Men's Hockey | 2/7/2012 4:00:00 PM

ROCHESTER, NY -- The RIT men's hockey team returns to action with a home-and-home series against Canisius.  On Thursday, the Tigers travel to Buffalo State Ice Arena to face the Golden Griffins, then return home to “Make the Rink Pink” on Saturday. Both games get underway at 7:05 p.m. 

The Tigers were swept in an Atlantic Hockey Association weekend series for just the second time in six seasons, losing at Air Force, 3-0 on Friday, and 4-2 on Saturday. Mike Colavecchia (Maple, Ontario/Lindsay Muskies) and Greg Noyes (Lucan, Ontario/Salmon Arm Silverbacks) scored for the Tigers in Saturday's game. The losses dropped RIT into a tie for third in the bunched up AHA standings, two points behind Air Force, and one behind Mercyhurst. Despite the two losses, RIT remains third nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 2.11 goals per game. Goaltender Shane Madolora (Salinas, CA/) is fifth nationally with a 1.90 goals against average, third with a .933 save percentage, and tied for first with six shutouts.

Canisius (9-15-4, 9-9-3 AHA) enters Thursday's game looking to move up in the AHA standings. The Golden Griffins currently sit ninth with 21 points. Last weekend, Canisius earned a split against Robert Morris, losing 6-4 on Friday on the road before returning home to pick up a 2-1 win on Saturday. Kyle Gibbons and Taylor Law each lead the team with 10 goals. Gibbons has a team-high 14 assists and 24 points. In goal, Tony Capobianco and Dan Morrison have played in 15 games apiece. Capobianco is 5-7-2 with a 2.75 goals against average and .921 save percentage, while Morrison is 4-8-2 with a 2.78 goals against average and .915 save percentage.
 
Canisius won the first meeting between the two teams on Oct. 20, 3-1, snapping RIT's eight-game winning streak against the Golden Griffins dating back to the 2008-09 season.  RIT is 53-15-1 all-time against Canisius and 14-5-0 since moving to Division I in 2005-06.
 
On Saturday, RIT will wear special pink jerseys in an effort to “Make the Rink Pink” and raise awareness for cancer research in the Rochester area. Both the men's and women's teams will don pink jerseys that will be auctioned off in the fund-raiser, while fans can also purchase pink T-shirts. Jerseys will be auctioned at http://www.rit.edu/studentaffairs/pink/bidding.php starting at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 8, and ending at 12 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13. Bidding begins at $150 per jersey. All proceeds will be donated evenly between Rochester General Hospital's Lipson Cancer Center and Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation for Breast Cancer Education and Awareness. Two years ago Pink Tiger jerseys (25 men, 21 women) were auctioned off and along with t-shirt sales, raising $21,248, which went to the Lipson Cancer Center and Susan G. Komen Cancer Foundation.
 
Tickets are available for Saturday's game at the Gordon Field House and Activities Center Box Office or by phone at (585) 475-4121. Fans can also purchase tickets via ticketmaster.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.

Saturday's game will be aired live on Time Warner Cable Sports channel 26 or 1026 for high definition subscribers. Gene Battaglia and John DiTullio will call the game as always from Ritter Arena on Saturday.  In addition, the games will be broadcast over the airwaves on WITR 89.7 FM and witr.rit.edu.
 
Come out and support the Tigers as they begin their quest for the 2012 Atlantic Hockey Championship.