Engineers' Duo Recognized as All-League Selections

Photo by Sara Melikian

TROY, N.Y. – ECAC Hockey has announced its year-end All-League Teams and two Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student-athletes have been recognized. Junior forward Chase Polacek has been named to the First Team, while sophomore goaltender Allen York earned Second Team recognition. As a First Team choice, Polacek is now eligible for the league’s Player of the Year Award.

Polacek, a native of Edina, Minn., leads the team – and ranks among the leaders in the entire league – in just about every offensive category. In 36 games, he has 25 goals and 25 assists for 50 points. Twelve of his goals have come on the power play, two were shorthanded, two were game-winners and one was a game-tying goal.

Nationally, the Academy of Holy Angels graduate leads the nation in goals and points. He is second in power play goals, sixth in goals per game (0.69) and points per game (1.39) and eighth in shorthanded goals.

A candidate for the prestigious Hobey Baker Award as the top U.S. college hockey player, Polacek had 17 goals and 18 assists for 35 points in 22 league games. He finished first in points, points per game (1.59), power play points (6 goals, 9 assists), shorthanded goals (2) and shorthanded points (5). He ranked third in goals, assists, goals per game (0.77) and assists per game (0.82) and fourth in power play goals.

York, who hails from Wetaskiwin, Alb., was 9-7-3 with a 2.26 goals against average and a .919 save percentage in 20 league contests. He finished second in ECAC Hockey in both goals against average and save percentage and was fifth in winning percentage (.553).

Overall, York sports a 13-11-4 record with a 2.59 average and a .909 save percentage. The former Camrose Kodiaks standout has one shutout while playing 80.4% of the games for the Engineers.

This is the first year-end award for both players. York is the first Engineer to earn Second Team honors since 2003-04 when three individuals were recognized. Polacek is RPI’s first member of the First Team since forwards Marc Cavosie ’03 and Matt Murley ’02 earned the honor following the 2001-02 season.

Polacek, York and the rest of the Engineers (17-15-4 overall; 10-9-3 ECAC Hockey) return to action this weekend when they host Brown University (8-17-4; 6-12-4) in the first round of the ECAC Hockey Playoffs. The best-of-three series, which runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday (if necessary), will be held at the Houston Field House with all games facing-off at 7pm.

Tickets for the series are available through the Houston Field House box office. Prices are $6.00 for RPI students with a valid ID, $8.00 for children and students and $12.00 for adults. Additional information is available by calling the box office at (518) 276-6262.