RIT’s Smith and Ruby Honored

ROCHESTER, NY – Freshman forward Danny Smith (Edmonton, Alberta/Sherwood Park Crusaders) and junior goaltender Jordan Ruby (Tavistock, Ontario/Wellington Dukes) of the RIT men’s hockey team garnered Atlantic Hockey Association accolades on Tuesday for the week ending Jan. 19, 2014. Smith was named the AHA Rookie of the Week for the first time, while Ruby was named the Goaltender of the Week.

Smith recorded a career-high three points on a goal and two assists and was plus-3 in a 6-0 win over Army on Friday. He made a tremendous cross-ice feed on Nolan Descoteaux (Dallas, TX/South Shore Kings)’s first period goal then tipped in a shot fromAlexander Kuqali (Pittsburgh, PA/Sioux City Musketeers) in front to give RIT a 3-0 lead late in the second period. Smith returned the favor on the third period, assisting on Kuqali’s first goal of the season. Smith now has seven points on four goals and three assists in 22 games this season.

Ruby stopped 72 of 75 shots (.960 save percentage) in a weekend sweep over Army. On Friday, Ruby stopped all 35 shots he faced to record his first collegiate shutout in a 6-0 victory. The following evening, Ruby stopped 37 of 40 shots, many in big fashion, to lift the Tigers to a 4-3 win over the Black Knights. Ruby is now 3-8-2 on the season with a 3.47 goals against average and an .899 save percentage.

RIT is right back in action this weekend with a home-and-home series against Niagara. At 7:05 p.m. on Friday, RIT travels to Dwyer Arena for a contest that will be aired nationally on CBS Sports Newtork. On Saturday, the two teams meet at Ritter Arena, also at7:05 p.m. Saturday is Ritter Arena’s “Night of Champions”, as members from the 1983 and 1985 NCAA Championship teams as well as players from RIT’s 2010 Frozen Four squad will be honored.