ROCHESTER, N.Y. - RIT heads to Robert Morris this Friday and Saturday (Nov. 14-15) for a two-game Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) set opposite the Colonials. Faceoff both nights is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
 
Receiving votes in this week's USCHO national poll, the Tigers ride a seven-game winning streak--tied for the longest streak in the country with top-ranked Michigan State--into the weekend following a two-game sweep of visiting Mercyhurst last Friday (W, 4-1) and Saturday (W, 3-2). The Colonials look to bounce back following two home losses at the hands of Long Island University last Friday and Saturday, 6-3 and 2-0, respectively.
 
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TIGER REWIND
After only totaling two last season, RIT swept its fourth-straight two-game series of year with back-to-back wins over Mercyhurst last week.
 
The Tigers started by riding a three-goal third period to a 4-1 win last Friday. First-year forward Zach Wigle broke a scoreless tie midway through the second period before junior forward Christian Catalano and senior forward Austin Brimmer each logged a goal and an assist during a three-goal third. First-year William Moore also scored as the Lakers were held scoreless until converting a 6-on-4 power play goal with 1:49 remaining in regulation. 
 
On Saturday, Catalano, Wigle and senior forward Simon Isabelle scored the Tiger goals, while senior defenseman Crossley Stewart and first-year forward William Moore logged two assists apiece in the win. Tied, 1-1, after the first, Stewart gave the Tigers the lead at 3:37 of the second  before Wigle, who was voted the AHA Rookie of the Week on Tuesday, later scored 41 seconds into the third. Mercyhurst pulled back within one with 5:52 left in regulation, but could not find the equalizer.
 
KRBECEK APPEAL
Sophomore Jakub Krbecek extended his winning streak to seven games after backstopping both Mercyhurst victories last week. After stopping 20 of 21 shots in Friday's opener, he logged 33 saves--including 20 in the third period--of Saturday's one-goal victory. Among goaltenders with at least five starts this season, Krbecek ranks second nationally with a .945 save percentage and is fourth with a 1.50 goals against average, while his 7-1-0 record has him tied for the third-most wins this season. Krbecek was named the AHA Goaltender of the Month after compiling a 4-1-0 record in five October starts, highlighted by a season-high 39-save performance during the 7-3 win over Air Force (Oct. 25) and 28 saves in the 6-2 win over Clarkson (Oct. 18) in the Brick City Homecoming game. He also landed his first career AHA Goaltender of the Week honor after combining to stop 42 of 44 shots versus Colgate, including 28 saves in the 4-1 win after stopping 14 of 15 shots in the opening 3-1 win.
 
MORE IS BETTER THAN LESS
RIT entered the week leading the AHA and ranked in the top-10 nationally in four categories. The Tigers were tied for 10th in the country with 3.67 goals per game, seventh in scoring defense only allowing 2.00 goals per game, and eighth in scoring margin, out-scoring their opponents by 1.67 goals per game. Additionally, only one team in the country had both scored more goals and given up fewer goals than RIT. In 10 games, Denver had scored 39 goals (RIT 33) while only allowing 17 (RIT 18). 
 
THE KILLERS
RIT also entered the week ranked sixth nationally and first in the AHA with a .900 penalty killing percentage, only allowing three goals in 30 opponent power play attempts.
 
GETTING DEFENSIVE
RIT has only allowed 18 goals this season--the second-lowest total through nine games in Division-I era history and the fewest since only allowing 16 goals to start the 2019-20 season.
 
LIGHT THE LAMP
RIT scored 33 goals through its first nine games to start the season--tied for the fourth-highest total through that same stretch in the 20 years previous at the Division I level--despite only scoring one goal in its first two games. The  2022-23 squad totaled 36 goals through nine games, while the 2020-21 (35 goals), 2006-07 (34) and 2009-10 (33) teams also got off to hot starts. None of those teams were shutout in their first seven games.

WE'RE GOING STREAKING!
RIT's seven-game winning streak is tied for the sixth-longest Division I-era run in program history and is the fourth-longest regular season run.
 
EVERYBODY EATS
Through nine games to start the season, 15 Tigers have scored at least one goal, while 19 of the 23 total skaters have notched at least one point. Sophomore defenseman Ryan Williams notched his first collegiate goal in the second Colgate victory, while junior defenseman Kevin Scott logged an assist for his first point of the season to become the latest two players to get into the scoring action.
 
TIGERS VS. ROBERT MORRIS
Friday's game will mark the 50th all-time meeting between RIT and Robert Morris. The Tigers lead the all-time series, 26-17-6, including a 11-11-2 record on the road. Winners of eight of the last 10 meetings, RIT has gone 2-2 in the last four meetings after winning eight in a row between the end of the 2021-22 regular season and two AHA playoff games at the end of 2023-24. In four meetings last season, RIT bounced back from a 7-3 loss to earn a 4-3 OT win at home in December before falling, 6-1, and winning, 3-2, on the road last January.
 
ELF OFF THE SHELF
First-year forward Caleb Elfering was voted the AHA Rookie of the Month for October. Elfering entered the week tied for fifth among AHA first-year players with six points on two goals and four assists. He totaled three points during the Air Force sweep, starting with an assist and two blocked shots in the 5-1 win before adding a goal and two assists in the 7-3 victory to land AHA Rookie of the Week recognition. He also scored his first goal in a Tiger sweater during the homecoming victory over Clarkson.
 
ALL HE DOES IS SCORE GAME WINNERS
First-year forward William Moore's first two goals in a RIT sweater were back-to-back game-winners. He was credited with what proved to be the deciding tally in the 7-3 win over Air Force (Oct. 25) before breaking a 1-1 tie with six minutes remaining during the 3-1 decision at Colgate. Moore is tied for second for the Tigers with three goals, also scoring the Tigers' third goal in last Friday's 4-1 win over Mercyhurst.
 
RIT SELECTED TO PLAY IN 2025 FRIENDSHIP FOUR
The RIT Men's Hockey team is set to head across the Atlantic Ocean in two weeks for 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.
 
MEET THE NEW BOSS
RIT Head Coach Matt Thomas is off to a solid start to his first season behind the bench in Rochester. The former RIT captain took the reins at his alma mater last spring, becoming only the eighth head coach in program history dating back to 1962-63. Thomas jumped right into coaching after graduating in 1998 and has over 26 years of experience at both the NCAA Division I and professional ranks, including the last four seasons as an assistant coach with the Providence Bruins – the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the NHL Boston Bruins. 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.