ROCHESTER, N.Y. - RIT senior defenseman Gianfranco Cassaro was named the Atlantic Hockey Defensive Player of the Week, Monday.

Cassaro landed his league-high fourth honor of the season after scoring a goal in each of the Tigers' victories over Air Force to close the regular season last weekend. He notched a power-play goal 8:10 into Friday's 3-1 victory and also scored a goal and blocked two shots during Saturday's 5-2 victory. 

RIT (22-11-1, 18-71 AHA) won the inaugural Bob Degregorio Trophy, awarded to the Atlantic Hockey regular-season champion, and earned the top seed for the Atlantic Hockey Tournament. The Tigers will host eighth-seeded Mercyhurst in a best-of-three quarterfinal series this Friday-Sunday (March 3-5). Friday and Saturday's games will faceoff at 7:05 p.m. while Sunday's game is slated for a 5:05 p.m. start if necessary.