ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT men's hockey team (1-1-0) put up a valiant effort, but fell to Clarkson University (2-0-0), 3-1, in front of 3,502 fans as part of RIT's One SpiRIT Global Hockey Festival at the Gene Polisseni Center on Saturday evening.

Caleb Cameron (Sunridge, Ontario/Listowel Cyclones) scored RIT's lone goal midway through the second period, with assists going to Myles Powell (Courtenay, British Columbia/Cowichan Valley Capitals) and Todd Skirving (Thunder Bay, Ontario/Sioux Falls Stampede). The assist was Powell's first collegiate point. In goal, Ken MacLean (Concord, MA/Kalamazoo Wings) made his second career start and first in front of the home fans, stopping a career-high 31-of-33 shots.

Jeff DiNallo, Jordan Boucher tallied first period goals, while Nic Pierog scored an empty net power-play goal with 23 seconds left for the Golden Knights, who out-shot RIT, 34-21. In goal, Steve Perry made 20 saves to earn the win.

RIT was 0-for-4 with the power-play, while Clarkson was 1-for-3.

Despite the loss, RIT head coach Wayne Wilson was happy with his team's effort, not only tonight, but over the entire opening weekend.

"That was a well-played, hard-fought game by both teams tonight and I liked what I saw out of our guys tonight," said Wilson. "This weekend was a typical Tiger hockey weekend and I am very happy with the way we competed. I was happy to see Ken (MacLean) play well, holding a good Clarkson team to two goals."
 
Clarkson opened the scoring on its first shot on goal just 1:16 in, as DiNallo had his original shot blocked by Greg Amlong (O'Fallon, MO/UMass Lowell), but the rebound caromed right back into the middle of the ice and DiNallo was able to beat MacLean cleanly from in front for his first goal of the year.

RIT had an incredible chance to tie the game on its first power-play of the game midway through the period, as Brad McGowan (Langley, British Columbia/Surrey Eagles) faked a shot from the right circle and found Josh Mitchell (Osoyoos, British Columbia/Alberni Valley Bulldogs) all alone at the side of the open Clarkson net, but Mitchell could not corral the pass, as it glanced off his skate and wide.

Moments later, Garrett McMullen (Churchville, NY/Trail Smoke Eaters) chipped a shot from in close that Perry stopped, with the rebound lying in the crease. Matt Garbowsky (St. George, Ontario/Powell River Kings) tried to poke the rebound home, but Perry was somehow able to keep it out.

With 4:08 left in the period, Boucher took a feed from Todd Christian in the slot on an odd-man rush and ripped a shot off the right post and in to make it 2-0.

The physical play picked up in the second period, with RIT tallying the lone goal.

Just over the halfway mark of the period, Cameron, who scored one goal in 32 games last season, tallied his second in two games to start the 2014-15 season, crashing the net to take a perfect centering feed from Myles Powell (Courtenay, British Columbia/Cowichan Valley Capitals) on the rush to cut the Clarkson lead to 2-1. The assist for Powell was his first collegiate point. Todd Skirving (Thunder Bay, Ontario/Sioux Falls Stampede) also assisted on the goal, chipping the puck to Powell in the neutral zone.

Alex Perron-Fontaine (St. Mathieu de Beloeil, Quebec/Chilliwack Chiefs) almost tied the game later in the period, as he took a carom off the back boards from a shot by Alexander Kuqali (Pittsburgh, PA/Sioux City Musketeers) and looked to have the open side, but somehow, Perry came across to make the brilliant save.

MacLean was tremendous in the period for RIT, stopping a handful of point blank attempts by the Golden Knights, as they fired 12 shots on the junior goaltender.

The Tigers pressed on for the tying goal in the third period and had two power-plays, but could not get the big goal.
 
Last night, McGowan and Kuqali scored two goals apiece and Jordan Ruby (Tavistock, Ontario/Wellington Dukes) made 21 saves to lift the Tigers to a season-opening 5-2 win over St. Lawrence in front of 3,103 fans in the Gene Polisseni Center regular season opener.

In a global celebration of RIT hockey, RIT's main campus was connected with its international campuses in Croatia, Dubai and Kosovo via advanced Cisco Systems telecommunications technology for today's One SpiRIT festival. This technology allowed students from around the world to interact with each other in real time. On campus, festival-goers were be treated to an assortment of food, tailgating games, giveaways, live music and much more prior to today's men's and women's hockey games.

RIT is back in action next Saturday, when they host No. 4 Boston College at 7:05 p.m. in front of what will be a sellout crowd at Blue Cross Arena in downtown Rochester. The game is the focal point of RIT's Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend. Less than 500 tickets remain for the game.

"We are really looking forward to this game," said Wilson. "I know our guys will show up and give a top effort."