Courtesy of RITAthletics.com
ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT men’s hockey team began the 2017-18 season by defeating Brock University, 3-1 in an exhibition contest from the Gene Polisseni Center on Saturday evening.
Myles Powell (Courtenay, British Columbia/Cowichan Valley Capitals)scored two goals, one shorthanded and one on the power-play, whileAbbott Girduckis (Belleville, Ontario/Wellington Dukes) also scored for the Tigers. Chris McKay (Edmonton, Alberta/Sherwood Park Crusaders) had a pair of assists.
All three goaltenders played well in the win. Christian Short (Vaughan, Ontario/Surrey Eagles) made seven saves without allowing a goal in the opening period, while Logan Drackett (Calgary, Alberta/Calgary Canucks) stopped all six shots he faced in the second period. Ian Andriano (Barrie, Ontario/Ottawa Jr. Senators) was heavily tested in the third period, stopping 14 of 15 shots to help preserve the win.
Video courtesy of RIT Athletic Communications
Chris Maniccia scored Brock’s lone goal, a shorthanded marker with 1:01 left in regulation. Clint Windsor made 27 saves on 29 shots over two periods, while Alex Brooks-Potts made six saves in the third period.
RIT out-shot Brock, 36-28. The Tigers were 1-for-3 with the man-advantage, while Brock was 0-for-5. Both teams scored a shorthanded goal.
“I was pretty happy with how we played tonight and have a lot to be encouraged about,” said RIT head coach Wayne Wilson. “I thought our freshmen played very well.”
Powell would put the Tigers on the board with 41 seconds left in the period, redirecting a shot by Chase Norrish (Strongfield, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers) past Windsor for the goal. Chris McKay (Edmonton, Alberta/Sherwood Park Crusaders) would also assist on the shorthanded goal.
Seconds earlier, while shorthanded, Powell chased a long dump in by the Tigers and beat Windsor to the puck in the corner. He attempted to come out in front and slide the pucik into the open net before Brock’s Skylar Pacheco slid across the crease to save a goal.
Matt McLeod had a great chance for the Badgers early on, as he hit the post to the side of Short after a puck glanced off a player in front.
RIT would add to its lead with a goal in the second period, while taking control, out-shooting the Badgers, 18-6.
Girduckis would give RIT a 2-0 lead just past the halfway mark of the period, swatting in a goal mouth feed from McKay. Regan Seiferling(Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers) also assisted on the goal.
RIT’s penalty-killing unit came up large in the third period, killing off four Brock power-plays. Andriano made a handful of key saves throughout the period, as Brock out-shot RIT 15-7.
Maniccia would give the Badgers life with a shorthanded goal that snuck between the pads of Andriano with 1:01 left to cut the RIT lead to 2-1.
After RIT had an empty-net goal wiped out due to a whistle with 19 seconds left, they would score the third goal on a 5-on-3 power-play 11 seconds later, as Powell one-timed a pass from Adam Brubacher(Elmira, Ontario/Powell River Kings) into the wide open net to complete the scoring.
RIT leads the all-time series between the two schools, 8-4-0. RIT also defeated Brick, 3-0 in last season’s exhibition.
The Tigers open the regular season next Saturday, Oct. 14 as No. 20 Northeastern University invades the Blue Cross Arena in downtown Rochester as part of RIT’s Brick City Homecoming & Family Weekend.
“We’re excited to open the regular season in front of our great fans downtown next weekend and look forward to a great atmosphere.”
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