Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Athletics

For as long as the team has been around, so has the band. Whether the Engineers are playing at home at the Houston Field House or on the road, the band, which is completely student-run, is there to make as much noise as possible.

It happened every year beginning in the early 1970s. It has lasted for as many as 179 consecutive days, 24 hours a day. It was written about in numerous national publications, including Sports Illustrated and USA Today as well as in The Boston Globe, The Hartford Courant and in all the Capital Region newspapers. It was even featured on “CBS News Morning”.

The Hockey Line – a tradition in which students camped out outside the Student Union in order to purchase their season tickets for the men’s hockey games – started in 1973. Back then the Houston Field House had numerous support columns that obstructed the view from many seats. In order to be able to purchase seats having an unobstructed view of the ice, individuals and groups of students formed lines at the Student Union, waiting for tickets to be sold.

The groups were allowed to rotate the people waiting on the line so that students could eat and go to class, yet maintain their positions. Of course there were other rules and regulations that had to be followed, including no such amenities as tents or the use of any heating or cooking devices. There was a finite amount of power and playing stereos was prohibited, except on Fridays and Saturdays for groups that had valid party permits issued by the Dean of Students Office.

Since then, renovations and improvements to the Field House have removed most of the supports, but the Hockey Line tradition remained. The rules also changed. In recent years, students hauled their mattresses, books, I-Pods, X-Boxes, blankets, and more to Hockey Line.  

While a wait of more than just a couple of consecutive days of sleeping, eating, studying, and hanging around outside is to be commended, recent longest stays were not even close to the record of 179 days, which was set in 1985.

It was March 31 – less than 24 hours after the 1985 Engineers brought home the school’s second NCAA National Championship – when members of the Psi Upsilon fraternity set up camp. For the next six months, they battled the elements as successfully as a mail carrier. When the tickets went on sale on September 25, the previous mark of 34 days was absolutely obliterated. Their effort was certainly worthwhile as they garnered national attention, raised money for charity and, most importantly, got the seats they wanted.

Hockey line has evolved into an event which allows students and student groups to camp outside the Student Union, if they choose, and enjoy food and games with the men’s hockey players while waiting for season tickets to go on sale.

The Red/White Scrimmage traditionally occurs during the first week of practice to allow the fans an opportunity to see the veteran Engineers back on the ice as well as to catch a glimpse of the newcomers for the first time in a game setting. The scrimmage is always free to the public.

Every year prior to the regular season opener, the men’s and women’s teams host an open skate at the Houston Field House to help the fans acquaint themselves with the Engineers. The players not only skate, they chat, sign autographs, and pose for pictures with the participants. It’s an event that is anticipated annually. In recent years, the Skate has been held right after the Red/White Scrimmage.

To a man, the Engineers understand how fortunate they are to be able to be in the position they are: attending one of the top academic institutions in the country and having the opportunity to wear the Cherry and White in front of some of the best fans in the entire nation. It is with that in mind that Rensselaer’s student-athletes and coaches do everything they can to give back to the community. Whether it is cleaning up area parks, conducting clinics for youth players, reading at local elementary schools, collecting food for the needy or gathering gifts for less fortunate children around the holidays, RPI’s players work hard to enhance the lives of others.

Each spring, Rensselaer’s hockey alumni reunite for the opportunity to lace up the skates and take part in the Annual Alumni Game on the Houston Field House sheet of ice. Former players from around North America come back to reminisce about old times and to visit with many of the Rensselaer faithful who they knew while student-athletes at RPI. Each returning alum is also recognized during a between-periods, on-ice ceremony. Over the past few seasons, among those welcomed back were members of the 1954 National Championship Team as well as the 1985 team that won the NCAA title as the two squads celebrated significant anniversaries.

Every year prior to the regular season home finale, each of the seniors and their families are honored in front of the crowd. This ceremony not only recognizes each class, it allows the fans to recognize each student-athlete for their years of dedication to Rensselaer.