TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men’s hockey team will add five forwards, two defensemen and a goaltender to the roster for the 2015-16 season, head coach Seth Appert has announced. The newcomers join a program that returns six defensemen, 11 forwards and two goalies.
“We are excited to welcome the Class of 2019 to the RPI Hockey family,” Appert said. “This class brings a good mix of talent, speed, size and competitiveness to our program. We have goal scorers, playmakers, energy guys, puck movers, defenders and an elite goaltender all in the same class. Assistant coaches Bryan Vines and Nolan Graham have put in a lot of hours and countless miles on the road bringing this class to our program. I appreciate the work our assistant coaches have done and our fans will enjoy what this class brings to our program.”
Below is the list of Rensselaer’s recruits with their 2014-15 statistics and a quote from Appert:
Forwards
Lonnie Clary (5’11, 175)
Left Wing from Riverside, Calif. / Fairbanks (NAHL)
60 GP: 8 goals – 16 assists – 24 points
“Lonnie is a highly competitive, agitating type player who you love to have on your team and hate to play against. His energy, competitiveness and tenacity help drive his team while getting opponents off their game. He has a motor that just won’t stop, which will add a great deal to our team and locker room.”
Jesper Ohrvall (5’9 170)
Right Wing from Halmstad, Sweden / Fairbanks (NAHL)
32 GP: 26 goals – 16 assists – 42 points
“Jesper was the most dynamic goal scorer in the NAHL this season and one of the most prolific in all of junior hockey. He has the creativity, talent, competitiveness and mindset that goal scorers need to possess to become elite and we look forward to having him bring those attributes to RPI.”
Alex Rodriguez (6’0, 185)
Right Wing from Miami, Fla. / Sioux City (USHL)
56 GP: 6 goals – 11 assists – 17 points
“Alex has the competitiveness, skating ability and tenacity to be a high energy forward with scoring ability. His play, his attitude and his team mentality make him the kind of teammate and player who is invaluable to a winning program. He will certainly become a fan favorite while wearing the Cherry and White.”
Evan Tironese (5’10, 175)
Center from Qualicum Beach, B.C. / Alberni Valley (BCHL)
19 GP: 8 Goals – 25 Assists – 33 Points
“Evan has been one of the top offensive producers in junior hockey over the last three seasons, using great hockey intelligence and playmaking ability. He has proven himself to be a high level point producer in the USHL, BCHL and for Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge. We are excited to see him bring those abilities to the Houston Field House this fall.”
Brady Wiffen (6’2, 205)
Left Wing from St. Mary’s Ont. / Trenton (OJHL)
68 GP: 66 goals – 46 assists – 114 points
Brady had one of the best seasons anywhere in junior hockey, averaging almost a goal per game. He continued to mature his game throughout juniors and turned himself into an elite goal scoring power forward. He has hockey intelligence, size and natural goal scoring ability which we believe are traits that will carry on while playing for the Engineers.”
Defense
Tommy Grant (6’3, 210)
Right Defense from Sparta, N.J. / Baystate (USPHL)
40 GP: 7 goals – 18 assists – 25 points
“Tommy is a big, competitive defender who is hard to play against night in and night out. He was the captain for Baystate and has size and defensive mentality that will translate well to the collegiate level. His work ethic and competitiveness will add to the mentality we want our program to play with.”
Meirs Moore (5’9, 180)
Left Defense from Duluth, Minn. / Victoria (BCHL)
64 GP: 7 goals – 43 assists – 50 points
“Meirs is coming off a highly productive season in the BCHL where he was one of the top offensive defenseman in the league. He has the vision, playmaking abilty and power play skills to become an effective offensive defenseman. His skill level and passing ability will continue to help the transformation of our defense into a mobile, puck moving corps.”
Goalie
Alec Dillon (6’5, 180)
From Victoria, BC / Tri City (USHL)
47 GP: 27 wins – 13 losses – 3 ties – 2.25 GAA – .917 SV%
“Alec is one of the top goaltending prospects entering NCAA hockey this fall. He has had productive seasons in both the BCHL and USHL, most recently helping Tri City to one of its best years in the last decade. His size, talent, work ethic and competitiveness give him the opportunity to become an elite collegiate goaltender. His arrival will help give us what we believe should be the best goaltending tandem in college hockey.”
