Men's Hockey | 12/27/2011 12:36:00 PM

ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT men's hockey team will play its final two games of the 2011 calendar year at the prestigious Catamount Cup, hosted by the University of Vermont on Thursday, December 29 and Friday, December 30. RIT will play No. 11 Ferris State University on Thursday at 4:05 p.m., then face No. 16 Lake Superior University on Friday, also at 4:05 p.m.
 
The Tigers have never faced Ferris State and Lake Superior, both from the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). It will be RIT's second and third games against ranked opponents this season. On October 22, RIT fell to No. 12 Union, 5-0.  Ferris State was ranked as high as No. 6 earlier in the year, while Lake Superior peaked at No. 11.
 
Last time out, the Tigers were shutout for the school record fourth time in just 16 games this season, losing to AHA foe Robert Morris, 4-0 on December 17. Before the season, RIT had been shutout just nine times in 243 Division I games. That loss snapped a three-game winning streak and dropped RIT to 8-6-2 overall and 7-4-2 in AHA play. Despite the loss, RIT is still tied for second in the AHA standings, just a point behind Air Force and tied with Robert Morris and Mercyhurst.
 
Mike Colavecchia (Maple, Ontario/Lindsay Muskies) and Cameron Burt (Detroit, MI/) are tied for the team lead in scoring with 12 points apiece. Colavecchia leads the way with five goals, while Burt's eight assists are a team-high. In net, Shane Madolora (Salinas, CA/) has started RIT's last 10 games. He is 7-3-1 with a 2.18 goals against average and .925 save percentage this season.
 
Ferris State (11-6-1, 7-6-1 CCHA) has not played since December 9-10, when they earned a weekend split against No. 5 Notre Dame.  The Bulldogs won 4-1 at home, then lost 4-1 on the road. Travis Quellette leads the team in scoring with 14 points on seven goals and seven assists, while Kyle Bonis has a team-best nine goals and Chad Billins has dished out 11 assists.  In net, Taylor Nelson and C.J. Motte have split time almost evenly. Nelson is 7-3 with a 1.91 goals against average and .933 save percentage, while Motte is 4-3-1 with a 1.73 goals against average and .935 save percentage.
 
Like Ferris State, Lake Superior (11-7-2, 7-6-1 CCHA) has also not played since December 9-10. That weekend, the Lakers split a pair of home contests against Northern Michigan, losing 2-1 then rebounding to win 6-3. Domenic Monardo leads the squad in scoring with 18 points on eight goals and 10 assists. Kyle Jean has a team best nine goals. In net, Kevin Kapalka has played in 18 games, with a 10-6-2 record, 2.42 goals against average, and .917 save percentage.
 
Host Vermont, who RIT will not face, is currently 3-12-1 overall and 1-9-1 in Hockey East play.
 
RIT is away from Ritter Arena for nine straight contests and do not play at home again until January 27. So far, RIT is 0-1 on its road swing. Next weekend, RIT rings in 2012 and closes out its non-conference schedule with a pair of games at the University of Wisconsin.