After what many have said was a disappointing 2002-03 campaign, the RPI men’s hockey team is now looking with hungry eyes to continue their improvements from last year. It seemed as though last year’s theme was “growing pains,” as the team was constantly readjusting itself to the influx of freshmen replacing the old vanguard who had graduated. Often times, it showed on the ice as they struggled to find their identity early on.
This time around the story is different.
As opposed to last season when the Engineers lost their top two scorers, this season the Engineers will benefit from having four of their top five scorers returning, including rookie sensation Kevin Croxton.
Leading the team in scoring last year with 30 points, Croxton will be looked upon to lend his brilliant scoring touch to the team. Croxton also tallied 34 penalty minutes to add to his impressive list of accomplishments as a rookie, culminating in his selection to the 2002-2003 ECAC All-Rookie Team.
Just behind Croxton in the scoring race is one of this year’s team captains, Ben Barr. Enjoying a breakout season, Barr tallied 24 points last year, 11 of which were goals. More importantly, 17 of Barr’s 24 points came in the back half of the season, showing Barr as a clutch scorer despite his inherently defensive style. Deservedly, Barr was named the Engineers’ Most Valuable Player for his efforts at the end of last season.
Also contributing to the Engineers’ offense this season will be junior Nick Economakos, who also had a breakthrough season last year, improving his scoring output from just four points in his freshman year to 18 last year as a sophomore. Like Barr, Economakos made a majority of his contributions in the latter half of the season and is also an effective defensive forward, being a mainstay on the penalty kill unit.
Joining Economakos as offensive threats this season are seniors Mikael Hammarstrom and Ryan Shields. Hammarstrom, who more than doubled his total career points in the last season, has the touch and skating of a natural scorer and will be looked on as a threat. Shields, who led the team last year in game-winning goals, has a grittiness to him that will undoubtedly be a key to his success this year.
Speaking of grittiness, nobody on the Engineers plays as gritty as returning junior Vic Pereira or sophomore Kirk MacDonald. Both men, being as physically imposing as they are, will add a great physical dimension to the Engineers’ playing. MacDonald in particular will be looking to improve upon his previous season, as he missed a portion of last season due to illness. Pereira, as he has in the last few seasons, will be the focal point of the physical play of the Engineers with his punishing hits.
The remainder of the returning forwards should by no means be overlooked in any way. Senior Conrad Barnes adds a wealth of experience as well as a unique, pesky style that will be sure to throw the opponents off of their game; his team-leading 61 penalty minutes being a testament to his play.
Junior C.J. Hanafin and sophomores Mark Yurkewecz and Chris Hussey are all incredibly versatile forwards and can fill in just about any role needed in the forwards, adding valuable depth to the roster.
Waiting in the wings of the returning forwards are four new faces, each with their own share of impressive achievements.
Freshmen Kevin Broad, Oren Eizenman, and Tommy Green all proved to be offensive threats before coming to RPI, and will look to continue that trend as they attempt to earn a spot on the main roster.
Transfer student Cody Wojdyla enjoyed success at Fairfield University as a regular there, showing a physical style of play with a scoring touch.
With all of the talk about the impressive forwards, the defense proves to be equally as valuable this season. Leading the blue liners this season is the other captain of the team, senior Scott Basiuk. Basiuk, who fought back from a hand injury that could have cost him the entire season, only missed 10 games and made a significant offensive contribution while being a solid base for the defense.
Another offensively-talented defenseman returning this season is sophomore Brad Farynuk. A tremendous point man, Farynuk helped set up 12 goals in his debut season, and can be expected to repeat this performance this coming season.
Assisting on the blueline this year is the sophomore trio of Keith McWilliams, Scott Romfo, and Alexander Valentin. All three had valuable playing time last season and showed tremendous promise. McWilliams led this trio with eight points, while his two classmates each tallied four. All three men will be looking to make significant contributions to the offense on the point as a part of the power play.
Rounding out the solid core of returning defensemen are juniors Blake Pickett and Matt McNeely. Both men are physical defensemen who, like Pereira and MacDonald, will add a strong physical dimension to RPI’s game.
This season, there are two newcomers looking to add their skills to the blue line in Jake Luthi and Ryan Swanson.
Luthi, who amassed 14 points and 150 penalty minutes in his last season, brings a solid defensive game with him.
Swanson will follow in the lead of Pickett as an imposing defenseman who won’t hesitate to contribute to the offense.
The goaltending situation this season looks similar to last season, with the two towering netminding seniors, Nathan Marsters and Kevin Kurk, looking split the season between the pipes. Both men, standing at a daunting 6’4”, will prove to be large parts of the defensive push. A new goalie will round out the roster in transfer student Andrew Martin who, like forward Wojdyla, comes from Fairfield University.
Both Marsters and Kurk struggled to find their form last season, but towards the end of the last season looked incredibly solid. Marsters lead the Engineers in the playoffs, helping upset Union in the first round before losing to the eventual champions Cornell, while Kurk saw his first two career shutouts in what should be a sign of things to come.
Everybody on the Engineers’ squad was incredibly positive about this upcoming season. With a large group of returning students and an impressive crop of newcomers, Head Coach Dan Fridgen couldn’t help but be pleased as he spoke of his incredibly positive outlook for the season.
The loss of valuable experience from players graduating doesn’t seem to be an issue at all with the team this year, unlike last year where it seemed to hurt the team.
Having spent a season together, most of the players will now complement each other nicely, working together to hide any flaws in their game.
While last year’s theme was the expected “growing pains” of the team as they struggled to find their identity, this year’s should be the resulting spurt as the team explodes onto the ECAC scene with a fresh, positive view on things to come.
