Men's Hockey Beats Army

Steve Jaynes - SID

| 12/30/2006 9:31:19 PM

Click For Boxscore

WEST POINT, NY – The RIT (9-6-2, 9-3-2 AHA) men’s hockey team got back on their winning ways with a 5-3 victory over Army in Atlantic Association action on the campus of Army.

”It was a good road game for us,” said RIT Head Coach Wayne Wilson. “I thought our guys did a great job tonight.”

RIT took a 1-0 lead on Stevan Matic (Burnaby, BC/Langley Hornets)’s (Burnaby, BC) first collegiate goal. Fellow forwards Brennan Sarazin (Nepean, ON/Nepean Raiders) (Nepean, ON) and Steve Pinizzotto (Mississauga, ON/Oakville Blades) (Mississauga, ON) worked the puck nicely along the boards. Sarazin swung a feed to Matic who one-timed a shot past a sliding Josh Kassel for his first goal in a Tigers sweater.

Bobby Raymond (Lucknow, ON/Owen Sound Greys) (Lucknow, ON) made it 2-0 at 12:15 of the first with a slap shot that deflected off an Army defender and over Kassel’s shoulder. Simon Lambert (Ste.-Therese, PQ/Cumberland Grads) (Ste.-Therese, PQ) had the assist on the play.

Louis Menard (Chicoutimi, PQ/Ottawa Jr. Senators) (Chicoutimi, PQ) swung the momentum RIT’s way with a great save on a two-on-zero breakaway by the Black Knights. He stuck his toe out at the last second and stole a sure goal away from Army.

Wilson has been very pleased with his goalies. “Both Louis and Jocelyn have been doing a great job, making some timely saves.”

Matt Crowell (Kelowna, BC/Williams Lake Timberwolves) (Kelowna, BC) gave the Tigers a 3-0 lead with a pretty power play goal at 9:26. Brent Patry (Ottawa, ON/Cumberland Grads) (Ottawa, ON) fed a streaking Crowell who banged home his fifth goal of the season. Justin Hofstetter (Bright, ON/Cambridge Winterhawks) (Bright, ON) had the other assist on the play.

Al Mazur (Burnaby, BC/Langley Hornets) (Burnaby, BC) made it 4-0 RIT with a slap shot from the left face-off dot that whistled over Kassell’s shoulder and underneath the post for his fourth goal of the season.

Casey Bickley cut RIT’s lead to 3-1 with a power play goal at 18:56 of the second.

The Black Knights made it close in the third with a pair of goals, cutting the Tigers lead to 4-3. Tim Manthey mad it 4-2 with an even strength goal at 4:13 of the third. Luke Flicek cut the lead to one goal at 18:37 of the third.

Simon Lambert (Ste.-Therese, PQ/Cumberland Grads) put the game away with 13 seconds to play with an empty-net goal to salt the victory away for the Tigers.

RIT will travel to Quinnipiac on Thursday, January 4 for a 7 pm.