Polacek Named to National Academic All-America Team
TROY, N.Y. – The 2011 Capital One National Academic All-America Men's At-Large Teams have been announced and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student-athlete Chase Polacek has been named to the Third Team.
Polacek, a senior forward from Edina, Minn., is a business and management major with a 3.44 cumulative GPA. The assistant captain of the men's hockey team, he led his squad in scoring with 21 goals and 27 assists for 48 points. Polacek was also the team leader in power play goals (11), short-handed goals (2) and game-winning tallies (9).
A two-time ECAC Hockey Player of the Year, Polacek helped carry the nationally-ranked Engineers into the NCAA Tournament – the team's first appearance since 1995 – as RPI went 20-13-5 overall and 11-9-2 in conference play. Ranking in the top 20 nationally in five statistical categories, he was recognized for his outstanding season with a number of accolades, including All-ECACH First Team, AHCA First Team All-America, INCH All-America, USCHO.com All-America, Hobey Baker Top 10 finalist and the All-College Hockey News First Team.
Polacek, who concluded his career with 160 points (65 goals, 95 assists) in a school record 154 games played, was also a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award and was a three-time team Most Valuable Player.
Additionally, the former Academy of Holy Angels standout served as a Student Ambassador and volunteered his time with a number of organizations across the Capital Region, including Relay for Life, STRIDE Adaptive Sports, the United Way, the Center for the Disabled and as a clinician for various youth hockey teams.
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