TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's hockey program and C. Lloyd Bauer '55 Endowed Head Coach Eric Lang have announced the addition of 19 newcomers ahead of the Engineers' 2025-26 campaign. This year's incoming class is comprised of ten freshmen and nine transfers, including two graduate students. The group features 10 forwards, seven defensemen, and two goaltenders, bringing a diverse blend of NCAA experience and junior success from leagues such as the USHL, BCHL, AJHL, NAHL, and OHL—as well as international competition from Europe's top junior circuits.
"We are incredibly excited about this recruiting class," said Coach Lang. "We've identified hard skill and high character players from winning programs who will not only set the standard for how RPI hockey needs to play today but while also lay the foundation for our future. We have players that have an opportunity to play and be a part of a special RPI hockey fraternity. We can't wait to coach and develop this special group."
Presenting the 2025-26 RPI Men's Hockey newcomers, in alphabetical order:
Ethan Bono – Junior (Transfer – Merrimack College)
Center – 6'3" – Port McNeill, British Columbia
Bono arrives in Troy after a two-year stint at Merrimack College. The 6'3" centerman appeared in 62 games for the Warriors, recording 18 points in Hockey East play. Prior to college, Bono developed in the BCHL with Alberni Valley, where he posted three straight double-digit goal seasons, including a 17-goal, 20-assist effort in 2022-23.
Bruno Bruveris – Junior (Transfer – Miami University (Ohio))
Goalie – 6'1" – Riga, Latvia
Bruveris offers a wealth of international and collegiate experience between the pipes. A two-year starter at Miami (Ohio), he made 34 appearances from 2023–25, stopping over 780 shots. Prior to the NCAA, he played three years in the USHL with Cedar Rapids and represented Dinamo Riga in the KHL. Known for his athleticism and composure, Bruveris also played for Latvia's national junior team.
Matthew Buckley – Freshman
Right Wing – 5'11" – Ottawa, Ontario
Buckley joins RPI after four years in the OHL with the Oshawa Generals, where he amassed 113 points in 237 games. His breakout year came in 2023-24, when he scored 30 goals and added 21 assists.
Cole Gordon – Junior (Transfer – Arizona State University)
Forward – 6'1" – Windsor, Colorado
Gordon spent two seasons at Arizona State, appearing in 64 games and contributing five points in the NCHC. He previously developed with the NAHL's Minnesota Wilderness, where he saw significant year-over-year growth, culminating in a 22-point campaign in 2022-23.
Jack Gorton – Junior (Transfer – Boston University)
Right Wing – 6'3" – Granite Springs, New York
Gorton arrives in Troy from Boston University, where he spent the 2024-25 season. Prior to his time in Hockey East, he enjoyed two productive campaigns in the BCHL with Victoria, posting 45 points (17 goals, 28 assists) in 2022-23.
Landen Hilditch – Freshman
Defenseman – 6'3" – Surrey, British Columbia
Hilditch brings a physical, shutdown style after spending multiple seasons in the BCHL. He combined for 20 points across 57 games between the West Kelowna Warriors and Penticton Vees in 2024-25. A steady presence on the back end, Hilditch complements RPI's mix of veteran and rookie defensemen.
Matthew Jovanovic – Freshman
Defenseman – 6'2" – Toronto, Ontario
Jovanovic returns to the ice after last suiting up with the Des Moines Buccaneers in the USHL.
Thomas Klassek – Freshman
Defenseman – 6'0" – Klagenfurt, Austria
Klassek brings European experience to the blue line, having played professionally with Klagenfurt AC in Austria. He recorded 17 points in the AlpsHL in 2023-24 and skated in 18 games with the senior team in Austria's top division during 2024-25.
Nate Krawchuk – Freshman
Goalie – 6'2" – Thunder Bay, Ontario
Krawchuk joins the Engineers after three seasons with the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL, where he logged 88 total appearances. He registered a 19-20-5 record and made 1,335 saves in 2024-25, including four shootout appearances.
