Bono and Sobieski Commit to RPI
Lang grabs commitments to bolster forward group and blue line
Following the commitments of Tyler Wallace and Alfred Lindberg, Coach Lang wasted no time keeping the iron hot, striking commitments from Ethan Bono and Kazimier Sobieski. These are two very different players, but both will serve a very specific need for next year’s team. It is important to remember the sheer quantity of players Lang needs to add, and it is exciting to see him land players that fill needs and possess a lot of eligibility.
Ethan Bono (Jr. Center, Merrimack):
Last Year’s Stats:
33GP-5G-4A-9P-6PIMs
Lang’s first two commitments came from familiar territory in the Atlantic, but here he reaches into Hockey East to pluck Ethan Bono from Merrimack. I am of the philosophy that there are three real strategies with the transfer portal, but two are much more common than the last. First, is the player that excelled against lower competition, who is trying to move up a level (Wallace and Lindberg fit this criteria). Second, the player moving down in competition for more ice time and a chance to produce (Bono and Sobieski fit this). And last and least common, the player staying at the same level looking for a change of scenery. I bring this up because all types can succeed, but I think it is important to seek out players from all three buckets. Bono proved that he can compete against Hockey East talent with 11 goals in 2 seasons, but dropping down a level to the ECAC should give him a chance to draw more minutes and opportunities to produce.
Bono was not heralded as an elite offensive producer throughout his junior career, but at every stop he is credited for playing a simple, smart game. His BCHL scouting reports refer to him as “strong on the puck” with a high motor and compete level. He controls pucks well and is aggressive on his forecheck, with a willingness to go to the dirty areas of the ice to make plays. He also has a big frame at 6’3 with center and wing versatility and is willing to block shots. Something that jumps out to me are how low his PIMs are throughout his career, which is a very welcomed attribute after the last two years.
I don’t see him jumping from 9 to 30 points next year, but I think RPI had a glaring need for a forward like this. They had a lot of spots to fill and needed to build a stronger defensive identity going forward. I think the game will slow down a bit for Bono as he comes into the ECAC, and his hockey IQ will lead to an increase in production. Bono should be given the chance to compete in the middle 6 next year, with a fallback plan of bottom 6 as his defense is very solid. I expect him to play a similar role to John Beaton the last few seasons, primarily as a middle 6 center with the ability to move to wing as needed. I like this pickup with two years of eligibility remaining and am excited to see Ethan add grit and tenacity to the forward group!
Kaz Sobieski (So. Defenseman, UMass):
Last Year’s Stats:
UMass 5GP-0G-0A-0P-2PIM
Youngstown (USHL) 41GP-9G-20A-29P-31PIM
Sobieski has the type of talent and pedigree that Engineer fans have yearned for since the days Brandon Pirri and Mike Prapavessis were heralded recruits. Sobieski was a standout at Shattuck St. Mary’s throughout his prep career, the same school that produced Sidney Crosby, Zach Parise, and Jonathan Toews. He spent two years in Sioux Falls in the USHL before heading to UMass this fall. He struggled to adjust to the college game during his time there, so he opted to head back to the USHL where he spent the rest of the season in Youngstown. I don’t know exactly what to make of his time at UMass, but I trust Lang has done his due diligence and is comfortable with why it did not work out in Amherst. Regardless, RPI has not consistently landed kids of this stature, and Lang deserves a ton of credit for this commitment.
https://x.com/sfstampede/status/1776434631761383842
I honestly see a lot of Adam Fox in his game from the tape I have watched. His skating is excellent and it feels like the puck is always on his stick. He is one of those guys you can trust to carry it up the ice and quarterback your powerplay. Old scouting reports described him as an excellent passer who is deceptive and a constant playmaker. Only critiques were that he can occasionally try to do too much, and his defense is just alright. The reason I mentioned players dropping down in competition level is because I think Sobieski’s natural talent can really shine through in a league like the ECAC. He has only ever gone up against the absolute best at Shattuck, in the USHL, and in Hockey East. It isn’t terribly different to Dovar Tinling’s journey to RPI. I think the game will slow right down for Kaz and Coach Lang can get the most out of his enormous potential.
https://x.com/sfstampede/status/1764088115608875107
I cannot understate how big of a commitment this is. RPI simply has not consistently landed this type of recruit, and I truly believe Coach Lang can add some edge to his game and make him a complete player. RPI’s defense was starved for a playmaker after Will Gilson’s departure, and Sobieski is very young and should only get better. We believe he will have 3 years of eligibility, but certainly there is a chance he could petition for a redshirt having only played 5 games last year. I am all-in on this commitment and very excited to see what Kaz can do here.
News and Notes:
Engineer forwards Jeremie Payant and Nathan Sullivan announced their intentions to transfer. I wouldn’t necessarily call these roster cuts, but Coach Lang likely didn’t see a fit for them on the roster. We thank Jeremie and Nathan for their commitments to RPI and hope they land in great spots for their career.
Minnesota State forward Luc Wilson and Arizona State forward Cole Gordon committed to RPI last week. We will have a piece out detailing these commitments shortly.
RPI now has 10 forwards and 5 defenseman on the roster with their returners and portal commitments. The only goalie is Carson Dorfman, who is likely a 3rd-stringer. I think it is fair to assume that the remainder of the portal class and the freshman class have to account for about 5-6 more forwards, 3-4 more defenseman and 2 goalies. This isn’t as extreme as it sounds, as I would expect a number of Smith’s commitments will be retained and enroll next fall.
Things are beginning to round into shape in Coach Lang’s first offseason. I am excited to see Ethan Bono and Kaz Sobieski suit up for the Engineers next fall. More to come on the blog soon. Let’s go Red!