Dan is a tremendous addition to PuckAgency as he has a long legacy in hockey circles, both as a player and as the long-time head coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), where he is the school’s all time winningest coach. Dan’s experience working with and developing young players, guiding players’ careers at every level, and playing in the National Hockey League is an invaluable asset to all of the players he works with.

A 1982 graduate of Colgate University, Fridgen had a brilliant career as a high-scoring left wing for the Raiders. During his four years with the Raiders, Fridgen broke 15 school records, including goals in a career (114), goals in a season (37) and points in a season (68). One record, a hat trick in four consecutive games as a junior, landed him on the pages of Sports Illustrated as part of the “Faces in the Crowd” section. He is a member of the Colgate Athletic Hall of Fame.

Fridgen signed a free agent contract with the Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League after his senior season at Colgate. He played two years in the Whalers organization, splitting his time between Hartford in the NHL and the Binghamton Whalers of the American Hockey League.

Fridgen began his coaching career at Union College as an assistant to Charlie Morrison and later to Bruce Delventhal (1985-89). Well-respected, especially for his work ethic, he earned a reputation as one of the top recruiters in all of college hockey.
In 1994, Dan Fridgen was named the 11th head coach of the RPI men’s hockey program. In Fridgen’s 12 seasons at RPI, the Engineers won at least 20 games five times, finished in the top three in the ECACHL four times and qualified for the league playoffs every season. Eleven of his players have been chosen in the NHL Entry Draft and more than 30 former Engineers have gone on to play professional hockey.

Fridgen reached a tremendous milestone in 2004-05, becoming the school’s all-time leader in coaching wins when the Engineers defeated Mercyhurst, 5-0. He passed Mike Addesa, who coached RPI in the 1980s. Fridgen also led the team to its twenty-third consecutive post-season berth.

Fridgen was a familiar face around RPI hockey long before assuming the head coaching duties. Prior to his appointment he spent five years as an assistant coach to Buddy Powers. As the primary recruiter during that time, Fridgen helped build a program that won nearly 100 games, advanced to the ECACHL post-season tournament each year, the ECACHL Semi-Finals three times and the championship game twice.

A native of Arnprior, Ont., Dan and his wife, Kary, live in Troy, NY with their son, Corbin and daughter, Callan.