ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT men’s hockey team opens the 2013-14 regular season with a pair of games to celebrate Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend. On Thursday, the Tigers play their final home opener at Ritter Arena, as Colgate University comes to town for a 7:05 p.m.opening faceoff. On Saturday, the Tigers host perennial power University of Michigan, ranked No. 11 in the season-opening USCHO.com Division I poll, at Blue Cross Arena, beginning at 7:05 p.m.
Saturday’s game at Blue Cross Arena was officially announced as a sellout on Friday, Sept. 27, 15 days in advance of the contest.
There are still tickets remaining for Thursday’s home opener against Colgate. Tim Horton’s is Thursday’s game sponsor, while Bugaboo Creek Steak House, Fidelity Investments, and the Democrat and Chronicle are Saturday’s sponsors.
RIT returns 19 players return from last season’s squad that advanced to the Atlantic Hockey Association Quarterfinals for the sixth straight year. The Tigers return 12 forwards, six defensemen, and starting goaltender Jordan Ruby (Tavistock, Ontario/Wellington Dukes). Despite firing 52 shots on goal, the Tigers dropped their 2013-14 exhibition opener by a score of 2-1 to Queen’s University last Saturday evening. Brad McGowan (Langley, British Columbia/Surrey Eagles) scored RIT’s lone goal just 4:11 into the contest. Ruby made 24 saves, as RIT out-shot the Gaels 52-26.
The Tigers return eight of their top 10 scorers from a season ago, including captain Matt Garbowsky (St. George, Ontario/Powell River Kings), who led the squad with 33 points on 11 goals and 22 asissts. Mike Colavecchia (Maple, Ontario/Lindsay Muskies) added 30 points on 12 goals and 18 assists. Senior defenseman Greg Noyes (Lucan, Ontario/Salmon Arm Silverbacks)was tied for seventh nationally with 29 points on nine goals and 20 No. 1 goaltender.
Colgate opened the 2013-14 season by splitting a home series against Ferris State last weekend. The Raiders lost 7-4 on Saturday, but rebounded to win 1-0 on Sunday. Eric Mihalik made 25 saves in the shutout win on Sunday. Last season, the Raiders finished with a 14-18-4 record, falling in the first round of the ECAC Tournament. Twin brothers Tylor and Tyson Spink return as the two leading scorers for the Raiders in 2013-14. Last season, Tylor Spink led the team with 31 points on 13 goals and 18 assists, while Tyson Spink had a team-best 20 assists and 27 points. Kyle Baun, also a freshman last season, had a team-best 14 goals. In net, the duo of Spencer Finney and Mihalik return. Finney was 8-11-3 with a 2.68 goals against average and .904 save percentage, while Mihalik was 6-7-1 with a 2.83 goals against average and .901 save percentage.
RIT is 1-8-0 all-time against Colgate, 0-3-0 at the Division I level. Last season, Colgate rallied from a 2-0 first period deficit to defeat the Tigers 6-3 on Oct. 27, 2012 at Starr Rink.
No. 11 Michigan opened the 2013-14 season by falling 2-1 in an exhibition contest to Brock University on Sunday and hosts No. 3 Boston College in its regular season opener at Yost Arenaon Thursday at 7 p.m. Last season, the Wolverines finished with an 18-19-3 record, falling in the CCHA Championship to Notre Dame. It was the first time Michigan failed to make the NCAA Tournament in 22 years. Alex Guptill returns as the Wolverines leading scorer from a year ago, tallying 36 points on 16 goals and 20 assists in 38 games. Cristoval Nieves and Phil Di Giuseppe return after tallying 29 and 28 points, respectively. In net, Steve Racine returns after going 12-6-3 with a 2.65 goals against average and .899 save percentage in 24 contests.
RIT is 1-1-0 all-time against Michigan, with both meetings coming last season. In the 2012-13 season opener, the Tigers rallied from deficits of 3-0 late in the first period and 4-2 with just under 11 minutes left to stun the Wolverines 5-4. The next night, Michigan pulled away with four goals in a span of 5:47 to hand RIT a 7-2 defeat.
Saturday’s game will be the fourth straight sellout RIT has enjoyed at Blue Cross Arena for its annual Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend contest.
Tickets are available for Thursday’s game against Colgate at the Gordon Field House and Activities Center Box Office or by phone at (585) 475-4121. Fans can also purchase tickets atwww.rithockey.com. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for RIT faculty, staff and alumni and $5 for students with ID. Fans can also buy special reserved seats in Section 100 or 101 for $13 (adults), $11 (faculty/staff/alumni) or $8 (students). Buying a reserved section ticket will guarantee you a seat for the game.
Both games will be aired live on Time Warner Cable Sports channel 26 or 1026 for high definition subscribers with Gene Battaglia and John DiTullio bringing you the action from Ritter Arena. In addition, both games will be broadcast over the airwaves on WITR 89.7 FM and witr.rit.edu. Live stats are also available here.
Come out and support your Tigers in their final season at Ritter Arena and make RIT’s 2013 Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend a memorable one.
