Men's Hockey | 10/16/2012 11:42:00 AM

ROCHESTER, NY - The RIT men's hockey team hosts the Penn State University Nittany Lions at Blue Cross Arena in downtown Rochester on Saturday, October 20 at 7:35 p.m.  The game will be the focal point of RIT's Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend and is officially sold out for the third straight season.

The Democrat and Chronicle, Fidelity Investments, and Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse are Saturday's sponsors.  The first 7,000 fans in attendance will receive a free RIT Hockey t-shirt sponsored by Dr. James Watters, Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration at RIT.  

RIT is 1-1 after opening the regular season with a split at perennial powerhouse Michigan, who were ranked third nationally in both the USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls. Last Thursday, the Tigers rallied from deficits of 3-0 late in the first period and 4-2 with just under 11 minutes left to stun the Wolverines 5-4. Josh Mitchell (Osoyoos, British Columbia/Alberni Valley Bulldogs), Chris Saracino (St. Louis, MO/Green Bay Gamblers), Eliot Raibl (Vancouver, British Columbia/Quesnel Millionaires), and Greg Noyes (Lucan, Ontario/Salmon Arm Silverbacks) scored goals in regulation, while Adam Hartley (West Vancouver, British Columbia/Surrey Eagles) scored 14 seconds into overtime. Goaltender Josh Watson (Lititz, PA/Powell River Kings) stopped 40-of-44 shots, including 28-of-29 over the final two periods and overtime. On Friday, Jeff Smith (Spokane, WA/Tri-City Storm) scored both RIT goals and the Tigers found themselves down just 3-2 with 14 minutes left in regulation, before the Wolverines pulled away with four goals in a span of 5:47 to hand RIT a 7-2 defeat. Jordan Ruby (Tavistock, Ontario/Wellington Dukes) made 44 saves, as the Tigers allowed 51 shots.

Smith was named the Atlantic Hockey Association Player of the Week on Monday after recording four points on two goals and two assists last week.

Penn State is currently 1-1-0 after splitting its first two games as a Division I program against American International last weekend. The Nittany Lions will play Division III Buffalo State on the road on Friday evening before heading to Rochester. Penn State lost to American International by a score of 3-2 in overtime on Friday evening, then rebounded to earn its first win as a Division I program, 4-3 in overtime on Saturday. Penn State out-shot American International, 63-29 and received goals from Casey Bailey and Taylor Holstrom Friday. The next night, David Glen scored his second goal of the game just 38 seconds into overtime to lift the Nittany Lions to victory.

Last season, RIT drew a Rochester record crowd of 10,556 fans against St. Lawrence during Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend.  The RIT faithful was sent home happy, as Adam Mitchell (Crofton, MD/Baystate Breakers) scored 14 seconds into overtime to lift the Tigers to a dramatic 6-5 win over the Saints. RIT trailed 5-3 in the third period before rallying to get the win. Hartley tied the game with nine seconds left in regulation.

Saturday's game was officially announced as a sellout at 12 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, 103 hours in advance of the official game start.