Introduction
A lot can happen in four years—both on and off the ice—for the members of RPI’s men’s hockey team. In that span, several players saw the induction of a new head coach and runs in the ECAC playoffs. This is the first installment of a series that reflects upon the past four years, as experienced by this year’s graduating class of Engineers.
Matt Angers-Goulet
With both parents in the medical field, it does not come as a surprise that senior forward Matt Angers-Goulet’s interests lie in that profession. Currently looking into the possibility of attending medical school, he awaits the decision which would bring him back home to Quebec City, Q.C.
M. Angers-Goulet will depart RPI with his Bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Management Engineering this May. Having balanced a full course load with hockey every semester at RPI, he added on the responsibility of team captain for his final year. “It’s a big responsibility, and honor as well, following the big names of former captains, and keeping the tradition this program holds,” commented M. Angers-Goulet.
Unlike previous seasons at the Houston Field House, this year M. Angers-Goulet had the opportunity to play alongside his younger brother, freshman Alex Angers-Goulet, for the first time in either player’s career. M. Angers-Goulet described the experience as, “fun, something we never experienced before and probably won’t experience in the future. It was special for me to be there for his success and when he scored.” The “Goulet” chant that the fans have grown accustomed to when M. Angers-Goulet graces the ice has been passed on to his younger brother. The cheer not only brings smiles to each brother’s face, but to their younger sister as well, who is often seen sitting in the crowd.
Over the past four years, M. Angers-Goulet has recorded many fond memories. Winning the first playoff series this season against Dartmouth University was a highlight among them. Having not won a first round playoff series in his first three years as an Engineer, M. Angers-Goulet expressed it to be, “huge, especially to finally win a playoff series, let alone one as big as that.”
This past season, M. Angers-Goulet played in 39 games, tallying six goals and eight assists. In addition, he led the team in shorthanded goals. M. Angers-Goulet closed out the season with a shorthanded goal in the third game of the ECAC quarterfinals against Cornell University, which tied the game at one, before the eventual 4-3 loss. “Having Alex on the ice and celebrating with him was a great conclusion to my career,” said M. Angers-Goulet in reference to the goal. M. Angers-Goulet was recently awarded the Most Inspirational Player award at the season-ending banquet. He led the team in games played and goals at 145 and 28, respectively.
While M. Angers-Goulet does not see a career in hockey, he does still see it as part of his future. In the short-term, he sees himself playing once a week non-competitively with friends, and following RPI and his brother for the next three years. As for the future, M. Angers-Goulet sees himself coaching kids and helping out with youth hockey.
With his departure from RPI, M. Angers-Goulet will miss being around his teammates, just hanging out, and playing at the Houston Field House, commenting “the fans here … they are really something special.”
Kurt Colling
Senior forward Kurt Colling is keeping his options open for the future, listing his choices as, “trying to find a job here, going to graduate school [at RPI], going home to try and find a job, or just play hockey.” If he were to attend graduate school or enter into the traditional work force, it would be in the Industrial and Management Engineering field.
While not a driving force on the scoreboard, Colling’s value as a player lies in his other abilities. Most notably, Colling is a catalyst in creating opportunities and protecting his teammates throughout the game. He has posted 11 goals and 24 assists over his 123-game collegiate career. Although he played the least amount of games during his senior season due to injuries, Colling was still an integral part of the team. At the start of the new year, he tallied the first goals against the College of the Holy Cross Crusaders during the Wells Fargo Denver Cup and against the Quinnipiac University Bobcats the following weekend. During his junior campaign, Colling netted the only goal against the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish—also his first of the season.
Colling picks out his first goal as “definitely special”—it was at the Nationwide Arena, home of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets against the Holy Cross Crusaders—during the Ohio Hockey Classic. Another one of Colling’s most vivid memories was the optional morning skate earlier that day, in which Colling partook alongside Jordan Alford ’08 and William Neubert ’08—a forward and two goalies on the ice, alone in an empty arena that sits 18,136.
The usual effects of being a senior after hockey season apply to Colling with the loss of structure and more free time. He gave an interesting perspective to it when he stated, “Every day when you are in season, you wake up and think about practice that day. Now, you wake up and think ‘what am I going to do?’ You actually have to stay in shape by yourself.”
Hockey will be a part of Colling’s life at every turn; he hopes to eventually be a coach. “I don’t think it is in me to not have hockey with me in some capacity. Wherever I am, if I am in school or a job, I will find a team … coaching is a lifelong goal, to help kids realize the enjoyment and benefits I realized through hockey.”
He is going to miss the daily interaction with his teammates and being part of the team more than anything after graduation.
Next week, The Polytechnic will follow up with fellow seniors Mathias Lange, Andrei Uryadov, and Seth Klerer to see their plans and goals following graduation this May.
