Four forwards and a goaltender among six newcomers

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) head men’s hockey coach Dan Fridgen has announced that six student-athletes will make up the program’s Class of 2009.  Among those expected to join the team beginning this fall are four forwards, a defenseman and a goaltender.  Four of the players are from Canada, including two who played for the Vernon Vipers in British Columbia, one hails from Austria and another from Russia.

Below is an alphabetical list of RPI’s recruits, including Fridgen’s description of each player:

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

Mathieu Angers-Goulet F            5-11            175            St. Augustin, Quebec Notre Dame/SJHL

"Matt is a good skating center with an excellent offensive upside who works hard on and off the ice.  A top rookie in juniors, he has superb playmaking skills, a good scoring touch, very good speed and should be a threat at the college level.” A top rookie in juniors, he has superb playmaking skills, a good scoring touch, very good speed and should be a threat at the college level.”

Kurtis Colling                         F            6-1            185            Ripley, Ontario             Vernon Vipers/BCHL

“Kurtis is a good size left winger who has strong abilities in the corners and around the net. His strength and relentless work ethic will be a welcomed addition to our line-up.  He also possesses solid defensive skills and should do a good job winning battles along the wall.”

Reed Kipp                              D            6-0            195            Victoria, BC                 Vernon Vipers, BCHL

“Reed is an experienced left shot defenseman who possesses good vision.  His outstanding passing skills make him an offensive threat, especially on the power play, and his work ethic and commitment to conditioning should put him in a position to contribute immediately.  Also important are Reed’s leadership qualities, which have played a vital role in helping his previous teams achieve success the last few seasons.”

Seth Klerer                             F            5-11            170            Thornhill, Ontario            North York Rangers/OPJHL

“Seth is an excellent playmaker who possesses terrific vision and hockey sense.  He is a very quick skater who is effective in all three zones.  A natural leader on and off the ice, he has the ability to play several roles at this level; he can provide offense, play solid defense and help on both the power play and penalty kill.”                

Mathias Lange              G            5-11            185            Klagenfurt, Austria            New York Apple Core/EJHL

“Mathias is an experienced goaltender who has a good head for the game.  He favors a stand-up style and moves very well around his crease, consistently challenging the shooters and taking away the angles.  He has quick reflexes and displays a calming presence, no matter what situation he faces.”

Andrei Uryadov                      F            6-1            205            St. Petersburg, Russia    South Kent/NEPSIHA

“Andrei is an offensively gifted left shot winger who has great speed, good hands and a strong shot.  In addition to his ability to make plays every time he touches the puck, he also has the size to play a physical game.”

Rensselaer finished the 2004-05 season with an overall record of 14-22-2, including a 6-15-1 league mark.  The Engineers return 21 players from that team, including 12 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders.  Among them are seven of the team’s top eight scorers.