Polacek Collects Engineers' MVP Award

Photo by Sara Melikian

TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men’s hockey team recently held its season-ending banquet, where the team’s 2008-09 award winners were announced. Seven awards, all of which were voted on by the team’s players, were handed out by third-year head coach Seth Appert and his staff.

Sophomore forward Chase Polacek earned the highest honor by being named the Most Valuable Player. The Edina, Minn., native played all 39 games, leading the team in goals (11), assists (21) and points (32). He also had team-bests of five power play goals and three game-winning tallies. The Academy of Holy Angels graduate registered 23 points (8 goals, 15 assists) in 22 ECAC Hockey games, finishing second in the conference.

Senior forward and captain Matt Angers-Goulet earned the Most Inspirational Player Award. The St. Augustin, Que., native also played all 39 games, earning six goals and eight assists for 14 points. He was first on the team with two shorthanded goals and second with two power play goals.

Capturing the team’s Best Defensive Player Award was sophomore defenseman John Kennedy. A native of Saginaw, Mich., he had five assists with just 26 penalty minutes in 37 games. Kennedy was also recognized with the Most Improved Player Award, sharing the honor with Allen York. A freshman goaltender, York was 5-10-0 with a 3.02 goals against average and a .901 save percentage. The Wetaskiwin, Alb., native started seven of the final eight games, including all five playoff games as the Engineers played into the ECAC Hockey Quarterfinals.

Forward Patrick Cullen won the team’s Most Outstanding Freshman Award. The Washington, D.C., native, who played in 36 games, had 10 goals and 14 assists for 24 points. He was second on the team in goals, points, power play goals (3) and game-winning goals (2). An ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team selection, he was third in assists.

Senior forward Seth Klerer was named the Top Scholar Athlete. The Thornhill, Ont., 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. On the ice the assistant captain posted six goals and three assists for nine points.

Mathias Lange, a senior goaltender, earned the Community Service Award. A frequent volunteer with local youth hockey organizations, the Klagenfurt, Austria, native has taken part in SAAC Kids’ Day on campus as well as three American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life events. He also helped coordinate with the other seniors on the team the purchase of eight season tickets for distribution to underprivileged children in the Capital Region. Lange, a finalist for the Lowe’s Senior Class Award, also participated in the ECAC Hockey Adopt-A-Player program in which he exchanged letters with area elementary school children.