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TROY, N.Y. - The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) hockey programs have added Andrew Thomas to their staffs as the Operations Coordinator, it has been announced by Director of Athletics Jim Knowlton. 

Thomas will assist both women's and men's hockey, handling video coordination, including breaking down games, preparation and pre-scouting for upcoming opponents; team travel coordination; and community relations. He will also serve as special events coordinator, including organizing alumni and community events.

The Bow, N.H., native recently completed his playing career, having spent the past two seasons in Europe. A defenseman, he spent 2012-13 with HDD Olimpija Hockey Club in Slovenia before joining Orli Znojmo Hockey Club in the Czech Republic last year. He was responsible for the development and execution of defensive strategies with Orli Znojmo and was an assistant captain with HDD Olimpija, leading the team to the Slovenian Championship.

Thomas also has extensive professional experience in North America, having played in the American Hockey League and ECHL. Among his stops was a 28-game stint with the Albany Devils in 2010-11 and 12 games with the Adirondack Phantoms the following season. He had a goal and two assists with Albany and was a plus-4 with Adirondack. 

He finished his professional career having played 343 games with 15 goals and 71 assists for 86 points with nine different organizations. 

Thomas played collegiately at the University of Denver, where he and Appert helped the Pioneers to the 2005 NCAA Championship as a freshman. The team also won two Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) playoff titles during his career.

Individually, he was captain as a senior and an assistant captain as a junior. He was chosen by the Washington Capitals in the fourth round (109th overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, was the recipient of the WCHA Scholar Athlete Award in 2008 and was presented the Managerial Leadership Award that same year. 

A Dean's List student, Thomas earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a minor in Business Ethics and Legal Studies from Denver in 2008. He was a member of the Business Ethics and Legal Studies Society and co-founded the Captain's Club, which brought members of intercollegiate teams together for collaboration. He was also involved with various charities while in Colorado.

Rensselaer's women's ice hockey team opens the 2014-15 season on September 26 with an exhibition game against the Ottawa Jr. Senators at the Houston Field House. The men are in action eight days later when they host the University of Prince Edward Island. Both games begin at 7pm.