ROCHESTER, N.Y. - A new era in RIT Men's Hockey begins on Saturday night (5:05 PM) when the Tigers host Western (Ontario) in an exhibition game as a warm-up for the 64th season in program history. 

For the first time since 1998, a coach not named Wayne Wilson will be behind the RIT bench when the puck is dropped. The winningest coach in program history, Wilson announced his retirement in April following a 26-year run with the Tigers, including all 20 seasons at the Division I level following the program's ascension from the Division III ranks in 2005-06.

Former RIT captain Matt Thomas '98 was tabbed as his replacement, returning to his alma mater to become only the eighth head coach in program history dating back to 1962-63.

SPARE CHANGE 
RIT was one of a record 11 Division I men's hockey teams that made a coaching change this offseason – the most in the 78-year history of NCAA Division I men's hockey. 

THE POOL GOT DEEPER
Due to new NIL rules, players from the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) are eligible to play NCAA hockey for the first time in 2025-26, which has dramatically altered recruiting and roster construction across the country. 

Of the 11 new players on RIT's 2025-26 roster, five have OHL playing experience, while two others came via the transfer portal.

DON'T LOOK BACK IN ANGER
RIT looks to bounce back from a 10-23-2 finish as season ago - the fewest wins in a non-COVID shortened season since 2005-06 (RIT's first at the D1 level). 

Sixteen players return from last year's squad, including junior forward Christian Catalano who finished third on the squad with 23 points (7G/16A). Senior defenseman Xavier Lapointe (5G/10A) and sophomore defenseman Tristan Allen (2G/13A) also return after tying for fifth on the squad with 15 points apiece.

RETURN TO GLORY
Nine returners (6 seniors, 3 juniors) also saw action two years ago during the Tigers' run to a 27-11-2 record that included the program's fourth Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) Championship and appearance in the NCAA Tournament.   

RIT SELECTED TO PLAY IN 2025 FRIENDSHIP FOUR
The RIT Men's Hockey team will take part in the 2025 Friendship Four in Belfast, Northern Ireland month. The Tigers will join fellow Atlantic Hockey member Sacred Heart, along with Miami-Ohio and Union for a four-game tournament at the SSE Arena - home of the Belfast Giants – with the coveted Belpot going to the winner. RIT and Sacred Heart will be the first two Atlantic Hockey teams to play in the event. The only NCAA intercollegiate ice hockey tournament to take place outside of the United States, The Friendship Four men's tournament has been played six times since the inaugural event in 2015.

HEAD FOR THE HILLS
The 2025-26 season will also mark the first in 20 years without Associate Head Coach Brian Hills behind the bench. Announcing his retirement in May, Hills joined Wayne Wilson's staff priort to RIT's inaugural NCAA Division I season and was a driving force behind the program that won 10 Atlantic Hockey Championships, including four tournament titles and six regular-season crowns. He was named the 2011 Terry Flanagan Award winner by the American Hockey Coaches of America (AHCA), which annually honors an outstanding assistant coach's body of work.

A SORT OF HOMECOMING
When Matt Thomas looked to fill out his coach staff alongside returning Associate Head Coach Dave Insalaco, he welcomed back former RIT standouts Shane Madolora '12 and Josh Mitchell '16 over the summer. 

An All-American goaltender during his time in Rochester, Madolora graduated as RIT's Division I-era career leader with a .932 save percentage, which is still tied for 11th in NCAA history. He is also tops with a 1.97 goals against average, which remains tied for 20th in the NCAA record book.

One of only five D1-era RIT players to eclipse 120 career points, Mitchell remains fifth all-time with 121 points. He also graduated with 90 career assists—one of only two Tigers who have ever hit the milestone.

LONG STORY SHORT 
Senior forward Tyler Mahan returns with five career shorthanded goals to his name -- tied for the most in the nation entering the season. Totaling 20 career goals and 38 career points entering the season, Mahan scored three shorties during his first year in a Tiger uniform and has scored one each of the last two seasons. Union's Carter Korpi also returns with five shorthanded goals to his name.  

SIMON SAYS DROP THE PUCK
Senior forward Simon Isabelle returns after finishing 18th nationally with 390 faceoff victories and among the nation leaders with a .570 faceoff winning percentage. He is also is the Tigers top returner with 44 career points on 21 goals and 23 assists. 

A BIT DRAFTY IN HERE
For the second time in program history, RIT has a player on the roster that was taken in the NHL Entry Draft. Junior defenseman Ben Roger was picked in the second round (49th overall) of the 2021 draft by the Ottawa Senators. Anthony Hamburg, who was taken in the seventh round (193rd overall) by the Minnesota Wild in 2009, played two seasons (2012-14) at RIT after transferring from Colgate.