By: Kevin Beattie, Associate Athletic Director —
TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men’s hockey team will be led by graduate student Kyle Hallbauer as the captain with senior Ryan Mahshie as the assistant captain, sixth-year head coach Dave Smith has announced. Joining the duo in the team’s Leadership Group will be seniors Jakob Lee and TJ Walsh. RPI’s season gets underway with a two-game home series against Mercyhurst University beginning on Friday night (7pm).
A defenseman, Hallbauer (Howell, NJ / Lone Star Brahmas) is in his fifth year with the Engineers, having played 102 games over three seasons. He registered career-highs of three goals and eight assists for 11 points as a freshman in 30 games in 2018-19 before tallying five assists in 33 contests in 2019-20. Following the cancelation of the 2020-21 campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the business and management major suited up for all 39 games last season. He had two goals and seven assists. One of his markers came on the power play and one was a game-winning goal. On the other end of the ice, Hallbauer blocked 50 shots, which was second on the team. He is a three-time ECAC Hockey All-Academic honoree.
Mahshie (Stoney Creek, ON / Brooks Bandits), a forward, has played 54 games in two seasons, registering nine goals and 14 assists for 23 points. He was among the team leaders in goals (7), assists (13), and points (20) as a junior last season. Four of his goals came on the power play, which was second on the team, and two were game-winners, which tied for the team lead. Also a three-time conference all-academic honoree as a business and management major, Mahshie was the ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week once in 2019-20.
Both transfers, Lee (Owen Sound, ON / Merrimack College) and Walsh (Shrewsbury, MA / Northeastern University) have played one season at Rensselaer. Lee suited up for 27 games last year, registering four goals and three assists from his forward position, while Walsh netted four goals and 15 helpers. He is also a forward.
(RPI Men’s Hockey Photo)
