COLORADO SPRINGS, CO -- The RIT men's hockey team returned to action on Friday night at Air Force Academy. The Tigers fell to the Falcons 3-2. The loss drops RIT to 5-12-1, while Air Force improves to 4-9-0 on the season.

 

RIT took a penalty early in the first period which led to the Falcon's first goal. It came 52 seconds into the period from Josh Schaffer. Michael Mayra and Eric Ehm had the assists.

 

The Tigers tied the score at 1-1 on Justin Hofstetter (Bright, ON/Cambridge Winterhawks)'s (Bright, ON) first collegiate goal. Tristan Fairbarn (Innisfill, ON/Newmarket Hurricanes) (Innisfill, ON) won the draw and drew it back to Hofstetter who was waiting at the point. He ripped a slap shot that clanked off the post and into the net, tying the score at 1-1.

 

Air Force finished the period strong, tallying two goals. Josh Print made it 2-1 on a pass from Mike Knaeble at 14:52. Brian Gineo cleared the puck up to Knaeble who fed a streaking Print who beat RIT goaltender Jocelyn Guimond (St.-Edouard-de-Lotbiniere, PQ/Williams Lake) (Quebec City, PQ).

 

Eric Ehm made it 3-1 with a power play goal at 18:33 of the first. Schaffer had the assist on the play.

The second period was scoreless. RIT had just two shots on goal, while the Falcons fired 12 shots on Jocelyn Guimond (St.-Edouard-de-Lotbiniere, PQ/Williams Lake). The Tigers were 0-for-2 on the power play, while Air Force went 0-for-3.

 

RIT made it close late in the third period when Simon Lambert (Ste.-Therese, PQ/Cumberland Grads) (Ste.-Therese, PQ) scored his 10th goal of the season. Jesse Newman (Westbank, BC/Trail) (Westbank, BC) dug the puck out of the corner and got it to Tristan Fairbarn (Innisfill, ON/Newmarket Hurricanes) who fed it to Lambert who one-timed a shot past Pete Foster, making it 3-2.

The Tigers pulled the goaltender late but were unable to get the game-tying goal as time ran out.

RIT was out shot by Air Force 34-21. Jocelyn Guimond (St.-Edouard-de-Lotbiniere, PQ/Williams Lake) made 32 saves, but took the loss. Tristan Fairbarn (Innisfill, ON/Newmarket Hurricanes) had a pair of assists.

These same two teams will face each other on Saturday evening at 7:35 mountain time.