Men's Hockey Loses at Army; Snap Five-Game Winning Streak

Steve Jaynes - SID

| 12/29/2006 10:40:04 PM

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WEST POINT, NY – Army goaltender Josh Kassell stopped 34 shots, holding RIT’s potent offense to just one goal as the Black Knights defeated the Tigers 2-1 on Friday evening on the campus of Army.

The loss breaks a five game winning streak by the Tigers and drops them to 8-6-2 overall and 8-3-2 in the Atlantic Hockey Association.

Despite a scoreless first period there was plenty of action. The Black Knights had a couple of really good scoring chances early in the period from Bryce Hollweg and Owen Meyer but Jocelyn Guimond (Quebec City, PQ/Williams Lake) (Quebec City, PQ) calmly turned the shots aside.

RIT fired 11 shots on net in the first period. Simon Lambert (Ste.-Therese, PQ/Cumberland Grads) (Ste.-Therese, PQ) had a partial breakaway early in the period that was turned aside by Josh Kassel. Steve Pinizzotto (Mississauga, ON/Oakville Blades) (Mississauga, ON), Matt Smith (Toronto, ON/Kitchener Dutchmen) (Toronto, ON) and Rob Tarantino (Oakville, ON/Oakville Blades) (Oakville, ON) also had good looks at the net but Kassel stood his ground, keeping the vaunted Tigers offense off the scoreboard.

RIT took a 1-0 lead at 2:35 of the second period on Brennan Sarazin (Nepean, ON/Nepean Raiders)’s (Nepean, ON) fifth goal of the season. Brad Harris (Winnipeg, MB/Leamington Flyers) (Winnipeg, MB) dug the puck off the dasher boards and fed Sarazin who was parked in front of the net. Steve Pinizzotto (Mississauga, ON/Oakville Blades) had the other assist on the play.

Army responded a little over three minutes later, tying the score at 1-1 on a power play goal from Tim Manthey off a booming slap shot from the point.

RIT was out shot 9-8 in the second period and failed to score on a 5-on-3 power play late in the period.

Bryce Hollweg scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal at 2:03 of the third on the Black Knight’s second power play goal of the contest.

The Tigers had a flurry of chances in the last nine minutes of the third but Kassell made several big saves, including one on a two-on-one breakaway by Matt Crowell (Kelowna, BC/Williams Lake Timberwolves) (Burnaby, BC) and Ricky Walton (Hamilton, ON/Hamilton Red Wings) (Hamilton, ON).

Walton took a feed from Crowell and looked to have a wide open net that would tie the score, but Kassell swept over at the last second and turned the shot aside.

RIT took 10 penalties on the night, allowing two power play goals. Wayne Wilson felt that was the difference in the game.

”We took too many penalties tonight and that was the difference. We have to buckle down and get ready for tomorrow night.”

Jocelyn Guimond (Quebec City, PQ/Williams Lake) was excellent in net for the Tigers, stopping 27 shots and allowing two goals.

RIT will face the Black Knights on Saturday evening at 7 p.m.