Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Athletics

Chase Polacek, a forward, 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 National All-America. 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. The Academy of Holy Angels graduate 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.
 

Forward … 2007-08: Played all 38 games … Seven goals and team-high 21 assists for 28 points … One power play goal … Twelve penalties for 24 minutes … ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week 1x … ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team … ECAC Hockey All-Academic ... Team was 11-23-4 … 2008-09: Played all 39 games … Eleven goals and 21 assists for 32 points – all team-highs … Team-highs of five power play goals and three and game-winning goals … School record for fastest goal in overtime (9 seconds) … Had 28 penalties for 59 minutes … ECAC Hockey All-Academic ... Team was 10-27-2 … 2009-10: Played all 39 games ... Team-high 26 goals with 26 assists for team-best 52 points ... Team-highs of 13 power play goals and two short-handed goals ... Two game-winning goals ... Twenty penalties for 40 minutes ... ECAC Hockey Player of the Week 2x ... All-ECAC Hockey First Team … ECAC Hockey Player of the Year … AHCA National All-America … Hobey Baker Top 10 Finalist ... ECAC Hockey All-Academic ... Team was 18-17-4 … 2010-11: Assistant Captain … Played 38 games ... Team-high 21 goals with 27 assists for team-best 48 points … Team-highs of 11 power play goals and two shorthanded goals … Led nation in game-winning goals (9) … Had 18 penalties for 36 minutes ... Pre-Season All-ECAC Hockey ... INCH Pre-Season All-America First Team ... Rensselaer Invitational All-Tournament Team ... ECAC Hockey Player of the Week 2x … USCHO.com Third Star 1x ... INCH National Player of the Week 2x ... Hobey Baker Award List ... HCA Commissioners' Player of the Month Honorable Mention 1x ... Lowe's Senior CLASS Award Finalist ... INCH All-ECAC Hockey ... INCH ECAC Hockey Player of the Year ... All-ECAC Hockey First Team ... ECAC Hockey Player of the Year ... Hobey Baker Top 10 Finalist … ECAC Hockey All-Academic … Team was 20-13-5 … Played in NCAA Tournament ... Career: All-League 2x … Player of the Year 2x … National All-America 2x … Hobey Baker Award Top 10 Finalist 2x … Other: Rensselaer Male Freshman Athlete of the Year … Rensselaer Male Athlete of the Year 2x … Rensselaer Male Career Athlete.