Men's Hockey | 12/13/2011 3:54:00 PM

ROCHESTER, NY - The RIT men's hockey team hits the road for a crucial Atlantic Hockey Association contest against Robert Morris University on Saturday December 17 at 7:05 p.m.  Both teams are fighting for position at the top of the AHA standings.

RIT (8-5-2, 7-3-2 AHA) enters Saturday's game riding a three-game winning streak. The Tigers were the lone AHA team to earn a sweep last weekend, defeating American International, 3-1 and 4-2 on Saturday.  Mike Colavecchia (Maple, Ontario/Lindsay Muskies) was named the AHA Player of the Week after recording four points in two games.  Colavecchia has 11 points over his last nine games and is tied for the team lead with 12 points.  He also leads the team with five goals, three of which have come on the power-play.
 
Saturday's game is the first of nine straight away from Ritter Arena.  The next AHA win for the Tigers will be their 100th in conference play.  The Tigers, who are 7-3-2 in league play this season, have compiled a remarkable 99-34-18 record in conference games since joining the league in 2006-07.  RIT has never finished worse than second and have won the regular season crown four times in the last five years.  RIT is currently tied for second in AHA play with 16 points, while Robert Morris is right behnd in fourth with 14 points.  RIT can move into first place in the league standings with a win.
 
Robert Morris (8-6-2, 6-2-2 AHA) enters Saturday's game riding a program-record best seven game unbeaten streak (5-0-2).  Last weekend, the Colonials earned three points against AHA foes, playing Niagara to a 2-2 draw, and defeating Canisius by a score of 2-1. Goaltender Brooks Ostergard stopped 71-of-74 shots over the weekend to earn Atlantic Hockey Association Goaltender of the Week honors.  Nick Chiavetta and Cody Crichton lead a balanced offense with 12 points each.  Cody Wydo has a team-leading seven goals, as five players have tallied at least 10 points.  In net, Ostergard and Eric Levine have split time, as each player has four wins.  Levine has a 2.52 goals against average, while Ostergard has a .925 save percentage.

Saturday will mark the first of three meetings between the two schools this season.  The all-time series between the two schools is knotted at 2-2-1.  Last season, RIT went 2-1 against the Colonials.