HARTFORD, CT – The RIT men’s hockey team (6-5-1) fell to the University of Connecticut (5-10-2), 2-1 at the XL Center on Saturday afternoon.
Erik Brown (Keene, Ontario/Kemptville 73’s) scored RIT’s lone goal midway through the first period, with assists going to Abbott Girduckis (Belleville, Ontario/Wellington Dukes) and Adam Brubacher (Elmira, Ontario/Powell River Kings). It was Brown’s fifth straight game with a goal. Goaltender Christian Short (Vaughan, Ontario/Surrey Eagles) was strong in net, stopping 32 of 34 shots.
Philip Nyberg and Jesse Schwartz scored first period power-play goals for the Huskies, while Adam Huska picked up the win, stopping 21 shots.
The Huskies out-shot RIT, 34-22. UConn was awarded nine power-plays in the game to just four for RIT. Six of the Huskies power-plays came in the first period. The Huskies was 2-for-9, while RIT was 0-for-4. Two of RIT’s power-plays lasted mere seconds before being whistled for infractions.
“I was really proud of our effort, from the goaltending on out and we battled hard,” said RIT head coach Wayne Wilson. “I thought we controlled play 5-on-5, but the lopsided penalty totals and (UConn’s) two power-play goals were the difference.”
RIT was whistled for six minors over the opening 20 minutes, leading to six Connecticut power-plays and a pair of power-play tallies as RIT would trail 2-1 after the first period.
The Tigers would strike first, 9:25 into the game, as Brown would take a perfect goal mouth feed from Girduckis after a face-off win inside the Huskies zone and fire into the open side for his ninth goal of the season. It was Brown’s fifth straight game with a goal. Adam Brubacher (Elmira, Ontario/Powell River Kings) also assisted on the goal.
Connecticut would tie the game at 1-1 on its third power-play of the period, as Nyberg whistled a shot from the right side through traffic and past Short for his second goal of the season.
Ryan Kruper (Sherwood Park, Alberta/Sherwood Park Crusaders) just missed giving RIT the lead later in the period, as he came out of the left corner and whistled a shot off the right post.
The Huskies would take the lead with 3:18 left in the period, as Schwartz finished off a nice passing play down low on the power-play for his fifth goal of the season. Maxim Letunov threaded a pass through the crease for Schwartz, who was all alone for the tap-in.
RIT carried play for portions of the second period, out-shooting the Huskies, 10-9, but both goalies were up to the task and kept it 2-1 after 40 minutes.
Girduckis rang a shot off the left post from the slot midway through the period, taking a feed from Myles Powell (Courtenay, British Columbia/Cowichan Valley Capitals) while the teams were playing 4-on-4.
Short made a few big saves to keep it 2-1, including a big stop on Spencer Naas, who was left open in the slot. He also made a handful of key stops in the third period to keep the Tigers in the game, including two stops a 2-on-1 rush with just over three minutes left.
RIT pressed for the tying goal in the third period, but were unable to solve Huska and the Huskies defense. Short was pulled for the extra attacker with just over a minute left. With 35 seconds left, Gabe Valenzuela (Brampton, Ontario/North York Rangers) scooped up a loose puck in front and fired a shot that Huska just got a piece of with his mask. In the final seconds, Girduckis found himself alone in front and tried to beat Huska high with a backhand, but fired it just over the net.
RIT and Connecticut were rivals in Atlantic Hockey before the Huskies moved to Hockey East in 2014-15. The Tigers lead the all-time series between the two schools, 14-9-2. Last season, RIT and Connecticut skated to a 1-1 tie at Blue Cross Arena on Brick City Homecoming & Family Weekend.
The Tigers return home next weekend, Dec. 1-2 to play Atlantic Hockey rival Holy Cross, with both games from the Polisseni Center getting underway at 7:05 p.m. On Dec. 1, RIT will hold a Tiger Teddy Bear Toss. Fans are urged to bring a new stuffed animal to throw on the ice after RIT’s first goal. All stuffed animals will be donated to the Rochester Regional Health’s Children’s Unit. There will also be a holiday skate on Sunday, Dec. 3.
