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! ****************************************************************************** * 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* * ******************************************************************************