RPI Not Focused on Who Isn't Back
The following article appeared in the October 5 issue of the Times Union.
By Matt Graves
Special to the Times Union
TROY -- He was the ECAC Hockey Player of the Year, leading scorer in the 12-team conference with 52 points in 39 games, an All-American and a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as the nation's top collegiate hockey player. And all that success came for Chase Polacek as a junior.
Little wonder there is much anticipation for his final season at RPI as coach Seth Appert embarks upon his fifth campaign, surprisingly optimistic despite the loss of heralded forwards Jerry D'Amigo and Brandon Pirri, who departed for the professional ranks after only one season in the Cherry and White.
"He made them go; they didn't make him go," Appert said of Polacek, a smallish (5-foot-8) and speedy centerman who scored 26 goals -- 13 on a rejuvenated Engineers' power play. "That's no disrespect to Jerry and Brandon, very good hockey players. But anybody that saw our games last year knew that Chase Polacek was the player that made us tick."
Complete article can be accessed via the Times Union Web site by clicking here.
