End-of-Year Recruiting Update
Taking a look at how the pipeline of future Engineers fared in 2025-26
We haven’t done a piece like this in a while (2023), and it was pretty jarring to go back and look at what the pipeline was just 2.5 short years ago. Of the 19 commitments at the time, 8 went on to suit up at RPI and just 5 are on the current roster, which reflects the amount of turnover that’s happened in this program of late. Nonetheless, the coaching staff is solidified and seemingly has a plan for the type of recruit that they want to bring in. The 2026 freshman class looks pretty set to me, but there may be room for one more addition depending on roster changes in the coming weeks. Beyond that, only 2 of the remaining commits were brought here by Lang, so expect that to get turned over and filled out. Most junior leagues are nearing the end of their regular season and approaching their playoffs, so most of these stat lines are nearly final.
2026 Arrivals
Jordan Gavin - F, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
2026 Stats: 68GP-16-42-58
Gavin is by far the highest pedigree recruit of RPI’s and one that was expected to be a draft pick a few years back. His production in the WHL has flatlined a bit, settling around a point-per-game the past 4-5 years. His commitment was a big deal for RPI and sent a message that Lang & Schneider were not afraid to go after the top talent in western Canada. Gavin is a very talented player with some of the best hockey IQ you’ll find in juniors. Expect him to immediately plug into the middle or top 6 this fall.
Josh Evaschesen - F, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
2026 Stats: 67GP-33-40-73
Evaschesen is the complete opposite of Gavin, who has been scouted and widely covered since he was 14 years old. Evaschesen played for Trail in the BCHL with Lucas Lemieux and former RPI commit Dylan Lariviere last year, where he put up very modest numbers. He wasn’t on many radars before breaking out in the WHL this year, which is historically a much, much tougher league. Next thing he knew, top programs in the country were calling him and RPI worked very hard to nab his commitment. He finished in the top 25 of WHL scoring, where most players above him have an NHL logo next to their name. If Evaschesen continues on this trajectory, he will make a significant impact at RPI.
Harrison Lodewyk - F, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
2026 Stats: 54GP-18-22-40
Lodewyk is another recruit who found his stride in his last year of junior. Harrison missed some time due to a midseason injury but has produced around a point-per-game besides that stretch where he was banged up. He was traded early in the year from Prince Albert to Calgary and carved out a nice role for himself near the top of the lineup. Lodewyk comes in to play a different role than the prior two, one where he will use his blazing speed and tenacity to improve the 4th line. I think he has enough skill to play a bigger role than that, but as a freshman he can plug right into the bottom 6 and be an upgrade.
Caleb Hadland - F, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
2026 Stats: 56GP-15-29-44
Hadland has captained the Wheat Kings this year and is putting together his best WHL season despite a recent injury. He was a pretty coveted recruit at the time of his commitment and has been one of the better ‘06 forwards in the league. Similar to Gavin, his hockey sense is outstanding, and he plays the game with a lot of tenacity. Brandon has a very balanced attack which has held back his output a bit but make no mistake: Hadland will make an immediate impact at RPI and get opportunities to produce right away.
James Guo - D, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
2026 Stats: 63GP-8-31-39
There is a lot of discourse, rightfully so, about what the top junior league is to feed the NCAA now that the CHL is allowed. Most will tell you that the OHL is the best, and Guo is one of the best ‘05 defenseman in the league. He has grown into a big role on the top pair in his final year in Saginaw and is known as an athletic, puck-moving D. He has good size at 6’1, 200lbs, and could contribute on the 2nd pair right away if he’s asked to do so. He won an academic award in Saginaw and figures to be the exact type of recruit Lang wants, with a high priority on education, experience, and hard skill.
Grayson Burzynski - D, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
2026 Stats: 59GP-11-47-58
After being traded from Swift Current to Brandon in the offseason, Burzynski put together his best season of junior hockey this year. We’ve spoken at length about Burzynski’s offensive prowess and his comfortability running an offensive attack from the blue line. He is a 4.25-star recruit at Neutral Zone and a point-per-game recruit out of the WHL as a defenseman. Those recruits don’t grow on trees and RPI supposedly beat out some very high-end programs to get him here. I don’t have any doubt that he can contribute offense at a high-level, the question will be how much of the defensive load can he shoulder?
