ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT women’s hockey team will go back in time and celebrate Throwback Thursday with its home game against College Hockey America foe Penn State University on Thursday, Oct. 27. The game will be played at RIT’s former home, Frank Ritter Memorial Ice Arena on campus at 6:05 p.m.
The game is a Tiger Den Event for all RIT students and Student Affairs will be sponsoring a pre-game party in front of Ritter Arena, starting at 5 p.m. There will also be free food and t-shirts for RIT students (while supplies last). As always, admission is free for all RIT students (one ticket per valid ID).
Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for RIT staff, faculty, and alumni, and $3 for youth. Tickets are available at the Gene Polisseni Center and Gordon Field House Box Offices, by calling (585) 475-4121 or by visiting www.rithockey.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the Ritter Arena box office the day of the game.
Ritter Arena was the home of the RIT men’s and women’s hockey teams until 2014. From 2006-2014, the women recorded an impeccable 93-20-6 home mark, winning at least 10 games six times. The Tigers called Ritter Arena home for 38 seasons and forged many unforgettable memories.
The Tigers moved into the 4,300-seat Gene Polisseni Center before the 2014-15 season. Ritter Arena has a capacity of 2,100 between seats and standing room only area. Fans can park in “D” lot, adjacent to the game field to gain easiest access to Ritter Arena.
Ritter Arena was the site of several ECAC East and West playoff games, including the 1989, 2007, 2011, and 2012 league title games. RIT hosted back-to-back NCAA Division III Championships in 2011 and 2012, winning the title on March 17, 2012 vs. Norwich.
“This game is one of the highlights of our season schedule,” said Bruce B. Bates Women’s Hockey Coach Scott McDonald. “We are very happy to be back at a place where we enjoyed so much success and saw our program grow into what it is now. It will be a great event for our players and fans alike.”
Penn State enters the two-game series against RIT looking to snap a five-game winless streak after playing to a scoreless tie and losing 4-2 at Connecticut last weekend. Laura Bowman leads the Nittany Lions in scoring with 12 points on eight goals and four assists. She scored her 50th career goal last weekend at Connecticut. Amy Petersen is right behind with nine points. In goal, Daniela Paniccia and Hannah Ehresmann have split time. Paniccia is 1-1-1 with a 2.38 goals against average and a .928 save percentage, while Ehresmann is 0-4-1 with a 3.48 goals against average and a .900 save percentage.
Ritter Arena opened in 1968 as part of the original Brick City design that included nine academic facilities and one athletic building, which also housed the Ritter-Clark Gymnasium. It became widely known in college hockey circles as one the loudest and intimate college hockey venues.
In addition to the countless memorable hockey games, Ritter Arena was the site of several commencement ceremonies through the years, along with the Genesee Figure Skating Club, Rochester Youth Hockey, Empire State Games, and the Section V Ice Hockey Championships. In 1991, the Horton Distinguished Speaker Series brought former president Jimmy Carter to Ritter Arena, and renowned musical act U2 played a memorable concert in 1983, while other big acts like Elvis Costello, Gin Blossoms, and Cheap Trick, along with former Tonight Show host Jay Leno, performed.
The arena is now used by the Genesee Figure Skating Club, Section V and Rochester Youth Hockey, and for various RIT events.
Come out to Ritter Arena and be part of an unforgettable night. The two teams also play Friday, Oct. 28 at the Gene Polisseni Center. Opening face-off for that game is at 2:05 p.m.
