Some goaltending help is on the way for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Head coach Seth Appert has received a verbal commitment from Scott Diebold, a 6-foot-1, 147-pound 18-year old from the Buffalo suburb of Cheektowaga.
Since No. 1 goalie Allen York decided to leave RPI one year early to sign with the New Jersey Devils, the Engineers were left with only last year's backup, junior-to-be Bryce Merriam.
Diebold, who spent the 2010-11 season with the Tri City Storm of the United States Hockey League and was the team’s Rookie of the Year, said RPI was an easy choice for him, even though he picked the school from among at least two teams from the other three major conferences in college hockey.
“As soon as I walked on the (RPI) campus, it felt right to me,” Diebold said. “I fell in love with community there at the campus and you couldn’t get a better fit with the goaltending coach being the head coach.
“(And) you can’t pass up the opportunity to get that kind of education in life,” he added.
Diebold posted a 10-16-3 record with Tri-City, including four shutouts in 35 games and had a 2.75 goals-against average and 91.3 save percentage.
Appert and his staff had landed highly-touted goaltender Jason Kasdorf of Winnipeg, Man. to take York’s place for the 2012-13 season. Since York’s departure, it’s expected that Appert will try to bring in the 6-4, 200-pound Kasdorf one year sooner.
Diebold was added as insurance in case that doesn’t happen.
Half the other teams in ECAC Hockey had their sights on Diebold.
He was drafted in the 2010 USHL Entry Draft with the 278th overall pick (19th round) by the Storm. Despite the heavy recruitment this past season, Diebold said that he wanted to wait until the season was over before extensively researching schools to further his career.
“I just wanted to focus on the season and not miss practices to visit schools since there are only two goalies for practice and you need them both,” Diebold said. “I wanted to show my teammates that my focus was on the team and not my personal endeavors.”
Diebold says that his choice of major is undecided right now, but he has plenty of time to figure that out before attending classes at Rensselaer beginning in the Fall of 2012.
And he’ll have to hit the weights hard. Although coaches are prohibited by NCAA regulations from commenting on recruits until they’ve signed but Appert expressed he has no concern with Diebold filling out.
Appert also continues to express confidence Merriam.
While York was injured last season, Merriam posted a 2-2-1 record with a 2.71 earned run average and 91.3 saves percentage. Career-wise, Bethel Park, Pa. native has a 6-6-1 record in 15 games with a 2.47 GAA and 91.4 saves percentage.