Men's Hockey | 3/4/2013 12:17:00 PM

Click here for RIT Game Notes --- Click here for American International Game Notes

ROCHESTER, NY - The RIT men's hockey team hosts the American International Yellow Jackets in the 2013 Atlantic Hockey Association First Round. The best of three series at Ritter Arena takes place on Friday, March 8, Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10 (if necessary). Each game will start at 7:05 p.m. RIT is the No. 8 seed in the Atlantic Hockey Tournament, while American International enters as the No. 9 seed.

The Tigers (13-16-5, 11-12-4 AHA) enter this weekend's contests having won 14 of 20 AHA Postseason contests since becoming eligible for the league's postseason in 2007-08. RIT is 10-2 all-time in AHA postseason games at Ritter Arena, scoring 55 goals in those contests. It is the first time that RIT will play in the AHA First Round series, as they had received a bye in each of the last five seasons.

Senior defenseman Chris Saracino (St. Louis, MO/Green Bay Gamblers) leads the team and is third nationally among all defensemen in scoring with 29 points on nine goals and 20 assists. Mike Colavecchia (Maple, Ontario/Lindsay Muskies) is right behind with 28 points on 12 goals and 16 assists. Jeff Smith (Spokane, WA/Tri-City Storm) leads the Tigers with 13 goals. Matt Garbowsky (St. George, Ontario/Powell River Kings) has a seven-game point-streak, with 12 points during that span (7-5-12). He has 26 points overall (9-17-26) this season, and line mate Brad McGowan (Langley, British Columbia/Surrey Eagles) also has a point in five straight games. In goal, Josh Watson (Lititz, PA/Powell River Kings) and Jordan Ruby (Tavistock, Ontario/Wellington Dukes) has split time, although Ruby has started the last 10 games. Watson is 7-7-4, Ruby, 6-8-1. RIT's power-play is third nationally, converting at 24.2 percent.

American International (12-15-6, 9-12-6 AHA) enters the postseason on a 7-1-3 tear over its last 11 games.  Last weekend, the Yellow Jackets defeated Bentley by scores of 2-1 and 4-3. Opponents are outscoring American International, 103-86 this season. The Yellow Jackets have tightened up defensively, however, allowing just 18 goals over their last 11 games.  Adam Pleskach leads the team in scoring this season with 15 goals, 17 assists and 32 points. Four players have at least 20 points. In net, Ben Meisner is 11-13-6 with a 2.86 goals against average and .926 save percentage to go along with two shutouts.

The two teams met earlier in the season at American International on Nov. 2-3. In the opener, the two teams skated to a 2-2 draw, while goaltender Josh Watson (Lititz, PA/Powell River Kings) record his first collegiate shutout in a 3-0 win the following night.
 
RIT is 20-3-2 all-time against American International and 17-3-1 since the start of the 2005-06 season. The Tigers are 11-1-1 all time against the Yellow Jackets at Ritter Arena, and are currently riding a seven-game home winning streak. It will be the second time that the two teams have met in the postseason. In 2011, the two teams met in the AHA Quarterfinals at Ritter Arena, with RIT winning by scores of 5-0 and 5-1.

Tickets are available for this weekend's 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 and $5 for students with ID. Fans can buy reserved  seats for $13, $7 for students with ID, and $5 for children under 5. If the Sunday, March 10 game is necessary, tickets will be sold immediately after Saturday night's game and the Gordon Field House Box Office will be open on that day from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

All games this weekend will be aired live on Time Warner Cable Sports. Friday's game will be on channel 26 or 1026 for high definition subscribers. Saturday and Sunday's games will air on channel 98, with Gene Battaglia and John DiTullio bringing you the action. Live stats will also be available here.

If RIT advances, they will play in the best of three Atlantic Hockey Quarterfinals at a yet to be determined opponent on Friday, March 15, Saturday, March 16, and Sunday, March 17 (if necessary).

Come out and support the Tigers in their quest for the 2013 Atlantic Hockey Championship.