Men's Hockey | 2/19/2013 10:54:00 AM

Click here for RIT Game Notes -- Click here for Air Force Game Notes

ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT men's hockey team returns home for a pair of crucial Atlantic Hockey Association contests, as rival Air Force Academy comes to Ritter Arena on Friday and Saturday. Both games will get underway at 7:05 p.m.

Tim Horton's and M & E Engineering are Friday's game sponsors, while Zwiegle's and Wilshire Catering will sponsor Saturday's contest.

RIT (12-13-5, 10-9-4 AHA) moved into a tie for fourth in the AHA standings and moved over .500 in league play for the first time this season, after recording a weekend sweep on the road at Mercyhurst, winning 3-2 in overtime on Friday and 5-3 on Saturday. On Friday, Adam Hartley (West Vancouver, British Columbia/Surrey Eagles) scored 1:07 into the extra session, while Matt Garbowsky (St. George, Ontario/Powell River Kings) had a goal and an assist and Jeff Smith (Spokane, WA/Tri-City Storm) also scored. Jordan Ruby (Tavistock, Ontario/Wellington Dukes) made 34 saves. The next night, RIT led 2-0 after one period, trailed 3-2 after two, then roared back for three third period goals in the win. Garbowsky scored twice, including the game-winner with 54.7 seconds left in regulation. Chris Saracino (St. Louis, MO/Green Bay Gamblers), Smith, and Dan Schuler (Webster, NY/Powell River Kings) also scored, while Ruby made 27 saves.
 
RIT is 6-3-1 over its last 10 games, all in league play. In goal, Ruby has started RIT's last six games in goal, going 4-2 with a 2.34 goals against average and .932 save percentage during that stretch. On Monday, Schuler was named the AHA Rookie of the Week. Garbowsky has seven points (3-4-7) over the last three games and nine points (4-5-9) over his last five contests. The RIT power-play is second nationally at 25.7 percent (29-for-113). Mike Colavecchia (Maple, Ontario/Lindsay Muskies) is tied for third nationally with eight power-play tallies. Saracino leads the team in scoring and is third nationally among all defensemen with 27 points (8-19-27) in 30 games this season.
 
Air Force (14-10-7, 12-6-5 AHA) enters this weekend's contests second in the league standings with 29 points, five ahead of RIT. The Falcons are riding a four-game unbeaten streak and last weekend, swept Canisius at home by scores of 3-1 and 3-2. Kyle DeLaurell leads the Falcons in scoring with 27 points on 14 goals and 13 assists. Cole Gunner leads the squad with 19 assists and has 25 points. Air Force has four players with at least 23 points and 13 players scoring at least 10 points. The Falcons have outscored its opponents, 97-76 this season. In net, Jason Torf has played in every game this season, recording a 14-10-7 record to go along with a 2.29 goals against average, .923 save percentage, and two shutouts.

RIT and Air Force has developed into one of the most competitive rivalries in all of college hockey, as Air Force now leads the all-time series between the two schools, 18-14-3. The Falcons have won five of the last six meetings between the two schools since the 2011 AHA Championship. The teams have met in the last two AHA Championship games and have combined to win the last six league titles. Since the start of the 2005-06 season, RIT is 11-16-3 against Air Force. The Tigers have an 8-3-1 mark against the Falcons at Ritter Arena during that span.
 
On Dec. 2, the Falcons defeated RIT in overtime at Cadet Ice Arena by a score of 3-2 on a goal by Stephen Carew.  Andy Miller and Brad Reid (Delta, British Columbia/Coquitlam Express) scored in the loss for RIT, who was whistled for 42 minutes in penalties to just four for the Falcons.
 
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 continue their quest for the 2013 Atlantic Hockey Championship.