NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The RIT Men's Hockey team opened the 2026-27 season with a 4-1 Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) setback at Niagara, Friday night.
Sophomore forward
Camden Bajzer tied the score, 1-1, in the first period, but the Purple Eagles scored three unanswered goals the rest of the way to secure the victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Niagara opened the scoring at 6:53 of the first. Alix Durocher dug a puck out of the right corner and sent it to the slot where it deflected off a Tiger stick to a wide-open Mitchell Young for a wrist shot under Krbeck's glove.
- RIT answered at 11:50. Sophomore defenseman Matthew Mania sent a puck from behind the Niagara goal that deflected off a defender in the neutral zone to first-year forward Ryan Shaw outside the opposite blue line for a two-on-one opportunity. Shaw threaded a pass around a defender to Bajzer in front of the right post for a short finish behind Purple Eagle goaltender Charles-Edward Gravel.
- Niagara retook the lead 1:17 into the second. Jacob Maillet slid a puck down the right boards through the neutral zone to spring Jack Richard for a one-on-one chance the other way. Richard cut to the slot to avoid a defender and scored on a wrist shot, glove side.
- The Purple Eagles took a 3-1 lead at 13:38 of the second after Hunter Wallace cleaned up a short rebound on the crease to finish an odd-man rush.
- Niagara made it a three-goal lead with a power play goal at 7:29 of the third. Durocher sent a cross-ice feed to Richard at the top of the right faceoff circle for a one-timer inside the near post.
GAME NOTES
- Junior goaltender Jakub Krbecek took the loss despite making 27 saves as Niagara out-shot the Tigers, 31-18.
- RIT went scoreless on three power-play opportunities while the Purple Eagles converted one of three chances.
- Mania and Shaw were credited with their first points in a Tiger uniform.
WHAT'S NEXT
RIT hosts Niagara in a rematch on Saturday (Oct. 3) starting at 5:05 p.m.
