hockeyDB.com: Bailen | Foss

TROY, N.Y. - A pair of former Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student-athletes have signed professional hockey contracts to play in Finland in the 2013-14 season. Defenseman Nick Bailen '13 has inked a deal with Tappara, while Foss '11, also a blueliner, has signed with KalPa. 

A native of Fredonia, N.Y., Bailen had a team-high 31 points on a team-best 12 goals and 19 assists in 35 games this season. Seven of his goals came on the power play and two were game-winners. He had nine penalties for 18 minutes. In 22 league contests, he had 19 points, scoring nine goals with 10 assists. Five of his markers came with the man-advantage and two were game-winners.

Bailen, who played with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League (AHL) following the season, had at least one point in 19 games, including nine contests with multiple points. He scored goals in 10 different games and had at least one assist in 13. His most prolific stretch came late in the campaign when he tallied 14 points (7 goals, 7 assists) in eight games to close out the regular season.

“Our program and coaching staff is very proud of Nick and what he has accomplished during his years at RPI," said head coach Seth Appert. "To be a two-time All-America and likely a two-time Academic All-America is an extraordinary feat. The Finnish League is one of the best professional leagues in the world and this opportunity will give both Nick and Jeff a chance to build promising pro careers.”

He was also the ECAC Hockey Player of the Week twice, chosen to the All-ECAC Hockey First Team, named a CCM Hockey National All-America East First Team and tabbed to the All-USCHO.com Second Team.

Among the league leaders, he was second in defensemen scoring and overall power play goals. He was also 12th in both points and assists. Nationally, Bailen is second in defensemen scoring and 11th in power play goals. RPI finished with an 18-14-5 overall record and was second in ECAC Hockey (12-7-3).

In 149 career games, Bailen had 33 goals and 72 assists for 105 points. He was just the fourth Engineers blueliner to eclipse the 100-point plateau.

His single season career-high was 36 points (8 goals, 28 assists) in 2010-11 when he earned All-ECAC Hockey First Team honors and National All-America recognition. That year he had eight goals and 28 assists for 36 points in 36 games, helping the Engineers to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1995. He ranked among the league and national leaders in defensemen scoring. 

Foss played every game over his four years at RPI, setting the school record, along with classmate Chase Polacek, with 154 career contests. The Moorhead, Minn., native concluded his collegiate career with eight goals and 30 assists for 38 points. He had a career-high 14 points on three goals and 11 assists this year, in which he helped the Engineers to 20 wins and their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1995.

Foss was an assistant captain who typically played against the opposing team's best forwards.  He was selected as the team's Best Defensive Player at the Engineers' year-end banquet following his senior campaign.

Following his freshman season, in which he had four points (1 goal, 3 assists), he was selected by the Nashville Predators in the sixth round, 166th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.  He had 11 points (2 goals, 9 assists) as a sophomore and nine points (2 goals, 7 assists) as a junior.

Foss spent the past three seasons in the Predators organization competing for the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL and the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL. Last season he competed in 23 games (6 regular season and 17 playoff) for Cincinnati, registering three assists.

In 2011-12, Foss split time between the Admirals and Cyclones. He posted an assist in 28 games with the Admirals and also skated in a pair of playoff contests. Foss skated in 11 games with the Cyclones, recording an assist and +5 rating.