Former Engineers hockey player Mathias Lange ’09 will represent Austria as a member of the hockey team in the upcoming Sochi Olympics, it has been announced. Lange, who is currently playing for the Iserlohn Roosters in Germany, was a standout goaltender for Rensselaer from 2005 to 2009.
The Klagenfurt, Austria, native finished his collegiate career ranked among the top three in school history in numerous categories, including all-time games played (108) and started (102) by a goalie, as well as minutes (6,196:39) and saves (2,688). He was first in ties with 17. Lange had a career record of 29-57-17 with a 2.95 goals-against average and an .898 save percentage.
Former Engineers hockey player Mathias Lange ’09 will represent Austria as a member of the hockey team in the Sochi Olympics.
“We are extremely proud and excited about Mathias’s opportunity to represent his country in the upcoming Olympics,” said Jim Knowlton, director of athletics. “He had an outstanding career for the Engineers while he was here and he has continued to refine his skills, which opened the door for this opportunity. We know he will be an outstanding ambassador for his country and for Rensselaer while in Sochi.”
As a freshman in 2005-06, Lange played in a school-record 35 games, including 34 as a starter. His 2,041.24 minutes are second in history for a single season and his six ties (13-15-6) established a new mark. He was the league’s Rookie of the Week four times, a unanimous All-Rookie Team choice, and the team’s Most Valuable Player. A member of numerous All-Tournament Teams throughout his career, Lange earned his second team MVP award following his junior year.
During his senior season, Lange played in 25 games, including 24 as a starter, and posted a 5-17-2 record with a 3.24 goals-against average and an .896 save percentage. In 17 ECAC Hockey contests, he was 5-11-1, with a 3.23 average and an .894 save percentage.
Lange is coming off a successful professional season a year ago, having enjoyed his success internationally by earning playoff Most Valuable Player honors after backstopping his German League team, the Bietigheim Steelers, to the championship. He was then named to represent Austria in the IIHF World Championship.
A management major with a sports psychology minor at Rensselaer, Lange carried a cumulative grade point average of 3.76 into the spring semester. He was on the dean’s list every semester, was a multiple ECAC Hockey All-Academic selection, and was a member of the Management Honor Society. He was a finalist for the Lowe’s Senior Class Award, the ECAC Hockey Scholar-Athlete Award Runner-Up, the team’s Community Service Award honoree, and the Livingston Houston Award recipient as the “First Citizen of the College.”
