Complete Inside College Hockey.com Rankings

TROY, N.Y. – Inside College Hockey.com has announced its annual rankings of the Division I men's hockey recruiting classes for the upcoming season and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's (RPI) Class of 2013 is listed ninth in the nation. The Engineers have five recruits, including two listed among the best at the forward position.

Rensselaer's freshmen class is made up of four forwards and a goaltender. Jerry D'Amigo is ranked ninth among front liners, while Brandon Pirri is 12th in the same group.

D'Amigo (Binghamton, NY/U.S. NTDP) is a draft choice of the Toronto Maple Leafs who led the USA Under-18 team in scoring during its gold medal run at the 2009 World Championships. He was named to All-Tournament Team for his efforts. Pirri (Toronto, ON/Georgetown Raiders) was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round of the most recent NHL Draft. Among his many accomplishments was leading Team Canada East in scoring at the World Junior 'A' Challenge.

RPI's other freshmen are forwards #C.J. Lee# (Staten Island, NY/Green Bay Gamblers) and Marty O'Grady (London, ON/Wellington Dukes) and goaltender Bryce Merriam (Bethel Park, PA/Topeka RoadRunners).

Lee captained his junior team to the league championship; O'Grady was an assistant captain of Team Canada East at the World Junior 'A' Challenge; and Merriam was selected to participate in the NAHL Top Prospects Game.

Rensselaer, which had the 13th-rated class in 2007-08 and 14th last season, is second among ECAC Hockey schools, with only Harvard University ahead. The Crimson are fifth among the 15 schools ranked. Notre Dame is first, followed by University of Denver and Boston College.

Louis Leblanc of Harvard is the top-rated forward, while Nick Leddy of Minnesota is the top-ranked defenseman. St. Cloud State's Michael Lee is rated first among goaltenders.

The Engineers, who are led by fourth-year head coach Seth Appert, begin practice on Saturday, highlighted by an exhibition game against the University of Prince Edward Island at the Houston Field House at 7pm.

RPI opens the 2009-10 season on Thursday, October 8, at Massachusetts (7pm). Rensselaer makes its regular season home debut on Saturday, October 10, when perennial power New Hampshire visits the Houston Field House for a 7pm contest.