ROCHESTER, N.Y. - RIT fifth-year defenseman Gianfranco Cassaro was named the Atlantic Hockey Defensive Player of the Week, Tuesday. 

Cassaro was named to the all-tournament team at the Dartmouth Ledyard Classic over the weekend after helping the Tigers split a pair of games. He logged the primary assist on the opening goal and blocked three shots in Saturday's 4-2 consolation victory over Lake Superior State after adding an assist and blocking a shot in Friday's 5-2 setback to No. 8/8 Maine. 

Cassaro is currently tied for second nationally with five game-winning goals and is also third nationally among defensemen with seven goals.
 
A two-time Atlantic Hockey weekly honoree this winter, Cassaro landed four citations last season en route to being named first-team all-conference.
 
No. 18/19 RIT returns home for a pair of games this Friday and Saturday (Jan. 5-6) versus Clarkson (7:05 p.m.) and St. Lawrence (5:05 p.m.), respectively.