SEASON BEGINS
Rensselaer opens its regular season schedule this Saturday with the first of a two-game series at Minnesota State-Mankota. Puck drop on both days is set for 2:07 central time.

FIRST MEETING
The Engineers and Mavericks have never met prior to this weekend's series.

IN MINNESOTA
RPI will play its seventh and eighth games ever in the state of Minnesota this season. The Engineers traveled to Augsburg and Saint Mary's during their Division III days, while playing four Division I games in the state recently. They fell at Bemidji State on October 4, 2014 and are 3-0 on two trips to St. Cloud State.

LAST TIME OUT
Freshmen Aliyah Lance and Mikayla Capelle netted bookend goals, with sophomore Lauren Severson potting the other in a 3-0 victory over Carleton University, last Sunday in an exhibition game at the Houston Field House. Senior captain Lovisa Selander stopped all seven shots she faced over the opening 40 minutes between the pipes, while classmate Kira Bombay was also a perfect 7-for-7 over the final 20.

TOP RETURNERS FOR RPI
The Engineers bring back four of their top five scorers from a season ago, including top point-getter Jaimie Grigsby (10 goals, 10 assists), who had 20 in 34 contests. Sabrina Repaci (4 goals, 10 assists) was third with 14 points, while Makenna Thomas (6 goals, 7 assists) had 13.

GOALTENDERS
Lovisa Selander (9-16-5; 2.22 GAA; .932 SV%) and Kira Bombay (0-3-1; 2.06; .939) are both back from strong junior campaigns.

PRESEASON ALL-LEAGUE
Senior goaltender Lovisa Selander was selected Preseason All-ECAC Hockey by the league's coaches. A second-team All-ECAC Hockey choice after last season, she was also the conferences preseason pick prior to the 2016-17 season.

COACHES POLL
Rensselaer picked to finish ninth in the 12-team ECAC Hockey in the league's coaches poll. Receiving 36 points, the Engineers were named just ahead of area-rival Union College (10th), Dartmouth (11th) and Brown (12th). Defending National Champions Clarkson earned 11 first place votes in the top spot, with Colgate earning one in the second spot.
CAPTAINS ANNOUNCED
Second-year head coach Bryan Vines announced the captains for the 2018-19 season last week and senior goaltender Lovisa Selander was tabbed captain, while classmate Jaimie Grigsby, Josefine Hansen and Aly Tremblay will serve as assistants. Tremblay is wearing an "A" for the second straight year, while the other three are the wearing a letter for the first times in their collegiate careers.

2017-18 TEAM STATS
RPI averaged 1.59 goals per game on an average of 27.1 shots last season. Defensively, the Engineers allowed 2.29 goals per contest on 32.9 shots.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Rensselaer converted power plays at a 12.0% clip last season, going 16 for 133, including 10 for 81 in league play (12.3%). On the kill, the Engineers finished at 86.8% (79 for 91).

NATIONAL TEAMERS
Senior Lovisa Selander participated in Sweden's national team camp over the summer for the first time in her career. Classmate Josefine Hansen has been a standout for Denmark's senior squad since 2016, competing in international play and even earning "Top Defenseman" honors.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Engineers welcome Holy Cross to the Houston Field House for their home opener on October 6 (3pm).