TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's hockey program and head coach
Dave Smith have announced the eight incoming roster additions for the Engineers' upcoming 2023-24 season. The class consists of four freshman and four transfers. Positionally, the Engineers add six forwards and two defenseman to the lineup.
Ryan Brushett
Forward – 6'0 – Montreal, Quebec
Brushett makes his third collegiate stop in Troy, after spending two years at UMass-Lowell. In 59 career games for the Riverhawks, Brushett scored nine goals and collected 25 assists as a forward. Prior to his time as UMass-Lowell, he spent two years at Nebraska-Omaha (NCHC), appearing in 54 games for Mavericks. He scored three goals and dished out 22 assists for 25 points across two season. Brushett was a two-time NCHC Academic All-Conference honoree while there. Brushett also led Powell River (BCHL) in scoring in 2018-19 and finished second in league scoring with 41 goals and 43 assists for 84 points prior to joining Nebraska-Omaha.
Tyler Hotson
Forward – 5-10 – Stratford, Ontario
Coming in after three years in the USHL, Hotson joins the Engineers after a breakout campaign with the Sioux City Musketeers last season. In his only year with the Musketeers, Hotson scored 12 goals and had 33 assists for 45 points over 44 regular season games. Prior to his year with Sioux City, he played for the Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) for two seasons – totaling 42 points over the two years. Hotson also played for the Islanders Hockey Club (NCDC) in 2020-21 scoring two goals and eight assists over 10 games.
Lucas Matta
Defenseman – 6'2 – Kleinburg, Ontario
A transfer from Western Michigan, appeared in just six games as a freshman last season. He recorded just two shots, with both coming at Miami (OH) Mar. 3 and 4. He made his collegiate debut in a 4-1 victory over Colorado College on Feb. 17. Prior to his time at Western Michigan, Matta spent time at Lake Forest Academy and with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
Brad McNeil
Forward – 6-0 – Royal Oak, Michigan
A native of Royal Oak, Michigan, McNeil names his way to RPI from the NAHL's Maryland Black Bears. He spent three years in the Old Line State, putting up a breakout year with the Black Bears in 2022-23. Named team captain prior to the season, McNeil scored 20 goals and 42 assists for 62 points over 69 games. It was a three-year career high, having accumulated 40 points over his first two seasons in Maryland.
Jeremie Payant
Forward – 5'10 – Hawkesbury, Ontario
Coming off a 23 goal season with the Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL), Payant brings back-to-back 20-plus assist seasons as well to RPI. Recently, Payant played two seasons for Nanaimo, putting up 47 goals and 45 assists for 92 points the last two seasons. Prior to his time with the Clippers, Payant spent two seasons with the Hawkesbury Hawks (CCHL) – sharing the ice with fellow addition
Dovar Tinling in 2019-20 with the Hawks. In his two seasons in Hawkesbury, he collected 28 points over 66 games with 11 goals and 17 assists.
CJ Regula
Defenseman – 6'3 – Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Another defenseman added to this season's back line, Regula makes his way from Ohio State University after spending four years with the Buckeyes. In 89 career games in Columbus, Regula collected two goals and 10 assists for 10 career points. Over 36 games in his senior season in 2022-23, he collected two assists while posting multiple games with a positive plus-minus – including a +3 at Mercyhurst on Oct. 1. Regula was a three-time Ohio State Scholar Athlete, two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, and AHCA Scholar All-American in 2020. Prior to Ohio State, he spent three years in the NAHL with multiple organizations.
Nathan Sullivan
Forward – 6-0 – Calgary, Alberta
One of the younger additions at just 19 years old, Sullivan brings two previous seasons in the AJHL with the Camrose Kodiaks to Troy. Last season, Sullivan collected 29 points with 13 goals and 16 assists over 29 games with the Kodiaks. Sullivan also appeared in 41 games for Camrose in 2021-22, scoring two goals and five assists that season. His brother, Ryan, will also be joining the ECAC Hockey as a member of the Colgate Raiders.
Dovar Tinling
Forward – 5-11 – Pointe-Claire, Quebec
A former Vermont Catamount recruit and once the youngest player in NCAA at just 17 years old, Tinling arrives in Troy after spending the last few years competing in junior hockey. Most recently, Tinling played for the Penticton Vees of the BCHL, appearing in 43 games with 17 goals and 30 asissts for 47 points in the regular season. In the BCHL playoffs, he scored eight goals and dished out 13 assists for 21 points over 17 games. Tinling also played one season for the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL in 2021-22 putting up 25 points in 39 games after spending two years with the Catamounts in 2020-21 and 2021-22. The Pointe-Claire, Quebec native also played in the CCHL for the Hawkesbury Hawks in 2019-20, putting up 51 points over 50 games. Last summer, Tinling attended development camp for the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers.
