RPI 2026-27: Houston Field House, We Have Lift-off!

[DrDemento]

Broke down previous results with other rebuilds from other programs in the past to do some expectation setting for year 2 under Lang. Thought the data was very interesting, and think you will all enjoy!

Expectations for RPI’s 2nd Season under Coach Lang

Breaking down the anatomy of a rebuild in year 2

www.rpifieldhouse.com

Incredibly interesting and shows the complex work you did to arrive at the conclusions. My take is very simple - you have to just find a Cale Makar and keep your fingers crossed that he does not get hurt or turn pro after his first year!

 

[sezenack]

Incredibly interesting and shows the complex work you did to arrive at the conclusions. My take is very simple - you have to just find a Cale Makar and keep your fingers crossed that he does not get hurt or turn pro after his first year!

Maine ended up in the top 5 two years in a row without a Cale Makar!

 

[rpi2004]

The athletic department never ceases to embarass itself

Would it have killed them to post a roster with basic data? They wait to the last minute to post a half ass roster? lol

 

[Ralph Baer]

Today is 17 September 2026. There are 15 days until RPI's next game.


This is based upon 2 October 2026 for the start of next season.

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Would it have killed them to post a roster with basic data? They wait to the last minute to post a half ass roster? lol

The only thing I can surmise is that they rely on work study students for a lot of this stuff and they aren't yet staffed or up to speed...but his purely a WAG on my part.... But your complaint remains the same. RPI is consistently behind or lacking in the sports information realm. Why I am whining, I would note that the roster is also missing the new AC Matt Nicholson. Ditto for the coaches page.

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Incredibly interesting and shows the complex work you did to arrive at the conclusions. My take is very simple - you have to just find a Cale Makar and keep your fingers crossed that he does not get hurt or turn pro after his first year!

The sad reality for us and most ECAC schools is that if the coaches unearth such a player, they will inevitably depart for a paycheck at a blue chip program....

 

[DrDemento]

The sad reality for us and most ECAC schools is that if the coaches unearth such a player, they will inevitably depart for a paycheck at a blue chip program....

Money talks - and it can be a very persuasive language that it speaks.

 

[DrDemento]

Maine ended up in the top 5 two years in a row without a Cale Makar!

Can you imagine if they were able to bring him or someone like him onto that team?? It has been my experience that at the college level, one super talented D-man can get a team into the upper echelon pretty quickly. Obviously I was joking a bit but all we might need is a boy like Brian Pothier to make a major difference in where we finish this season.

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Money talks - and it can be a very persuasive language that it speaks.

Indeed. And RPI doesn't have much....or any ?? Do we know if we even have any employees currently on the team ?

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Can you imagine if they were able to bring him or someone like him onto that team?? It has been my experience that at the college level, one super talented D-man can get a team into the upper echelon pretty quickly. Obviously I was joking a bit but all we might need is a boy like Brian Pothier to make a major difference in where we finish this season.

He's an all-time great...if he isn't in the ring of honor he needs to be. He's the only RPI player (post Juneau) that I thought would absolutely play in the NHL. Potsie was so damn smooth!

 

[fr. joe]

Yes, https://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2026/03/31_CHN-Special-Report-Part-.php

Thanks, sez

 

[RPIcrank]

RPI tabbed 8th in league’s preseason poll

The complete 2026-27 ECAC Men’s Hockey Preseason Poll results are as follows:

1. Quinnipiac – 120 points
2. Dartmouth – 110 points
3. Cornell – 102 points
4. Clarkson – 86 points
5. Harvard – 73 points
6. Union – 70 points
7. Princeton – 60 points
8. RPI – 56 points
9. Colgate – 45 points
10. St. Lawrence – 29 points
11. Brown – 28 points
12. Yale – 13 points

https://www.troyrecord.com/2026/09/...6th-rpi-tabbed-8th-in-leagues-preseason-poll/

https://ecachockey.com/news/2026/9/...e-second-year-in-a-row-by-league-coaches.aspx

 

[Ralph Baer]

In honor of Luke Goukler, today is 18 September 2026. There are 14 days (2 weeks) until RPI's next game.


