Seth Klerer

This fall, forward Seth Klerer will enroll at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. Since Klerer is a Toronto native, the location does not come as much of a surprise, although the career choice is a recent development. Through his classes at RPI, Klerer has become interested in corporate law.

A professional hockey career is the dream for most players, including Klerer, who said, “I always dreamed about playing professionally, but I think the best thing for me right now is to keep going with my schooling.” His choice, however, will not take hockey out of Klerer’s life. He will join recreational teams in the future: “I don’t plan to give [hockey] up totally, but it’s time to move on from competitive play.” Klerer definitely plans on coaching youth hockey; he has always had fun while working with children.

During his time at RPI, Klerer has attempted to keep his penalty minutes down while keeping his goals and assists up. He is currently second on the team in career goals and games played with 20 and 144, respectively. Klerer averaged approximately six penalties per season, none of which were majors. “I try not to take penalties. I play on the penalty kill, so if I’m in the box, someone else has to. It hurts the team,” he commented.

When the men’s hockey team returned from Winter Break this year, Klerer had two goals against Colgate University, one of which was the game-winner. Another highlight of Klerer’s career was during his sophomore campaign. While on the road to face the Denver University Pioneers, Klerer scored the game-winning goal to take the lead in the two-game series. This goal stands out to Klerer in his collegiate career, along with another game-winning goal in overtime during Black Friday of his sophomore year and his goal against Dartmouth College in this year’s playoffs.

This year, Klerer was named assistant captain, something he described as “a huge honor that’s difficult at times but also very rewarding.” He was also recently awarded the team’s Scholar-Athlete Award, for being a seven-time member of the school’s Dean’s List and a three-time member of the league’s All-Academic squad as a management major. As he leaves, he will miss spending time with the guys in the locker room and just hanging out.

Mathias Lange

Klagenfurt, Austria native Mathias Lange has been a prominent goaltender in the ECAC since his freshman year. Lange looks to stay in the states after graduation, and hopes to one day have a professional hockey career. He stated, “I’d like to keep playing hockey, but I’m not sure where yet—most likely around here—and then try to get into an NHL development camp and start in the ECHL.” If this does not pan out, he will pursue options in Europe.

If Lange does make it pro, he hopes to explore the possibility of getting an online MBA. Down the line, he wishes to stick with hockey whenever possible, taking into account positions as goalie, assistant coach, front-office worker, agent, or scout. If his dream does not pan out he will look at jobs in finance after receiving his bachelor’s degree in management this May. He is hopeful about staying in the United States, yet does not see the possibility of going back to Austria as a negative. He stated, “I love my hometown, family, and friends. I would like to stay here, but if I end up in Austria, I am not going to be disappointed either.”

His favorite memory from his time playing for the Engineers was the game against Boston University his freshman year. “BU is a powerhouse every year, and nobody expected us to go in and do well. Going into the game, people thought we were going to get killed, but we won 3-2, my first win here. Silencing the critics was a good feeling.”

Lange had his highest save percentage during his junior year, at .916, while his winning percentage was highest during his freshman year, at .471. He ended his collegiate career with a save percentage of .898 and a record of 29-57-17. During the triple-overtime loss against Yale University in the 2008 playoffs, Lange recorded his career-high of 53 saves in a single game.

This year, Lange participated in the ECAC Adopt-A-Player Program, where elementary schools adopt a player from any team to become a pen pal. He was chosen by nine third-graders from Shaker Road Elementary School in Albany.

A finalist for both the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award and ECAC Hockey Student-Athlete of the Year Award, Lange recently received the team’s Community Service Award. Lange expressed, “I don’t think anything compares to the overall college experience. I will miss the guys who have your back and being able to have fun.”

Also graduating this May is Andrei Uryadov, who has returned to Russia to play professional hockey since the end of RPI’s hockey season.

With another year gone, RPI hockey fans have seen a superb group of players—who will be deeply missed—leave the ice for the last time. Klerer and Lange will leave with promising plans for the future, but will never forget their times here at Rensselaer.