the Engineers are a fourth place team with hopes of
a 3rd place finish.
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* 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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