Jackson Kyrkostas – Freshman
Center – 5'11" – West Palm Beach, Florida
Kyrkostas comes to RPI following two standout years with the BCHL's West Kelowna Warriors. In 2024-25, he led the team in assists (44) and posted 57 points in 54 games after recording 48 points the previous season.
Lucas Lemieux – Freshman
Defenseman – 6'4" – Edmonton, Alberta
Lemieux is a towering left-shot defenseman who totaled 41 points (13 goals, 28 assists) in 53 games with the Trail Smoke Eaters of the BCHL in 2024-25. He also spent time with Camrose of the AJHL earlier in his junior career. Known for his puck-moving skills and offensive upside from the blue line, Lemieux adds size and scoring punch to the defensive corps.
Alfred Lindberg – Junior (Transfer – American International College)
Center – 5'11" – Hallsberg, Sweden
Lindberg adds experience down the middle after playing the last two seasons at American International College. He recorded 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in just 20 games as a junior and added another 11 points in his senior campaign. A product of Sweden's junior system and the NAHL's New Mexico Ice Wolves, Lindberg brings a balanced scoring and two-way presence to the Engineers' forward group.
Trevor Russell – Graduate (Transfer – Michigan Tech)
Defenseman – 6'2" – Old Hickory, Tennessee
A seasoned NCAA blueliner, Russell played 72 games for Michigan Tech over three seasons. Known for his stay-at-home style, he registered seven assists in 2023-24 and brings CCHA postseason and NCAA Tournament experience to Troy. Russell previously played in the NAHL with Aberdeen, including a breakout 35-point campaign in 2020-21.
Ian Scherzer – Freshman
Center – 5'11" – Villach, Austria
Scherzer played the 2024-25 season in the USHL with the Madison Capitols, where he recorded 20 points in 39 games. Previously, he developed through Rogle BK's Swedish junior system and brings international exposure to the lineup.
Filip Sitar – Sophomore (Transfer – University of Connecticut)
Center – 5'11" – Ljubljana, Slovenia
Sitar transfers to RPI after one season at UConn, where he skated in 31 games. A former standout in Sweden's junior ranks, he produced 50 points with Malmö's U20 team in 2023-24 before joining the Redhawks in the SHL. Sitar also has professional experience in Sweden's second division.
Kazimier Sobieski – Sophomore (Transfer – UMass Amherst)
Defenseman – 6'0" – Deerfield, Massachusetts
Sobieski comes to RPI following an impressive 2024-25 season with the USHL's Youngstown Phantoms, where he totaled 27 points (eight goals, 19 assists) in 38 games. He also spent part of the year with UMass-Amherst, appearing in five games. A puck-moving blueliner with offensive instincts, Sobieski posted 24 points the prior season with Sioux Falls and brings high-end junior and NCAA experience.
Gunnar Van Damme – Junior (Transfer – University of Alaska-Anchorage)
Defenseman – 6'0" – Pittsford, New York
Van Damme adds depth and physicality to the defensive unit after two seasons at Alaska-Anchorage. He played in 68 games for the Seawolves, notching 16 points, including six this past season. His path to college included stops in the NAHL and OJHL, where he contributed over 50 points and established himself as a dependable two-way presence.
Tyler Wallace – Junior (Transfer – Niagara University)
Forward – 6'2" – Calgary, Alberta
Wallace joins RPI as a transfer from Niagara University, where he tallied 56 points over two seasons. The Calgary native had back-to-back productive campaigns in Atlantic Hockey, including 13 goals and 17 assists in 2023-24, followed by 14 goals and 12 helpers in 2024-25. Prior to Niagara, Wallace was a prolific scorer in the AJHL, notching 84 points (42 goals, 42 assists) in 2022-23 with the Blackfalds Bulldogs.
Luciano Wilson – Graduate (Transfer – Minnesota State)
Forward – 5'10" – Duncan, British Columbia
Wilson brings over 100 games of collegiate experience from Minnesota State, where he totaled 39 points across three seasons, including 13 points in 2024-25. Prior to his NCAA career, Wilson dominated the BCHL, posting 75 points in 2021-22 with Penticton and 53 with Cowichan Valley in 2019-20.
