Chase Polacek is one of four former standouts that will be enshrined into the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Athletics Hall of Fame.
Polacek, a 2011 graduate and forward from Edina, Minn., never missed a game in his career, setting the school record for games played with 154. He notched 65 goals with 95 assists for 160 career points and led the team in scoring each of his last three seasons.
He ranked 19th all-time in career points and was a three-time team Most Valuable Player, a two-time Hobey Baker Award finalist, a two-time First Team All-America and the ECAC Hockey Player of the Year twice – only the third student-athlete to accomplish that feat in the history of the conference.
In his senior season, Polacek led ECAC Hockey in numerous categories on his way to capturing many prestigious accolades for the second straight season, including ECAC Hockey Player of the Year, Hobey Baker Award finalist and being named an All-American. In 38 games, he had 21 goals and 27 assists for 48 points. Twenty-five of his points (11 goals, 14 assists) came on the power play and he had a national-best nine game-winning goals. Polacek ranked first in the league in points, points per game (1.26) and power play points. The business major was second in goals, power play goals and shorthanded goals. Polacek, an assistant captain, led the Engineers to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1995.
Polacek will be inducted at Rensselaer’s annual Hall of Fame Banquet, which will be held on April 27 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Troy, N.Y. at 6 p.m. Anyone interested in attending the ceremony, including former teammates, should contact Sachi Vines, director of marketing and promotions, at (518) 276-4855 or at enas@rpi.edu.