This is based upon 2 October 2026 for the start of next season.

 

[Ralph Baer]

He's an all-time great...if he isn't in the ring of honor he needs to be. He's the only RPI player (post Juneau) that I thought would absolutely play in the NHL. Potsie was so damn smooth!

I wonder if coach Lang has thought about adding to the Ring of Honor.

 

[DrDemento]

RPI tabbed 8th in league’s preseason poll

The complete 2026-27 ECAC Men’s Hockey Preseason Poll results are as follows:

1. Quinnipiac – 120 points
2. Dartmouth – 110 points
3. Cornell – 102 points
4. Clarkson – 86 points
5. Harvard – 73 points
6. Union – 70 points
7. Princeton – 60 points
8. RPI – 56 points
9. Colgate – 45 points
10. St. Lawrence – 29 points
11. Brown – 28 points
12. Yale – 13 points

https://www.troyrecord.com/2026/09/...6th-rpi-tabbed-8th-in-leagues-preseason-poll/

https://ecachockey.com/news/2026/9/...e-second-year-in-a-row-by-league-coaches.aspx

Seems about right to me - but i am hoping for a couple spots above that (perhaps as high as 6th). it does appear that we have a top 3, followed by a middle six and than a bottom 3. Within that middle 6 it might be a bit hard to discern who will end up where and those placings could be very important come playoff time.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Seems about tight to me - but i am hoping for a couple spots above that (perhaps as high as 6th). it does appear that we have a top 3, followed by a middle six and than a bottom 3. Within that middle 6 it might be a bit hard to discern who will end up where and those placings could be very important come playoff time.

What do you regard the logical lines to be?

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Here is your latest and completely unofficial HFH construction update as of Fri. 9/18:

-Two large tractor trailer mounted compressor and chiller units have been placed out back of HFH
-Work with temporary hoses/piping appears to be underway to connect these uits to the HFH ice sheet plumbing
-On the other side of the building crews and a vacuum truck are on site and look to be working to clear a sewer backup ...(can't make it up)
-There is a good sized pile of empty pallets in the parking lot which weren't there earlier....the optimist in me wants to think they are from board installation work

All of the HFH doors are locked up tight so I couldn't steal a peek at the rink
I have no idea whether there is an issue with new system or if the trailer mounted units are part of the planned commissioning of the new system, but either way it appears they are getting ready to start making ice...

-End of report-

 

[rpi82]

Here is your latest and completely unofficial HFH construction update as of Fri. 9/18:

-Two large tractor trailer mounted compressor and chiller units have been placed out back of HFH
-Work with temporary hoses/piping appears to be underway to connect these uits to the HFH ice sheet plumbing
-On the other side of the building crews and a vacuum truck are on site and look to be working to clear a sewer backup ...(can't make it up)
-There is a good sized pile of empty pallets in the parking lot which weren't there earlier....the optimist in me wants to think they are from board installation work

All of the HFH doors are locked up tight so I couldn't steal a peek at the rink
I have no idea whether there is an issue with new system or if the trailer mounted units are part of the planned commissioning of the new system, but either way it appears they are getting ready to start making ice...

-End of report-

Something went wrong. I can't imagine a truck mounted refrigeration plant is standard operating procedure for commissioning a new ice making system. The good news, I guess, is that it would imply the piping is functional so the process can get started, but any time they use a temporary system I get chills (no pun intended). How many years did we use a "temporary" complete system after the 1982 system failed?

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Something went wrong. I can't imagine a truck mounted refrigeration plant is standard operating procedure for commissioning a new ice making system. The good news, I guess, is that it would imply the piping is functional so the process can get started, but any time they use a temporary system I get chills (no pun intended). How many years did we use a "temporary" complete system after the 1982 system failed?

That's what my gut is telling me...hopefully we're wrong.