By Tommy Kane

Published: March 23rd, 2019

Volume III: Issue VIII

The #5 RIT men’s hockey team (17-17-4) lost to the #6 Niagara University Purple Eagles (17-18-5) in the 2019 Atlantic Hockey Association semifinals at the HarborCenter in Buffalo, N.Y. The semifinal bout took place on Mar. 22, 2019.

The 1-0 overtime loss came after the first semifinal match, as #1 American International College Yellowjackets defeated the #8 Robert Morris University Colonials in overtime, 3-2.

This tournament marked the first time that the AHA Tournament would host the semifinals and finals at the HarborCenter, which is the home of the Canisius College Golden Griffins.

News and Notes

The Tigers have made the AHA semifinals eight out of the last 12 seasons.

The Tigers were 2-1-1 against the Purple Eagles in the 2018-19 regular season.

The Tigers finished the 2018-19 year at 17-17-4.

Focusing on the Final Four

RIT defeated Sacred Heart in a three-game series last weekend in Bridgeport, Conn. Now, they play Niagara University on Mar. 22, 2019, and will play the winner of American International College and Robert Morris University on Mar. 23, 2019 in the AHA Championship game, if they beat Niagara.

When asked about making adjustments for the weekend, head coach Wayne Wilson said there was no need.

“Really no adjustments,” Wilson started. “What you want to do is be the best that you can be as a team. Look at what the opponent is doing and just be prepared that they may be doing something different. You can’t overcoach at this time. The guys are doing things at high speeds and overcoaching can slow them down.”

Head Coach Wayne Wilson Coaches His Team

Jake Hamacher (F) scored three goals in the series against Sacred Heart and looks to continue to have high productivity this weekend.

“We have to continue to play our game. I think Alden [Dupuis (F)] and Shawn [Cameron (F)] are very fast players, I see the ice well, and we all work well together,” he explained. “We just gotta keep going into the Championship weekend.”

I think Alden [Dupuis (F)] and Shawn [Cameron (F)] are very fast players, I see the ice well, and we all work well together.”

Hamacher’s linemate, who also scored three goals last weekend, Dupuis, could attest to what needs to be done to come home with the title.

“I think we need to stick to our game plan. We have been playing well the last two games. It will come down to whose more prepared so they aren’t gonna be easy games. We have to be ready,” he said.

It will come down to whose more prepared so they aren’t gonna be easy games. We have to be ready.”

Fast Action Whilst a Goose Egg Until the End

Brody Valette (D) Shot is Blocked by Niagara

The much-anticipated second semifinal match got underway about an hour after the previous semifinal between AIC and Robert Morris. The crowd packed the HarborCenter with a substantial amount of fans from each team, possibly due to the close proximity of each school.

The game was chaotic in the first period. Both teams got multiple great chances and both Logan Drackett (G) of RIT and Brian Wilson (G) of Niagara had to come up big.

Towards the end of the first period, the Tigers had to kill off a penalty, and they successfully did so. The game stayed leveled at zero heading into the second stanza.

In the second period, Ryan Kruper (F) laid a big body check on a Niagara player that caused the Tiger Faithful to roar. That led to the Tigers getting a few chances, but the momentum swung like a pendulum to Niagara when they got another powerplay chance in the middle of the period The Tigers once again killed it off.

At the end of the second period, the score was still 0-0.

Both sides were getting anxious in the third period, at least the fans were sweating it out.

Early in the third, Drackett had to make a breakaway save and he successfully did, keeping the game scoreless. He had to come up big later in the period as well, stopping the Purple Eagles in their tracks.

The Tigers finally got their powerplay opportunity with about a minute left in regulation, and it needed to be carried over to overtime because the tight-knit match remained scoreless after regulation.

RIT had their chances in overtime, but ultimately Ludwig Stenlund of Niagara ended the game and the Tigers’ season. Stenlund took the feed in front of the net and put the puck in the net with a back-hander.

In the valiant effort, RIT recorded 32 shots, while Niagara had 27. In terms of the powerplay, both teams could not score. The Purple Eagles had two chances and the Tigers had one. In the Tiger net, Drackett saved 26 of 27 (.963) shots and Wilson stopped all 27 (1.000) shots and earned the shutout.

The Tigers hadn’t played in a game where both sides were scoreless after regulation since Oct. 8, 2011, against, ironically, Niagara.

On Mar. 23, 2019, AIC and Niagara met in the 2019 AHA Championship. The winner, AIC, will move on to the 2019 NCAA Tournament.

Looking to Next Season

The RIT Tigers will lose Erik Brown (F), Abbott Girduckis (F), Gabe Valenzuela (F), Mark Logan (F), and Christan Short (G) due to them being seniors.

RIT has a plethora of talent that should be returning, notably Adam Brubacher (D), Dupuis, Hamacher, Cameron, Will Calverley (F), and Drackett, just to name a few.

The 2019 recruiting class is also strong. RIT will gain Kolby Matthews (G), Ryan Nicholson (D), Sam Kozlowski (F), Colton Trumbla (F), Elijah Gonsalves (F), Thomas Maia (F), Caleb Moretz (F), and Andrew Rinaldi (F).

Thanks for a great year and the opportunity to allow these articles to be published. It was a tough loss to end it, but this team will always be something special.

GO TIGERS!

Stats

Game Against Niagara

2019 Recruiting Class