| 10/11/2007 8:41:43 PM

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ROCHESTER, NY -- Matt Crowell (Kelowna, BC/Williams Lake Timberwolves) (Kelowna, BC) had two goals and an assist as the RIT men's hockey team cruised to a 6-1 win over the University of Guelph in an exhibition game on Thursday evening. The Tigers scored three goals in the first 3:18 to give themselves a big cushion.

"It was nice to see us come out as strong as we did," said RIT Head Coach Wayne Wilson. "We had plenty of practice on special teams and we were able to practice situations we'll see later in the season."

Simon Lambert (Ste.-Therese, PQ/Cumberland Grads) (Ste.-Therese, PQ) gave RIT a 1-0 lead 18 seconds into the contest on assists from Anton Kharin (Twin Lake, MI/Bay State Breakers) (Twin Lake, MI) and Darrell Draper (Tigard, OR/Cowichan Capitals) (Tigard, OR).

Crowell's first goal came at 3:04 of the first with assists going to Kharin and Justin Hofstetter (Bright, ON/Cambridge Winterhawks) (Bright, ON).

Ricky Walton (Hamilton, ON/Hamilton Red Wings) (Newmarket, ON) scored the third goal of the period at 3:18 on assists from Brennan Sarazin (Nepean, ON/Nepean Raiders) (Nepean, ON) and Al Mazur (Burnaby, BC/Merritt Centennials) (Burnaby, BC).

Crowell rounded out the scoring at 19:01 of the first with assists going to Lambert and Mazur.

Both teams exchanged goals in the second period. Zach Lillie got the Gryphons on the board at 2:07 of the period on an assist from Jonathan Southgate.

Jesse Newman (Kelowna, BC/Trail Smokeeaters) (Westbank, BC) answered with a power play goal at 5:33 on assists from Bobby Raymond (Lucknow, ON/Owen Sound Greys) (Lucknow, ON) and Crowell.

Senior Matt Smith (Toronto, ON/Kitchener Dutchmen) (Toronto, ON) scored the lone goal in the thirdperiod. He had a power play goal at 7:48 with assists going to Kharin and Sean Murphy (Rochester, MN/Green Bay Gamblers) (Owatonna, MN).

RIT out shot Guelpg 40-19. Louis Menard (Chicoutimi, PQ/Ottawa Jr. Senators) (Chicoutimi, PQ) got the start in net, making eight saves. Jared DeMichiel (Avon, CT/Chicago Steel) (Avon, CT) played the second half of the game, making 10 saves.

The Tigers were 3-10 on the power play and the Gryphons went 0-11 with the man advantage.

RIT opens the regular season on Saturday, September 13 versus Colgate University. Face-off is at 7:05 p.m.