Men's Hockey | 11/6/2012 2:56:00 PM

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RIT Notes -- Mercyhurst Notes -- Canisius Notes

ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT men's hockey team is back in action with a pair of early season Atlantic Hockey Association games this weekend. On Friday, the Tigers host Mercyhurst at 7:05 p.m., then battle Canisius on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.

T.C. Riley's and Park Point are Friday's game sponsors, while Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse is Saturday's sponsor.

RIT (2-4-1, 1-2-1 AHA) recorded its first shutout of the 2012-13 season, 3-0 at American International last Saturday, wrapping up a three-point weekend. Josh Watson (Lititz, PA/Powell River Kings) made 19 saves for his first collegiate shutout, while Chris Saracino (St. Louis, MO/Green Bay Gamblers) tallied a goal and an assist and Adam Mitchell (Crofton, MD/Baystate Breakers) and Mike Colavecchia (Maple, Ontario/Lindsay Muskies) each scored. The two teams skated to a 2-2 tie on Friday. Brad Reid (Delta, British Columbia/Coquitlam Express) and Adam Mitchell (Crofton, MD/Baystate Breakers) scored goals for RIT, while Greg Noyes (Lucan, Ontario/Salmon Arm Silverbacks) dished out two assists and Jordan Ruby (Tavistock, Ontario/Wellington Dukes) made 29 saves. Reid's goal was the first of his collegiate career.

Adam Mitchell (Crofton, MD/Baystate Breakers) now has four goals in his last three games, while senior Jeff Smith (Spokane, WA/Tri-City Storm) leads the team in scoring with nine points (4-5-9) in seven games. Watson and Ruby have split time in goal this season. RIT now has 22 shutouts since the start of the 2009-10 season. The Tigers have scored a power-play goal in four straight games.

Mercyhurst (2-2-1, 2-1-0 AHA) enters this weekend riding a three-game unbeaten streak after sweeping a league series at Sacred Heart by scores of 3-0 and 3-1.  Max Strang made 28 saves in the 3-0 shutout win on Friday, while Ryan Misiak had a goal and an assist. On Saturday, Jordan Tibbett made 39 saves in the win. Misiak leads the team in scoring with three goals, four assists, and seven points. The Lakers have scored 13 goals and allowed 13 goals this season. Strang has seen the bulk of time in net and is 1-2-0 with a 3.40 goals against average and .911 save percentage.

RIT is 28-14-6 against the Lakers, 12-5-3 since 2005. Last season, the Tigers went 1-1-1 against the Lakers, losing in Mercyhurst and then securing a 5-1 win and 2-2 tie at Ritter Arena. The two teams will meet twice more, on Feb. 15-16 in Erie, Pa.

Canisius (1-4-3, 0-0-1 AHA) heads into the weekend riding a six-game winless streak. They host Robert Morris on Friday at 7:05 p.m. before heading to Ritter Arena. Last weekend, they tied two games against Clarkson, 3-3 on Saturday and 2-2 on Sunday. Tyler Wiseman scored a pair of goals on Saturday. Preston Shupe leads the team in scoring with a goal and three assists, while Wiseman has three goals. Canisius has scored just 10 goals in eight games this season, but the defense has been impressive, allowing just 15 goals. In net, Tony Capobianco is 0-4-3 but has a 1.96 goals against average and .938 save percentage.

RIT is 55-15-1 all-time against the Golden Griffins and 16-5-0 since the start of the 2005-06 season. Last season, the Tigers went 2-1-0 against Canisius, losing 3-1 in October in Buffalo, then winning 3-1 in Buffalo and 5-2 at Ritter Arena in February. The two teams will close out the regular season against each other on March 1 in Rochester and March 2 in Buffalo.

Tickets are available for both games at the Gordon Field House and Activities Center Box Office or by phone at (585) 475-4121. Fans can also purchase tickets at www.rithockey.com. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for RIT faculty, staff and alumni and $5 for students with ID. Fans can also buy special reserved seats in Section 100 or 101 for $13 (adults), $11 (faculty/staff/alumni) or $8 (students). Buying a reserved section ticket will guarantee you a seat for the game.

Both games will be aired live on Time Warner Cable Sports channel 26 or 1026 for high definition subscribers with Gene Battaglia and John DiTullio bringing you the action from Ritter Arena.  In addition, both games will be broadcast over the airwaves on WITR 89.7 FM and witr.rit.edu. Live stats are also available here.

Come out and support the Tigers as they begin their quest for the 2013 Atlantic Hockey Championship.