Click here for game stats

ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT men's hockey team (4-5-1, 3-3-1 Atlantic Hockey) skated to a 2-2 draw against visiting Army in front of 1,304 fans at Ritter Arena on Friday evening. RIT goaltender Louie Menard (Chicoutimi, PQ) stopped 36 saves and was named the game's first star.

Bryce Hollweg's goal with 30.9 seconds left in regulation tied the game at 2 for Army. Off a face-off in the RIT zone, Luke Flicek flipped a pass from behind the net to the front, where Hollweg snapped a shot past Menard from the slot.

 

In overtime, Tyler Mazzei (Kelowna, BC/Nanaimo Clippers) (Kelowna. BC) had RIT's best chance, as his shot from right in front of the net hit the right post. Senior defenseman Matt Harris (Toronto, ON/Ajax Axemen) (Toronto, ON) threw a shot towards the net from the right point that Army goaltender Josh Kassel stopped, but could not control the rebound. The puck came right to Mazzei, who could not convert from in close.

 

Kassel finished with 34 saves, as Army out-shot RIT 38-36.

 

RIT Head Coach Wayne Wilson thought the goaltending was a key.

 

“I thought both goalies played well,” said Wilson. “Louie (Menard) made some spectacular saves. Overall, our play was sporadic. We had some good shifts, but never had strong, consistent, play. Our penalty-killing was very good, and out power-play was not.”

 

Both teams played a very tepid style over the first half of the opening period, as neither team generated much offense.

 

With RIT shorthanded, Mazzeistole the puck off of Kassel's stick behind the Army net. Mazzei found Ricky Walton (Hamilton, ON/Hamilton Red Wings) (Hamilton, ON) alone in the slot and Walton slid a shot into the vacant net for his fourth goal of the season with 5:50 left.

 

That goal was RIT's first shorthanded tally of the season.

 

Menard made a couple of excellent saves late in the period to keep the score at 1-0. Chase Podsiad blocked a shot while RIT was on a 4-on-3 power-play at the Army blue-line and had a breakaway from his own face-off circle. Podsiad tried a deke from the backhand to the forehand, but Menard poked the attempt away. The rebound came to Podsiad, who turned and whistled a shot, but Menard dove back to keep the puck out.

 

In the final minute of the period, with Army on the man-advantage, Menard slid across to make a phenomenal skate save on a tap-in attempt from Robb Ross. 

 

Both teams ripped 14 shots on goal in the middle frame, and scored a goal apiece.

 

Army tied the game on a power-play 3:08 into the period, on the power-play, as Owen Meyer backhanded a rebound off of a shot by Luke Flicek, as Army sped in on an odd-man rush.

 

Menard continued his strong play thereafter, as Army kept the pressure up throughout the first 10 minutes of the period, eventually taking a 19-8 edge in shots.

 

RIT picked up its play over the final half of the period and took the lead back with 6:35 left, as Simon Lambert (Ste.-Therese, PQ/Cumberland Grads) (Ste. Therese, PQ) poked home a rebound off a shot from Dan Ringwald (Oakville, ON/Oakville Blades) (Oakville, ON). Mazzei won the face-off back to Ringwald, whose shot was stopped by Kassel. Lambert was alone in front to clean up the rebound for his sixth goal of the season.

 

This was the second straight overtime game for RIT, and third of the season. Last Saturday, the Tigers defeated Mercyhurst 3-2 in the extra session on a goal by Lambert.

 

The all-time series between the two teams stands at 1-1-1.

 

Last season, the two teams split at West Point. Army defeated the Tigers 2-1 on Dec. 29, while the Tigers rebounded to win 5-3 the following night.

 

The Tigers continue their homestand on Saturday, as they host Army in an Atlantic Hockey contest starting at 7:05 p.m.