The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men’s hockey program will welcome seven new student-athletes, including five freshmen and two transfers, beginning this fall. Four forwards, two defensemen and a goaltender make up this year’s group of newcomers.

“We are looking forward to the incoming class adding depth to an already solid foundation of players who are returning,” head coach Dan Fridgen said. “We have added some size, some speed and some skill with a group of players who are capable of stepping in right away and contributing.”

Among those attending Rensselaer beginning in the fall are goaltender Andrew Martin and forward Cody Wojdyla, both of whom were sophomores at Fairfield University of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) last season. Both Martin, who was 5-11-1 with a 3.13 goals against average and an .879 save percentage last season, and Wojdyla, who had 12 points (6 goals, 6 assists) in 31 games, will be juniors and will be eligible to play immediately for the Engineers because Fairfield dropped their ice hockey program.

Of the seven new student-athletes, four are from the United States, including Wojdyla (pronounced WO-dilla), who hails from Liverpool, N.Y., and three are from Canada. All of them played junior hockey prior to committing to college.

Below is an alphabetical list of Rensselaer’s newcomers:

Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/Previous Team (League)

Kevin Broad RW 6-0 190 Humbolt, SASK/Chilliwack Chiefs (BCJHL)

Oren Eizenman C 6-0 175 Toronto, ONT/Wexford Raiders (Provincial Jr. A)

Tommy Green C 5-11 165 Martensville, SASK/Melfort Mustangs (SJHL)

Jake Luthi D 6-0 185 Palmer, AK/Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)

Andrew Martin G 6-1 175 Plano, TX/Fairfield University Stags (MAAC)

Ryan Swanson D 6-3 210 Woodbury, MN/Soo Indians (NAHL)

Cody Wojdyla LW 6-1 185 Liverpool, NY/Fairfield University Stags (MAAC)

The 2003-04 Engineers return 21 players from last year’s squad that advanced to the second round of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament. Rensselaer (12-25-3; 4-15-3 ECAC), which opens its 102nd season on October 11th at Boston University, will play 34 games, including 18 home games at the Houston Field House next season.