ROCHESTER, NY – The defending Atlantic Hockey Champion RIT men’s hockey team opens the 2015-16 season with a pair of non-conference road contests this weekend. The Tigers head north to face ECAC schools Clarkson University on Friday, Oct. 9 and No. 19 St. Lawrence University on Saturday, Oct. 10. Both contests begin at 7 p.m.
The Tigers finished the 2014-15 season with 20-15-5 record and advanced to the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship game. On Saturday, the Tigers defeated the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, 9-1 in an exhibition contest in front of 2,630 fans at the Gene Polisseni Center. Liam Kerins (Caledon, Ontario/North York Rangers) recorded a hat-trick, while Greg Amlong (O’Fallon, MO/UMass Lowell) had a goal and three assists. Alexander Kuqali (Pittsburgh, PA/Sioux City Musketeers), Myles Powell (Courtenay, British Columbia/Cowichan Valley Capitals), Brady Norrish (Strongfield, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers), Chase Norrish (Strongfield, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers), and Garrett McMullen (Churchville, NY/Trail Smoke Eaters) also scored, as 15 different Tigers had at least one point. In net, Mike Rotolo (Rochester, NY/Cedar Rapids Roughriders) stopped all 18 shots he faced over the first two periods to earn the win.
Josh Mitchell (Osoyoos, British Columbia/Alberni Valley Bulldogs) is RIT’s leading returning scorer, having recorded 52 points on 16 goals and 36 assists last season. The 36 points are a single-season Division I school record, while his 52 points are second at the university. Brady Norrish (Strongfield, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers) and Kuqali led all defensemen in scoring a year ago with 22 points each. All three players were All-Atlantic Hockey selections last season. In goal, Rotolo went 8-1-1 over his last 10 starts last season.
RIT is receiving 39 votes in the preseason USCHO.com Division I National Poll.
Clarkson, who finished the 2014-15 season with a 12-20-5 overall record and 8-11-3 mark in league play, defeated McGill University in an exhibition contest from Cheel Arena last Saturday, 4-3. Jeff Di Nallo, Kelly Summers, Pat Megannety, and Jordan Boucher scored for the Golden Knights, while Steve Perry made 18 saves. Di Nallo led the team in scoring last season with 21 points on six goals and 15 assists. In goal, Perry played in 20 games, going 8-8-1 with a 2.10 goals against average and .907 save percentage. The Golden Knights are picked to finish eighth in both the 2015-16 ECAC preseason coaches and media polls.
St. Lawrence, ranked No. 19 in the preseason USCHO.com national poll, defeated Carleton University, 5-3 on Saturday in an exhibition contest. Rochester native Woody Hudson scored a pair of goals, while Brian Ward added three assists. In goal, Kyle Hayton and Arthur Brey combined to stop 17 shots. St. Lawrence was 20-14-3 overall and 14-7-1 in league play, advancing to the ECAC Semifinal. Ward led the team in scoring a year ago with 26 points on nine goals and 17 assists, while Hayton went 20-13-3 with a 1.95 goals against average and .937 save percentage. The Saints are picked to finish second in the 2015-16 ECAC Preseason Coaches Poll and fourth in the media poll.
The Tigers are 5-9-0 all-time against St. Lawrence, 5-6-0 in the Division I era. RIT is 4-2 against the Saints over the last six meetings, scoring 27 goals during that stretch. Last season, RIT defeated the Saints, 5-2 in the first regular season game at the Gene Polisseni Center. Brad McGowan (Langley, British Columbia/Surrey Eagles) and Kuqali had a pair of goals apiece in that win, while Mitchell dished out three assists.
Clarkson leads the all-time series between the two schools, 12-2-3. Last season, the Golden Knights defeated RIT by a score of 3-1 at the Gene Polisseni Center. Caleb Cameron (Sundridge, Ontario/Listowel Cyclones) scored RIT’s lone goal. Two of the last four meetings between RIT and Clarkson have ended in ties.
Both games will be broadcast over the airwaves and online on WITR 89.7 FM, with Ed Trefzger and Scott Biggar on the call. Friday’s game at Clarkson Cheel Arena will also have live stats and video. On Saturday, video and live stats will be available from Appleton Arena.
