RIT to open 2017-18 season with Orange/White game and exhibition vs. Brock

Courtesy of RITAthletics.com

ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT men’s hockey team hits the ice for the first time in 2017-18 this weekend at the Gene Polisseni Center. On Friday, RIT will hold its Orange and White game at 6:05 p.m., followed by Skate With the Tigers. On Saturday, the Tigers take on Brock University at 7:05 p.m.

Tickets for Friday’s festivities are just $5 and include admission into both the Orange and White game and Skate with the Tigers. All proceeds will benefit the Red Cross Relief Funds through the RIT’s United Way Campaign. Tickets can be purchased online at www.rittickets.com or at the Gene Polisseni Center Box Office.

The Orange and White game will consist of two, 20-minute halves and gives fans their first glimpse of the Tigers in action this season. Shortly after conclusion of the game, fans can enjoy a free post-game skate with the players. There will be activities throughout, along with a thunder stick giveaway and free ice cream (RIT Tiger Tracks flavor, courtesy of Perry’s Ice Cream). In addition, there will be a limited number of skates available for use.

Saturday’s tickets are available at www.rittickets.com or at the Gene Polisseni Center Box Office. With four senior captains and 12 returners who were part of at least one Atlantic Hockey title team, experience is on the side of the Tigers as they come into the season. RIT will add eight highly-regarded newcomers to a team that won the 2015 and 2016 Atlantic Hockey Championships.

RIT’s top six scores from last season return, led by Erik Brown (Keene, Ontario/Kemptville 73’s), Myles Powell (Courtenay, British Columbia/Cowichan Valley Capitals), Liam Kerins (Caledon, Ontario/North York Rangers), Gabe Valenzuela (Brampton, Ontario/North York Rangers) and Abbott Girduckis (Belleville, Ontario/Wellington Dukes). In addition, RIT returns seven defensemen, including Brady Norrish (Strongfield, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers) and Chase Norrish (Strongfield, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers), along with 2017 Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Year Adam Brubacher (Elmira, Ontario/Powell River Kings).

Brock opened the 2017-18 season with a 5-3 loss to Guelph in the 19th annual Brock University Steel Blade Classic on Sept. 16 that also celebrated 50 years of hockey at the university. Connor Brown, Chris Maniccia and Brayden Stortz scored for Brock, while Clint Windsor made 25 saves. Windsor went 10-1 in net last season, while Adam Lloyd and Matt MacLeod are the returning leading scorers, having recorded 24 and 23 points in 2016-17.

RIT will open the regular season the following Saturday, Oct. 14 at 7:05 p.m. against Northeastern University at Blue Cross Arena in downtown Rochester as part of the university’s Brick City Homecoming & Family Weekend. The Tigers will look to make it eight straight sellouts downtown.