ROCHESTER, NY — The RIT men’s hockey team (1-0-0, 1-0-0 Atlantic Hockey) fired 53 shots on goal and defeated Atlantic Hockey Conference foe Robert Morris (0-1-0, 0-1-0 AHC) 6-3 in the 2016-17 regular season opener on Friday night in front of 3,270 fans from the Gene Polisseni Center.
Sophomore Gabe Valenzuela (Brampton, Ontario/North York Rangers) tied a career-high with three points on a goal and two assists, including a highlight-reel goal in the third period. Liam Kerins (Caledon, Ontario/North York Rangers), Caleb Cameron (Sundridge, Ontario/Listowel Cyclones), and Myles Powell (Courtenay, British Columbia/Cowichan Valley Capitals) added a goal and an assist apiece. First-year defensemen Adam Brubacher (Elmira, Ontario/Powell River Kings) and Brody Valette (High River, Alberta/Whitecourt Wolverines) scored their first collegiate goals, while Matt Abt (Leduc, Alberta/Whitecourt Wolverines ) added a pair of assists.
In goal, senior goaltender Mike Rotolo (Rochester, NY/Cedar Rapids Roughriders) picked up the win, stopping 24 shots for his 27th career victory in 59 contests.
The Tigers came out firing from the outset, out-shooting Robert Morris, 53-27. Both teams were 1-for-7 with the man-advantage.
“You could tell it wasn’t exhibition, but a league game,” said head coach Wayne Wilson. “There was a lot of intensity out there, which comes with league play, but it’s good to see.”
Timmy Moore led the Colonials with a pair of goals, while Brandon Watt dished out a pair of assists. Brady Ferguson also scored for Robert Morris. In net, Dalton Izyk made 45 saves on 51 shots. Francis Marotte played the final 2:25, stopping a pair of shots.
Caleb Cameron (Sundridge, Ontario/Listowel Cyclones) would score RIT’s first goal of the season, 14:38 into the opening period. Powell fought hard to steal the puck in the corner, brought it out in front, and had his shot saved in front by Izyk. The rebound went right onto Cameron’s stick, and he fired it in the back of the net for his 15th goal of his career. Abt also assisted on the goal.
The Tigers went into the first intermission leading 1-0, but the Colonials struck back just over a minute into the second period. Timmy Moore scored his ninth goal of his career, tying the game up at one goal apiece.
The Tigers would explode for three unanswered goals, including career firsts for Valette and Adam Brubacher (Elmira, Ontario/Powell River Kings). Kerins would give RIT a 2-1 lead 3:26 into the period, taking a feed from Valenzuela on a 2-on-1 and firing a shot past Izyk. Valette would bank a shot in from an odd angle off a Colonials defense to make it 3-1 six minutes later. Brubacher would complete the three-goal outburst at the 13:22 mark, firing a shot just under the crossbar from the left point after a face-off win by Valenzuela.
Robert Morris added a power-play tally by Ferguson late in the second, as the Tigers led 4-2 heading into the third period.
It did not take much time for RIT to add to its lead, as Valenzuela was left alone with space in front of the net on a 2-on-1 break. He stayed patient, allowing Izyk to commit across the crease and before ripping a wrister top-shelf to put the Tigers ahead 5-2 just 1:10 into the frame.
Each team added one more goal in the final period of play, including a power-play goal from Powell with 11:34 to play to complete the scoring.
“We like our team speed. Gabe (Valenzuela)’s line, they were freshman last year, so they know what to expect now,” said Wilson. “That line stayed together and they’re getting more familiar with each other.”
Robert Morris leads the all-time series between the two schools, 10-8-4, but RIT has won the last three meetings. It was a rematch of the 2016 Atlantic Hockey Championship game, won by RIT, 7-4 at Blue Cross Arena in downtown Rochester.
Tonight marked the third season-opening win in RIT’s Division I history, all in the last five seasons. RIT defeated Michigan in 2012 and St. Lawrence in 2014.
The Tigers will return to action Saturday for game two of the season-opening series against Robert Morris. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. at the Gene Polisseni Center.
“You find the team that loses the first night is hungrier the second night, and the team that wins takes their foot off the gas a little bit,” said Wilson. “So that’s our challenge Saturday.”
