ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT men’s hockey team returns home, as Atlantic Hockey Conference foe American International College comes to the Gene Polisseni Center on Friday and Saturday, with both games starting at 7:05 p.m. On Friday, it is Youth Hockey Day. Any child who wears his or her youth hockey jersey gets in free. On Saturday, it is Kids Day. Children can meet and greet the queen and princess of the ice before the game.
RIT begins a stretch of 16 straight AHC contests to end the regular season. The Tigers are currently eighth in the league standings with 11 points, just three points out of fourth place.
Tickets for both contests are available at the Gene Polisseni Center and Gordon Field House Box Offices, by calling (585) 475-4121, or by visiting www.rithockey.com.
Last weekend, the Tigers (5-10-3, 4-5-3 AHC) dropped a pair of contests against top-10 teams over the weekend at the Mariucci Classic hosted by Minnesota, falling to No. 9 UMass Lowell, 7-3 on Friday, and No. 8 Minnesota, 3-2 in overtime on Saturday. Four of RIT’s five goals over the weekend were unassisted. Danny Smith (Edmonton, Alberta/Sherwood Park Crusaders), Josh Mitchell (Osoyoos, British Columbia/Alberni Valley Bulldogs), and Caleb Cameron (Sunridge, Ontario/Listowel Cyclones) scored on Friday, while Dan Schuler (Webster, NY/Powell River Kings) and Brandon Thompson (Vancouver, British Columbia/Handsworth) scored on Saturday. Mitchell’s goal came seven seconds into the third period, a Division I record for fastest goal to start a period.
On Saturday, goaltender Mike Rotolo (Rochester, NY/Cedar Rapids Roughriders) made a career-high 46 saves in the 3-2 overtime loss to Minnesota. He allowed a goal on the first shot he faced then stopped 46 of the next 47 shots. It was the most saves by a RIT goaltender since Jocelyn Guimond made 47 in a 2-2 tie against Union on Oct. 14, 2006.
Josh Mitchell (Osoyoos, British Columbia/Alberni Valley Bulldogs) scored seven seconds into the third period last Friday against UMass Lowell, setting a Division I program record for fastest goal to start a period, breaking the mark of 13 seconds held by Simon Lambert against Mercyhurst in 2007. Also on Friday, On Friday, Danny Smith (Edmonton, Alberta/Sherwood Park Crusaders) scored RIT’s goal on a penalty shot vs. UMass Lowell since Ricky Walton did so against Canisius on Nov. 2, 2007. Dan Schuler (Webster, NY/Powell River Kings) was the last Tiger player to attempt a penalty shot on Jan. 17, 2014 vs. Army.
American International enters the weekend with a 3-13-4 mark overall and is 3-7-4 in league play, sitting tied for ninth with 10 points. Last weekend, the Yellow Jackets split a weekend series against Army, winning 3-2 in overtime last Friday, while losing on Saturday, 4-3. Alexander MacMillan leads the team in scoring with 21 points on nine goals and 12 assists. Austin Orszulak has a team-best 13 goals. American International is getting out-scored 80-50 by its opponents this season. In net, Alex Murray and Hunter Leisner have split time. Murray is 2-8-3 with a 3.45 goals against average and .909 save percentage, while Leisner is 1-5-1 with a 4.60 goals against average and .886 save percentage.
RIT is 24-3-2 all-time against the Yellow Jackets, including a 21-3-1 mark since the 2005-06 season. The Tigers now have a 10-game unbeaten streak against American International dating back to the 2011-12 season. RIT was 15-1-1 all-time against American International at Ritter Arena.
Both games will be aired live on Time Warner Cable Sports Channel 26. As always, Gene Battaglia and John DiTullio are on the call from the Gene Polisseni Center. The contests will be broadcast over the airwaves on WITR 89.7 FM and witr.rit.edu, and on America One. Live stats are also available for both contests.
Come out and support your Tigers in their first season at the Gene Polisseni Center.
###
Rochester Institute of Technology offers 24 intercollegiate varsity sports, including 22 at the Division III level and Division I men’s and women’s ice hockey. For three decades, U.S. News & World Report has ranked RIT among the nation’s leading comprehensive universities. RIT’s student-athletes are no exception, combining to post a 3.21 grade-point average during the 2013-14 academic year. For complete RIT Athletics news, features, stats, photos, and coverage, visit www.ritathletics.com.
RIT is internationally recognized for academic leadership in business, computing, engineering, imaging science, liberal arts, sustainability, and fine and applied arts. In addition, the university offers unparalleled support services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. RIT enrolls 18,000 full- and part-time students in more than 200 career-oriented and professional programs, and its cooperative education program is one of the oldest and largest in the nation. For RIT news, photos and videos, go to www.rit.edu/news.
Follow RIT Athletics on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ritsports
Follow RIT Athletics on Facebook: www.facebook.com/RIT.Athletics
Follow RIT Athletics on Instagram: www.instagram.com/ritsports
Follow RIT Athletics on YouTube: www.youtube.com/ritathletics
