MILFORD, CT – Fueled by three power-play goals, the RIT men’s hockey team (11-10-2, 11-5-1 Atlantic Hockey) won its fourth straight game and seventh in the last eight overall, 3-1 over host Sacred Heart (9-12-3, 8-9-2 Atlantic Hockey) at the Milford Ice Pavilion on Friday evening.
The Tigers tied a Division I team record by extending its unbeaten streak in Atlantic Hockey play to nine games (8-0-1). RIT is now 8-0-1 in league play on the road this season and 3-5-0 on home ice.
With the win, RIT is firmly in the third place in the Atlantic Hockey standings with 23 points, one behind second place Holy Cross and two behind leader Robert Morris.
Gabe Valenzuela (Brampton, Ontario/North York Rangers), Caleb Cameron (Sundridge, Ontario/Listowel Cyclones), and Liam Kerins (Caledon, Ontario/North York Rangers) scored for the Tigers, who were 3-for-4 with the man-advantage. Josh Mitchell (Osoyoos, British Columbia/Alberni Valley Bulldogs) had three assists, while Chase Norrish (Strongfield, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers) dished out a pair of helpers.
Mitchell now has seven assists over his last two contests.
In goal, Christian Short (Vaughan, Ontario/Surrey Eagles) earned his fourth straight win and seventh overall in 2015-16, with 23 saves. He leads all Atlantic Hockey goaltenders in league play with seven victories.
Overall, RIT out-shot Sacred Heart, 28-24 and held them scoreless in three chances with the man-advantage, including back-to-back opportunities late in the third period.
“I thought our special teams was the difference tonight,” said RIT head coach Wayne Wilson. “Obviously getting the three power-play goals was big, but also having to kill off two power-plays late in regulation gave us a spark as well.”
Neither team scored in a quickly played first period with few whistles, as RIT held a slight 8-6 edge in shots. Short had to come up big with 13:14 left in the period, robbing Jordan Minello on a 2-on-1 rush with a lightning quick glove save. Moments later, Valenzuela was denied by Magnus on a 3-on-2 rush from the high slot.
The Tigers tallied two power-play goals sandwiched around a Pioneers even strength goal to lead 2-1 after two periods of play.
Short had to make a big save on a Sacred Heart breakaway early in the period, moments before Valenzuela tallied his seventh goal of the season on the power-play to open the scoring at the 4:43 mark. It was a nice passing play in front, as Alexander Kuqali (Pittsburgh, PA/Sioux City Musketeers) fed Mitchell in front, who centered to a wide open Valenzuela, as it went off his skate and in for the goal. The goal went to video review and the call on the ice was confirmed.
RIT kept up heavy pressure after and had a handful of great chances to up its lead, but Magnus stood tall.
Sacred Heart would even the score at the 9:33 mark, as Zach Sabtini caused a turnover deep in the RIT zone and Alex Butcher found a wide-open Luczyk in the slot. Luczyk fired a rocket of a shot over a Sliding short for the goal.
Cameron would give RIT its lead back with 6:55 left in the second period, once again on the power-play, as he chipped in a loose puck in front after a shot by Chase Norrish (Strongfield, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers) was deflected by a Pioneers defender. Mitchell also assisted on the goal, Cameron’s third in the last two games and fourth overall on the season.
In the third period, RIT’s defense and Short held tall, and Kerins netted a power-play goal 3:40 in to give the Tigers some breathing room.
RIT had heavy pressure in the Pioneers zone on the power-play, with three good chances. The puck came back to Chase Norrish (Strongfield, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers) at the point and he fired a pass to Mitchell on the left side. With the defense out of position, Mitchell then fired a cross-ice pass to Kerins, who wired a wrist shot just under the crossbar for his fifth goal of the year.
Sacred Heart would get consecutive power-plays late in regulation, but RIT’s penalty-killing unit would do its job, limiting chances.
RIT is 20-5-2 all-time against the Pioneers and 8-3-1 from the Milford Ice Pavilion. The Tigers have won or tied 13 of the last 14 meetings against Sacred Heart.
“We would like to limit our turnovers, improve our puck management a little bit more tomorrow night.”
The two teams wrap up the regular season series on Saturday night, weather permitting, from the Milford Ice Pavilion, starting at 7:05 p.m.
