TROY, N.Y. -- Freshman forward Chase Polacek has been named Rensselaer's 2007-08 Male Freshman of the Year, it was announced Thursday by the school's department of athletics.

Polacek, a native of Edina, Minn., played in all 38 games for the Engineers as a freshman, tallying seven goals and a team-high 21 assists for 28 points. He posted a team-best 17 points (4 goals, 13 assists) and 20 penalty minutes in 22 ECAC Hockey contests and was third in the league in points among freshmen. Named to the ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team, the Academy of Holy Angels graduate was also a league All-Academic selection.