ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Six first-year players will be in uniform when the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) men’s hockey team takes the ice in its season opener at Union College. The return of a former all-rookie performer may make it seem like the Tigers have added seven players to the lineup.
Elijah Gonsalves rejoins RIT after spending a bulk of last season on the sidelines due to injury.
“You’re always looking at your freshmen and sophomores to make the biggest jump,” Tigers head coach Wayne Wilson said. “To get an all-league player back who didn’t play at all or played sparingly, that’s a bonus. If you want, look at him as a new guy. For the most part, we didn’t have him last year.”
Gonsalves finished with 24 points, nine goals and 15 assists, during the 2019-20 season when he earned a spot on the Atlantic Hockey All-Rookie Team. The following year, the Scarborough, Ontario finished second on the team in the COVID-shortened season with 22 points, nine goals and 13 assists.
The forward was part of the Tigers power play unit with Jake Hamacher and Caleb Moretz.
“My role is going to be just where ever I fit in,” Gonsalves said when asked about regaining his spot in the man advantage. “I’m going to try and work hard every single day and try my best to help the team in any way I can. Whatever that is defensively, offensively.”
He finished with two goals and four assists before a hip injury shortened his 2021-22 campaign.
“It was tough,” he said of having to watch as his teammates battled to the Atlantic Hockey semifinals before falling short against Army West Point. “Especially when it came down to the wire at the end of the year. It obviously wasn’t fun, but I try to take it with a grain of salt and do as much as I can to learn from myself and learn from team by watching. I feel like I got better just watching last year.”
Moretz was also slowed by an injury in ’21-’22 and had off-season surgery.
“That took a toll,” Wilson said of the impact on RIT’s offense. “Those two with Hamacher were our number one power play the year before. They were going at a pretty good clip.”
Gonsalves will get a chance to find out right away if he can return to his previous form.
“There for sure is some adjustment. Obviously, you’re not exactly where you were before. With the help of our coaching staff and guys with me on the ice, it’s been seamless so far in practice. We’ll see how it goes.”
A 7 p.m. puck drop is scheduled for Saturday’s opener.
“It’s a dream come true, again,” Gonsalves said of getting back in the lineup. “It’s amazing. More than anything just being back with the boys. This group we have is amazing. To be back with my friends every day is awesome.”
Gonsalves and Moretz return to the lineup along with conference Co-Preseason Player of the Year, Carter Wilkie (30 points, 13 goals and 17 assists in 2021-22) and Kobe Walker (19 points, 11 goals and 8 assists).
“Kobe Walker is guy who has always produced,” Wilson noted. “He probably lived in the shadows of (former RIT Tiger) Will Calverley. He’ll get some good opportunities with some good players this season.”
One early question that needs answering will be if and how the Tigers can fill the loss due to graduation of defenseman, Dan Willet.
Junior Aiden Hansen-Bukata and UMass transfer Gianfranco Cassaro will get their chances.
“Those two as defensemen will make a jump. They’re at that point of their careers where they’re older. They have the opportunity and skill level to take advantage.”
Tommy Scarfone, an AHA All-Rookie selection, will carry the load in goal. Scarfone posted a 2.46 goals against average with a .919 save percentage a year ago.
RUGGED OCTOBER
RIT has 10 losses and two ties in its last 17 season openers. And the Tigers are 0-6-1 all-time against Union which will take the ice under first-year head coach Josh Hauge. That’s just the start of challenging month of play.
“Our month of October will wake us up,” Wilson stated. “It’s good for us. I like the way our schedule set up. We’re excited about playing it.”
RIT welcomes Army West Point on the second weekend of the season before a rematch against Union in the Brick City Homecoming. The Tigers will then head west to play at Air Force and finish the month at home against Holy Cross.
“When you play Army, there’s no team more physical,” Wilson noted. “It’s a wake-up call. They’re going to come. It’s going be physical, hard-fought. We’re going to get a good taste of competition right from the get-go. Union under a new coach is going to be motivated to show what they have.”
The sledding doesn’t get much easier after that. RIT opens November against conference champ AIC. Last season, RIT split on the road with the Yellowjackets dropping a 7-3 decision before winning in overtime, 3-2. The Tigers also narrowly beat last place Holy Cross twice (3-2/4-3) last season.
“More than anything every game in our league is tough. I think a lot of people say that about other leagues, but you’ve got be good. You’ve got to have depth, and you got be healthy. Then it’s what’s your confidence level. Can you win three or four games that are one-goal games to get you over the edge?
“You want to play as well as you can all year long to be in a good position and then come playoffs to make the NCAA, you’ve got to be healthy, feeling good about yourselves and really capitalize on that.”
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOURS AND MONTHS
Earlier this year, NCAA Division III voted (overwhelmingly) to allow RIT to offer scholarships for both its Men’s and Women’s Division I hockey teams. With that the Tigers will have the 18 scholarships that other schools across the nation have previously had. The difference for Wilson and his staff when they go out recruiting?
“The results of scholarships are immediate as far as the response when offering someone,” Wilson explained. “You get a call three hours later after offering a kid. Before it was closer to three months than three hours.
“It was frustrating sometimes. We’ve had kids that have said ‘I really want to come, but I have to wait and see what happens.’ You get them the paperwork. You line up a visit, but they’re still hoping for a scholarship. They’re not going to commit this time of year because they want to talk to other schools and see if they’re going to offer a scholarship.”
“The effect of the scholarships right now is we know whether they want to come because they like the school or not right away because we’ve gotten them out of the excuse of “I want to see if I can get some money.’”
How long long before scholarships impact play on the ice?
“A lot longer than people think,” Wilson said. “This will be the first class we’re recruiting, but they won’t be on campus until next year. Then we’ll have one of four classes and will be quarter of the way there.”
RIT’s current roster has 27 players. Eventually, there will be 18 scholarships to divide among those student-athletes.
“We’ve got scholarships. We’re still not going to beat Michigan and their first-rounders (of the NHL Draft) for a kid. It’s not like now we’re going to get first rounders. We’ve always recruited the best possible players. If money was the reason they couldn’t come, we’ll let them say that. But we’re not going to quit on anyone either. Maybe we’ll get the same kid, and they’re going to get rewarded now. Or maybe, we’re able to get some other kids that are a little bit better. That’s yet to be determined.”
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