It’s no secret this year that the Engineers will be fielding one of the most inexperienced defense groups in the league. Four freshmen and two sophomores are part of the group, and only one player will be graduating following the year. There’s certainly talent there though, and I expect that they will probably start off a little rough and improve throughout the year. Let’s breakdown the group.
The Vets
Starting with the lone graduating player of the group, Trevor Russell transferred in from Michigan Tech this offseason after graduating there. He missed all of last season due to an injury, but the year prior, he played a key role on an NCAA tournament team as a shutdown defenseman. He is expected to be in the top 4 for RPI this season as well, and he brings key leadership and experience to the young group. Look for him to be the top penalty killer for the unit and to get frequent defensive zone starts.
The staff is really high on Gunnar VanDamme, who comes in from Alaska-Anchorage after two years there. He was their #2 defenseman last season. He has average size, but he’s a very good skater with smooth edges and good overall mobility. He is very good at breaking out the puck and will fit in well with Lang’s system. However, he is not physical and not the best defensively. He projects to start out in the top 4 for RPI, but with the talent behind him, I would not be surprised if he ends up being surpassed by the end of the year.
One of the lone returners from last year on the back end, Jimmy Goffredo is a two way defenseman. He’s a good skater and good at breaking out the puck. His physicality is an underrated part of his game as he is not at all afraid to lay down the lumber. Goffredo has been a mainstay on the 3rd pairing in his two seasons at RPI, and he projects to play the same role this season.
The other returner from last year, Gustavs Ozolins, is a physical, gritty defenseman. He’s undersized and lacks foot speed, but he is extremely intelligent and competitive. He had solid defensive results last season and should fill a 3rd pairing/depth role again this season.
The Rookies
Coming over from Austria is Thomas Klassek. Klassek is a two way defenseman with a lot of talent. He dominated Austria’s U20 league, and he has played a multitude of games in their professional league. He should be ready to play right away due to his experience facing such tough competition in the pro league, and he is expected to be a lineup regular right from the jump.
Donning the same #22 that his father Todd wore at RPI, Landen Hilditch comes to the Engineers after 3 seasons in the BCHL. Last year, he wore the “C” with West Kelowna before a trade to Penticton. He did struggle with injuries and only appeared in 24 games, but by all accounts, he is healthy and ready to go now. Hilditch is an exciting player due to his size and athleticism. He is listed at 6’4” and 200 LBs, and he has very good skating ability for that size. He is also physical and tough in front of his own net. The right side of the defense is pretty talented, so he might not be a lineup regular right away. He is good enough to be a shutdown defenseman in the top 4 long term though.
The X Factors
While these players could fall under other categories, it felt like they deserved one of their own due to the variability in their outcomes.
A BCHL second team All-Star, Lucas Lemieux is arguably the most talented defenseman on the roster. He is 6’4” with outstanding skating ability and great skill and offensive ability to go with it. He has the potential to be a top two way defenseman in the country and earn an NHL contract at the end of his RPI career. He is a bit more raw though than the defensemen projected to be ahead of him on the depth chart. I think his talent will win out, and he will get top 4 minutes by the end of the year. If he does that, it bodes well for RPI’s ceiling since there’s not another player with his skillset. However, he is probably going to be lower in the lineup to start the year.
Another transfer defenseman, Kazimier Sobieski has a unique path compared to the others on the roster. Sobieski played 5 games at UMass and really struggled before returning to the USHL. He was excellent in the USHL for the remainder of the year. He is a very talented offensive defenseman who should be in the top 4 on talent alone. However, his UMass struggles beg the question of whether or not his game translates as well to the college level. I think he’ll be a top 4 mainstay and the QB of one of the power play units, and I do think he will be much better here.
The Wildcard
Lastly, the biggest wildcard on the roster, Matt Jovanovic has had one of the most unique paths in college hockey. His last competitive game was April 24th, 2021 with the Des Moines Buccaneers in the USHL as a 16 year old. Since then, he has struggled with a variety of problems with hip injuries, but he has been back skating for almost a year now. He’s been working with an NHL group in Toronto and has looked good. The range of outcomes are extremely wide for him. He could never regain pre-injury form and only be a depth defenseman in his career. Or he could get back to the elite 16 year old form and become a top player in the country. He probably will fall somewhere in between, but he will be an exciting player to follow at RPI.
Matt Jovanovic commits to RPI
After a couple of late decommits, RPI had an open spot on its roster for another player. Recently on our interview, Coach Lang revealed that spot will be used on defenseman Matt Jovanovic. Hailing from Toronto, Jovanovic is a left shot defenseman listed at 6’2” and 200 LBs, and he has quite the story. (Go to the 38:00 mark of the interview to hear the d…
I’m told that Jovanovic is healthy and cleared to play. He will play his first game in 4.5 years tomorrow against BU. I can’t wait to see him and the rest of the team on the ice tomorrow, when RPI hockey starts this new journey! LET’S GO RED!