TROY, N.Y. -- The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's ice hockey team recently held its season-ending banquet, where the team's 2007-08 award winners were announced. Seven awards, all of which were voted on by the team's players, were handed out by second-year head coach Seth Appert and his staff.

Junior netminder Mathias Lange garnered the highest honor by being named the Most Valuable Player. The Klagenfurt, Austria, native posted a 6-14-3 overall record with a 2.47 goals against average and a .916 save percentage. He played 1408.46 minutes, starting 22 of the 23 games he played. This is the second time Lange has been named the team's MVP, having also earned the honor as a freshman.

Senior forward and captain Jake Morissette earned the Most Inspirational Player Award as well as the Community Service Award. The Fruitvale, B.C., native finished with six goals and eight assists for 14 points while playing in all 38 games. A frequent volunteer at area youth hockey practices and clinics, he represented the Engineers at the NCAA Pontiac Skills Challenge in Denver.

The Most Improved Player Award was presented to freshman forward Scott Halpern. After playing nine of the first 18 games, the Boca Raton, Fla., native appeared in 16 of the team's final 17 games, recording all eight of his points (4 goals, 4 assists) during that stretch.

Forward Tyler Helfrich won the team's Most Outstanding Freshman Award. The Calgary, Alb., native, who played in all 38 games, led the team in scoring with 29 points on a team-best nine goals and 20 assists. Ranked 18th-nationally in points per game by a rookie (0.76 average), he finished second among ECAC Hockey competitors in freshmen scoring.

Earning the team's Best Defensive Player Award for the second straight season was sophomore Peter Merth. Hailing from New Westminster, B.C., Merth scored three goals, including two game-winning markers, with ten assists for 13 points. Playing in all 38 games, he was second on the squad with 58 penalty minutes.

Senior forward Andrew Lord was named the Top Scholar Athlete for the third consecutive season. The West Vancouver, B.C., native is 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. Lord, who was a finalist for the ECAC Hockey Student-Athlete of the Year Award, played in 37 games, tallying six goals and 10 assists for 16 points.