Men's Hockey | 1/22/2013 3:02:00 PM

Click here for RIT Game Notes --- Click here for Niagara Game Notes

ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT men's hockey team plays a home and home series against nationally-ranked Niagara University this weekend. The game on Friday will be played at RIT's Ritter Arena, while Saturday's contest will be played at Dwyer Arena on the campus of Niagara. Both games will get underway at 7:05 p.m.

Park Point at RIT is Friday's game sponsor. It is expected that the game will sell out, so get your tickets in advance. The Tigers are tied for eighth in the AHA standings with 15 points, but are just three points out of second. Just three points separate the second and ninth place squads. Niagara leads the conference with 27 points, nine ahead of Mercyhurst and Holy Cross.

RIT (8-10-4, 6-6-3 AHA) recorded its second weekend sweep of the season, extending their winning streak to three games with 6-5 and 4-2 wins over Army. On Friday, Jeff Smith (Spokane, WA/Tri-City Storm) tallied two goals and added an assist, while Ben Lynch (Blaine, MN/Lincoln Stars) recorded a goal and two assists, as RIT notched a season-high six goals in the win. On Saturday, Smith added two more goals, including the game-winner, while Adam Mitchell (Crofton, MD/Baystate Breakers) scored a pair as well. Adam Hartley (West Vancouver, British Columbia/Surrey Eagles) dished out three assists, while Josh Watson (Lititz, PA/Powell River Kings) made 21 saves for his seventh win of the season.

Smith was named the Atlantic Hockey Player of the Week for the second time this season on Monday.  Smith and Chris Saracino (St. Louis, MO/Green Bay Gamblers) are tied for the team lead with 18 points apiece. Smith has a team-high 10 goals, while Saracino has 14 assists. Mitchell and Lynch are right behind with 17 points, while Mike Colavecchia (Maple, Ontario/Lindsay Muskies) and Noyes have 16 points apiece. Four more players have at least 10 points. In net, Watson has started 11 of RIT's last 12 games and is now 7-6-3 with a 2.91 goals against average and .909 save percentage.

The Tigers have six home games and six away games remaining. The RIT power-play has a goal in 16 of its last 20 games and is third nationally at 24.4 percent (20-for-82). The penalty-killing unit is at 85.7 percent on the season. After a rough start, RIT has killed off 63 of its opponents last 68 chances with the man-advantage (92.6 percent).

Niagara (14-4-4, 13-1-1 AHA) enters the weekend ranked No. 17 in the USCHO.com Division I men's hockey poll. Last weekend, the Purple Eagles suffered their first loss in Atlantic Hockey play, falling to Holy Cross, 5-3 on Friday, before rebounding to win 4-1 on Saturday. Giancarlo Iuorio and Ryan Murphy lead the team in scoring with 20 points apiece. Iuorio leads the team with 12 goals, while Kevin Ryan has a team-best 14 assists. Niagara is out-scoring its opponents 68-47 this season. In net, Carsen Chubak has played in 21 games and is 14-3-4 with a 1.59 goals against average and .948 save percentage to go along with five shutouts. He is among the national leaders in all major categories.

On Dec. 12, the two teams skated to a 2-2 tie at Niagara. Lynch scored twice for the Tigers, while Watson made 44 saves. The Tigers are just 3-9-7 all-time against the Purple Eagles and 1-7-5 in the Division I era, but have a three-game unbeaten streak against them. RIT has never won at Dwyer Arena, going 0-5-4.

Tickets are available for Friday's game 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.

Friday's game 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.