Ryan Michael - D, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
2026 Stats: 67GP-3-30-33
We highlighted Michael last week and are pretty excited for the two-way game he will bring to the Engineer blue line. Michael is uber steady and the type of leader you want in your locker room. He has played 5 seasons with the Blazers, worn a letter for 3, and put together his best season this year as their Captain. He might not have the flash and offensive upside to run a powerplay like Burzynski and Guo, but he is as reliable as they come. I expect Michael to start on the 3rd pair and get time on the PK next fall.
Ethan McCallum - G, Penticton Vees (WHL)
2026 Stats: 34GP-2.63-.907%
RPI’s most recent commitment is Penticton goalie Ethan McCallum. McCallum comes to the Engineers from the Western Hockey League and has split time between Saskatoon and Penticton this year. He started his WHL career in Medicine Hat, where he teamed up with presumptive #1 overall pick Gavin McKenna. We will have a piece out on McCallum soon and how his journey to Penticton has culminated in his best junior season. His .907 Sv% is T-6th in the WHL and he has great size to go with the improving numbers. McCallum will come in next year and presumptively start as the backup to Nate Krawchuk.
Future Arrivals
Ryan Hecker - D, Avon Old Farms (USHS-Prep)
2026 Stats: 28GP-2-6-8
Hecker committed to the Engineers in the fall, as he wraps up his final season at Avon Old Farms before heading off to junior hockey. It’s hard to glean much from high school hockey box scores, but Hecker is well regarded as a good skater with high IQ. His numbers dropped off a bit from last season, going from 14 points to 8. Hecker’s USHL rights were traded from Waterloo to Dubuque during the season, and I’d expect him to go to their camp this summer with the hopes of making the team. He’s still 2-3 years away from college, but making a USHL roster next year would be big for his development.
Leo-Gabriel Gosselin - F, SSFB (QM18AAA) & Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
2026 Stats: 37GP-21-30-51 (QM18AAA) ; 8GP-0-2-2 (QMJHL)
Gosselin had a great year for Seminaire St-Francois Blizzard, finishing around 10th in scoring in their league. His point total from last year swelled from 21 to 51 on less games, which resulted in a number of QMJHL callups. He was a 2nd round pick of Chicoutimi but saw his rights traded this winter to a much worse Baie-Comeau team. This will likely be a good thing for his development and allow him to play in a scoring role when he goes to the QMJHL full time next year. Gosselin also is multiple years away but he has the look of a prospect whose stock is rising.
Smith Recruits
This group of players was originally recruited by Dave Smith’s staff and still seems to be committed to RPI. I would put a pretty low probability of any of them arriving in Troy, but I will briefly highlight each of their years here as they remain in the pipeline for now.
Kamyl Chemrouk - F, Powell River Kings (BCHL)
2026 Stats: 46GP-14-15-29
Chemrouk came out guns blazing when he started the season with the Brooks Bandits, producing well above a point-per-game. He cooled off quite a bit and was traded from Brooks to Coquitlam, and then again to Powell River. He has some work to do next year to be in line for a roster spot in ‘27-28.
Ryan Dwyer - F, Newfoundland Regiment (QMJHL)
2026 Stats: 45GP-5-4-9
Like Chemrouk, Dwyer committed last winter under Smith while they played in Canadian prep. Dwyer made his QMJHL team this summer and mostly played a bottom 6 role for Baie-Comeau and Newfoundland. He may have a chance to make it as a checking forward, but his offense likely needs to develop to make the D1 level.
Carter Matthews - D, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
2026 Stats: 18GP-0-2-2
Matthews started the year with the Trail Smoke Eaters of the BCHL, where he had played his prior 2 seasons. He signed into the WHL halfway through the season and has been fairly quiet since moving up. As an ‘06 birth year, Matthews has one more year of junior hockey left. Given RPI’s surplus of LD’s right now, he seems like a long shot to make it to RPI.
Tafari Chingwaru - D, Lloydminster Bobcats (AJHL)
2026 Stats: 36GP-1-6-7
Chingwaru has had stints in the BCHL, WHL, and the AJHL and struggled to stick in each spot. He is still very young and has more time to develop over the next several years.
I expect those 8 recruits and maybe 1 late addition to head to Troy this fall. Lang has completely turned over the pipeline, and he still has quite a bit of work to do to fill it out for years to come. I can’t wait to see these guys suit up for RPI soon. Let’s go red!