TROY, N.Y. – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's hockey team rising sophomore Sutter Muzzatti earned himself a spot into hockey's most prestigious club on Thursday afternoon, as he was drafted in the fifth round, 143^rd overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, hosted in Nashville.
 
Muzzatti joins an elite list for the Engineers, as he becomes RPI's first draft pick since 2018 when Simon Kjellberg was selected in the 6^th round (163 overall) to the New York Rangers. Muzzatti is the first Engineer to be selected after dressing in red since Will Reilly was taken in the 7^th round (217 overall) by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2017.
 
"Sutter has continued his development and is a terrific hockey player and an outstanding person," said head coach Dave Smith. "RPI is proud of this moment for Sutter and his family."
 
One of the more standout freshman in the conference, Muzzatti stepped up and has contributed major minutes for the Engineers this season. He earned himself ECAC All-Rookie Team honors, scoring seven goals and added 15 assists for 22 points in 35 games played. Muzzatti made his mark nationally as well, as the Okimos, Michigan native was named by the Hockey Commissioners Association to their 2023 Tim Taylor Award Watch List – an award given annually to the most outstanding first year player in NCAA Division I men's college hockey. Muzzatti was one of five ECAC Hockey members named to the list.
 
He picked up his pace offensively once the season got underway, including a nine-game point streak that extended from November to the beginning of January that saw him score 13 points and contribute to close games against the league's top opponents. Most recently, Muzzatti had two goals in a 4-3 overtime win against St. Lawrence, including the overtime game-winner that gave the Engineers a series split. Muzzatti also added a goal in RPI's regular season-finale loss to No. 2 Quinnipiac. Muzzatti also added an assist in the team's lone postseason game in a loss to Yale at the Houston Field House.
 
Muzzatti and the men's team finished the season with a 14-20-1 overall record, with a 9-13-0 mark in ECAC hockey play. The Engineers finished the season as the No. 7 seed in the league, hosting a first round ECAC playoff game at the Houston Field House against Yale.