ROCHESTER, NY – For the second straight year, the RIT (3-1-0) men's hockey team sent its fans home happy on homecoming weekend. This year the Tigers defeated Merrimack College (1-4-0) 4-0 in front of 9,805 fans at Blue Cross Arena as part of Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend.

Logan Drackett (Calgary, Alberta/Calgary Canucks) picked up his third career shutout and first of the season, making 22 saves. Andrew Petrucci (Toronto, Ontario/Toronto Patriots) and Bryson Traptow (Calgary, Alberta/Camrose Kodiaks) each had a goal and assist, while Ryan Kruper (Sherwood Park, Alberta/Sherwood Park Crusaders) and Elijah Gonsalves (Scarborough, Ontario/Wellington Dukes) tallied a goal. Chris McKay (Edmonton, Alberta/Sherwood Park Crusaders), Brody Valette (Calgary, Alberta/Whitecourt Wolverines), Adam Brubacher (Elmira, Ontario/Powell River Kings) and Dan Willett (Bayville, NY/Bloomington Thunder) each had an assist.

Troy Kobryn took the loss in net for Merrimack, making 18 saves.

Shots were 28-22 in favor Merrimack. The Tigers converted its lone power play, and stopped the Warriors on all three of their power plays.  

"We were solid in all areas tonight," said RIT head coach Wayne Wilson. "We converted on our lone power play and stopped all three of Merrimack's. Next week is a short week traveling out to Air Force. We just have to be ready and take care of business."

RIT took a 1-0 lead on Kruper's first goal of the season. He broke into the Merrimack zone, put the fake on a Merrimack defender and beat Kobryn with a shot over his shoulder. McKay and Brody Valette (Calgary, Alberta/Whitecourt Wolverines) had the assists on the play.

Petrucci gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead late in the period. Regan Seiferling (Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers) fired a shot on net from the point. The Tigers crashed the net, and Traptow and Gonsalves each had a whack at the loose puck, and Petrucci finally poked the shot home.

Petrucci had another chance early in the second period, when Dan Willett (Bayville, NY/Bloomington Thunder) found Petrucci open with a pass near the Merrimack net. Petrucci maneuvered his way for a shot, but was blocked by a Warriors defenseman.

Drackett made a save on a shot from a sharp angle from Griff Jeszka, and stopped a shot from Mac Welsher from in close with 8:20 to play in the second. Bryson Traptow (Calgary, Alberta/Camrose Kodiaks) broke up the ice on the ensuing play, breaking in alone on Kobryn who made the save.

Gansalves made it 3-0 RIT inside the last minute of play in the second period. Traptow won the puck along the Merrimack back boards, and sent a pass over to Petrucci who found a streaking Gansalves and he buried the shot for his first collegiate goal.

RIT's defense continued to shine in the third period, killing off two Merrimack power plays. The Tigers tacked on a power play goal at 12:33 of the third period from Cameron. Willet sent a pass to Brubacher at the point and he found Cameron parked in front of the Merrimack goal and he tipped it home for his third goal of the season.
 
RIT begins play in Atlantic Hockey on Thursday, Oct. 24 at 9:05 p.m. in Colorado Springs, CO.