Men's Hockey | 2/26/2013 11:51:00 AM

Click here for RIT game notes --- Click here for Canisius game notes

ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT men's hockey team wraps up the 2012-13 Atlantic Hockey Association regular season with a home-and-home series against rival Canisius this weekend. RIT will host Canisius on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. and travel to Buffalo State Ice Arena for game two on Saturday, also at 7:05 p.m.

Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse and Salvatore's Pizzeria are Friday's game sponsors.

RIT (13-14-5, 11-10-4 AHA) enters the final weekend of the regular season tied for sixth in the AHA standings after a home split against Air Force last weekend, losing 5-3 on Friday, while winning 2-1 on Saturday. RIT can finish as high as third in the league standings, but will need a lot of assistance from outside teams to do so. One point by Holy Cross and two from Connecticut will ensure that RIT will play a first round series for the first time since becoming eligible for postseason play back in 2008.
 
On Friday, the Tigers will honor seniors Adam Hartley (West Vancouver, British Columbia/Surrey Eagles), Chris Saracino (St. Louis, MO/Green Bay Gamblers), and Jeff Smith (Spokane, WA/Tri-City Storm). The trio has helped lead RIT to a 80-50-20 record in four seasons. In 2009-10, as freshmen, this group helped lead RIT to the NCAA Division I Frozen Four and set a team record with 28 wins. The next season, this trio helped lead RIT to a Atlantic Hockey Association Regular Season title. They are the only group to have played in three consecutive AHA Championship games. The trio has combined for 75 goals, 109 assists, and 184 points in 363 games played.
 
RIT has won four of its last five contests and is 8-4-1 over its last 12 games, all in league play. In goal, Jordan Ruby (Tavistock, Ontario/Wellington Dukes) has started RIT's last six games in, going 5-3 with a 2.26 goals against average and .931 save percentage during that stretch. Matt Garbowsky (St. George, Ontario/Powell River Kings) has seven goals over his last seven games, including six over a four-game goal-scoring streak. He has 10 points (6-4-10) over a five-game point-scoring streak. Saracino leads the team in scoring and is third nationally among all defensemen with 28 points (8-20-28) in 32 games this season.
 
Canisius enters this weekend's contests ninth in the league standings with 22 points. The Golden Griffins have lost five straight games after defeating nationally-ranked Niagara on Feb. 7. Last weekend, Canisius was swept in a home-and-home series vs. Robert Morris. Kyle Gibbons leads the Golden Griffins in scoring with 25 points on 15 goals and 10 assists. Their opponents have outscored the Golden Griffins, 81-74 this season. In net, Tony Capobianco has played in 32 games this season, recording a 10-18-4 record to go along with a 2.35 goals against average, .926 save percentage, and three shutouts.

RIT is now 55-16-1 all-time against the Golden Griffins and 16-6-0 since the start of the 2005-06 season. On Nov. 10, Canisius scored three third period goals to snap a 3-3 tie and defeat the Tigers 6-3 at Ritter Arena. Adam Mitchell (Crofton, MD/Baystate Breakers) had a goal and two assists to lead RIT. Patrick Sullivan had two goals and an assist for Canisius. Tony Capobianco made 36 saves.
 
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.

In addition, fans are urged to come out to Ritter Arena earlier in the afternoon on both Friday and Saturday, as the women's squad hosts Penn State University in a best-of-three College Hockey America First Round Series. Both games begin at 2 p.m. If a third game is necessary, it will take place on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Come out and support the Tigers in their final two regular season games of the season as they continue their quest for the 2013 Atlantic Hockey Championship.