In reflecting back on Rensselaer's recently completed athletic season, it quickly becomes obvious that there were – yet again – many memorable individual and team accomplishments, as well as other significant events that occurred. In an effort to relive, remember and celebrate some of our student-athletes and staff members who played major roles in making those occasions a reality, we introduce 11 4 2010-11.

The story below is one in the 11-part series, which will run throughout the next couple of months. The events are not ranked in any particular order. For the full list, along with some 'honorable mentions', eventually, please click HERE.

Are there significant events you remember? You can submit them by clicking HERE. Thank you and enjoy!

11 4 2010-11: Chase Polacek Culminates Career

Who could have predicted it? Seriously, who would have thought Chase Polacek would accomplish everything he did? And not just for one year or back-to-back seasons but over the course of his four-year career?

The 2010-11 season was a spectacular culmination of a career wearing an RPI hockey jersey.  As proof, take a look at the accomplishments the forward from Minnesota managed as a senior:

Played all 37 games … Had 21 goals and 27 assists for 48 points … Led team in goals, assists, points, power play goals (11), shorthanded goals (2) and game-winning goals (9) … First in nation in game-winning goals … Recorded 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points in 22 ECAC Hockey games … Scored five power play goals, a shorthanded marker and five game-winners against league foes … Hobey Baker Award finalist … Lowe's Senior CLASS Award finalist … All-ECAC Hockey First Team … ECAC Hockey Player of the Year … National All-America First Team … ECAC Hockey All-Academic … National Academic All-America … Team ranked in national polls for majority of season … Team won most games (20-13-5) since 2003-04 … Team qualified for NCAA Tournament for time since 1995.

And Polacek accomplished all of that with the Engineers lacking some of its projected offensive firepower because two teammates left early to sign National Hockey League contracts. So not only did he provide the bulk of the offense, he did so while consistently facing the opposition's top players!

Over the course of his illustrious career, Polacek did not miss a game, setting the school record for games played with 153, along with classmate Jeff Foss. He finished with 160 career points, including 95 assists. He was also a three-time team Most Valuable Player, a two-time Hobey Baker Award finalist, a two-time First Team All-America and the ECAC Hockey Player of the Year twice – only the third student-athlete to accomplish such a feat in the history of the prestigious conference!

Obviously Polacek exhibited the tangible skills and work ethic it takes to be successful on the ice. He also possessed attributes that may be less noticeable, such as dedication, passion and leadership.

It was one of his game-winning goals that truly exemplified the role he played for the Engineers throughout his career. It was a game at Colgate in January 2011. The team was coming off a couple of tough losses in its previous three games and a tie or a loss to the last place Raiders would be difficult to overcome.

Sure enough, RPI found itself in a tough situation. Just 15 seconds into overtime an RPI player was sent to the locker room with a major penalty. That meant the Engineers were forced to penalty kill for the duration of the extra period. Rensselaer managed to hold the Raiders at bay, with Polacek, the team's top penalty killer, playing extensively. On a late shift he picked up the puck and raced into the offensive zone shorthanded. He was hauled down and a penalty shot was awarded. He calmly skated in on the goalie and scored for the dramatic victory. (click HERE to watch)

When asked about that particular play, Polacek was humble in his response, giving credit to the team as a whole for the win. Not surprisingly, he provides the same type of response when asked about his tremendous career. Without his teammates, he is quick to admit, there can be no success.


In hindsight, given his makeup, perhaps it should have been easy to predict the success Chase Polacek would have during the 2010-11 season – and throughout his career – after all.