2025-2026
Conductor: Avery Kim, Aidan Reed
Managers: Kya Aranha, Jack Preisler, Will Robertson, Edward Ruppar
Freakout opponent: Harvard
Road Trips
October 31st, 2025: Men's Hockey @ Union
Day trip to Union College in the first game of the Blackout Weekend. This was the first game at Union's new hockey area "M&T Bank Center". 5-2 Victory for the Engineers with two goals by Tyler Wallace and Ethan Bono and a fifth by Thomas Klassek! Union's band remained small enough that the RPI Pep Band played the Anthems despite being the away band. The bands did form a super band and played "Bad Romance" together.
November 15th, 2025: Dutchman Shoes Trophey @ Union
The Engineers lost the Shoes to Union in a 21-28 defeat.
November 21st, 2025: Men's Hockey @ Colgate University
The first leg of the weekend trip was a 2-1 defeat for the Engineers in Hamilton. The experience was also marred by some fairly drunk Colgate supporters who verbally harassed the band, one of whom tried to come into our area of the stands, and who threw some of their beer onto the band at the end of the game. The bands played in a super band and Colgate's Band was also bothered by their own fans. The band was escorted by security out of the arena at the end of the game.
November 22nd, 2025: Men's Hockey @ Cornell University
The second leg of the fall trip ended in a 6-1 loss for the Engineers. The Cornell fans packed their arena and were gracious hosts for the band. The Cornell band had been expected to be absent but arrived during second period. While there was no super band some Cornell band members did briefly join the RPI band.
January 24th, 2026: Mayors Cup @ MVP Arena
Union played the "host" as the Engineers failed to win either game in two frustrating losses. The Women lost 3-4 and the Men lost 4-5 in overtime. The Engineers gave up two goals after Union pulled their goalie to equalize and won it in extra time, much to the despair of the band.
February 9th, 2026: Women's Hockey @ Colgate University
The Band took a day trip back to Hamilton to watch the Women's team take on Colgate on their senior night. The band brought 35 Peppers into the Class of 1965 arena and Colgate's band declined a super band, despite being at the game. The women brought the game to overtime with an incredible performance by Reese Keating who kept out 43 of Colgate's 45 shots, but failed to win on the night with a final score of 2-1. The Band unfortunately did not clap for the team after the game as temperatures were dropping well into the negatives. Colgate fans were much more welcoming this time around. The band was only heckled by a handful of sober elementary schoolers.
February 27th, 2026: Men's Hockey @ Brown University
Following an electrifying Freakout win the previous Saturday, the band traveled to Brown. The local alumni chapter was at this game and got a nice picture with the band. The Brown Pep Band didn't arrive until the third period, as their athletics department wanted them at a basketball game. Since they showed up late, they sat in the section next to our band, creating a thrilling atmosphere for the close game. An empty netter sealed a 3-1 RPI win! The hockey team fist bumped members of the band as they came onto the ice and tapped their sticks on the glass after the victory.
February 28th, 2026: Men's Hockey @ Yale University
The band spent the afternoon at the Connecticut Post Mall before heading to the "Yale Whale" on their senior night. The band traded friendly barbs with the Yale Pep Band, we copied their turns during their fight song and they copied our conductor's arm motions during Hail. During the second intermission, one of their members came over with a Clash Royale match code and played against Jayden Loibl. Despite an attempted late comeback by Yale, RPI won their last regular season game 4-2! Once again, the hockey team came over to the band's section after the game. As the band quietly played Hey Baby! outside, Yale's band congratulated us, asked if they could "offend" us, and played F*ck You as we made a kick-line and danced the Cotton Eye Joe. The Engineers ended February with a 5-2-1 record. What a month!
Regular Season
Football
Men's Hockey
After Dave Smith was fired last season, Eric Lang joined the men's team as their new head coach, bringing effectively an entirely new hockey team with him (around 8 returning members remained on the team in the transition).
- 11-22-1 (8-13-1 ECAC)
Women's Hockey
Captain Nina Christoff departed the team in late January to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan representing Germany. She was accompanied to Milan by her boyfriend Henry Rogers.
- 7-28-0 (4-18-0 ECAC)
- Mayor's Cup vs. Union: L 3-4
Playoffs
Men's Hockey
A contingent of about 20 Peppers + 1 guest ended their spring breaks early and made the grave mistake of visiting Potsdam, NY (basically Canada). There they witnessed a 1-2 defeat of the Engineers and went home sad after a very long trip.
Women's Hockey
L, 2-4 at Colgate University
Other
- A new cheer sheet was arranged. Mason Wong was the primary lead, Jason Caldwell crafted many of the percussion parts, Aidan Reed and Arthur Kardos contributed one cheer each.
- Played for Accepted Students Day(s) in March and April.