TROY, N.Y. – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) head men’s hockey coach Seth Appert has announced the team’s Class of 2011. The group of eight student-athletes includes six forwards and two defensemen. Three from the incoming class are from Canada and the others hail from the United States.
“We are very excited about this recruiting class,” said Appert. “The combination of skill, speed and competitiveness will push our program to further success on and off the ice. Shawn Kurulak and Jim Montgomery have done an outstanding job in putting together a class of this caliber.”
Below is an alphabetical list of Rensselaer’s recruits with a quote from Appert about each:
Kevin Beauregard RW 6-4 215 South Windsor, CT/Hartford Jr. Wolf Pack
“Kevin is a raw talent who has the size and mind to develop into a strong power forward in the future.”
Bryan Brutlag D 5-11 180 Lakeville, MN/Holy Angels High School
“Bryan is a very dynamic offensive threat from the blue line. His skill level and competitiveness have made him one of the top defensive recruits in the nation.”
Ben Contini LW 6-0 175 Toronto, ON/North York Rangers
“Ben is an explosive offensive player. He will be one of our fastest and most talented players upon arrival to campus.”
Scott Halpern RW 5-10 170 Boca Raton, FL/Bay State Breakers
“Scott has the speed and intensity to be an effective two-way forward for us. He has the ability to excel in any role he is put in.”
Tyler Helfrich RW 5-10 190 Calgary, AB/Fort McMurray Oil Barons & Prince George Spruce Kings
“Tyler is a gifted offensive player with excellent hands and vision to make his teammates better. He is a proven point producer at every level he has played and we expect the same from him at RPI.”
John Kennedy D 6-0 195 Saginaw, MI/St. Louis Bandits
“John is a very competitive young man who is a real shut down defenseman. His teammates follow his intensity and passion on the defensive end of the game.”
Joel Malchuk C 5-10 170 Brandon, MB/Dauphin Kings
“Joel is a very strong two-way center who plays with passion and an edge. He will be able to be relied upon in many different roles and situations.”
Chase Polacek RW 5-8 165 Edina, MN/Holy Angels High School
“Chase is a goal scorer with great quickness and speed. He has been a high level point producer for one of the best high school programs in the country.”
