What: Rochester Institute of Technology (6-7-2, 5-3-1 AHA) at Mercyhurst College
(5-7-1, 5-5-0)
When: Friday and Saturday, 7:05 p.m.
Where: Mercyhurst Ice Center
On the air: www.americaone.com (Internet video), www.wmce.com (Internet radio)
Players to watch
Mercyhurst – Sr. G Ryan Zapolski (5-4-0 record, 2.36 goals-against average, .930 save percentage, 1 shutout), Fr. F Daniel O’Donoghue (5-5-10), Fr. F Taylor Holstrom (5-4-9), Sr. F Steve Cameron (3-5-8), Sr. F Ryan Raven (5-2-7)
RIT – Sr. F Andrew Favot (4-14-18), Jr. F Cameron Burt (2-18-10), So. F Adam Hartley (7-7-14), Jr. F Tyler Brenner (10-3-13), So. G Shane Madolora (4-0-1, 2.19, .915, 1 SO)
Fast facts
Mercyhurst – The Lakers have lost three of four to fall into a tie for sixth in the Atlantic Hockey Association, one point behind fifth-place RIT. The Tigers and Lakers were 1-2 in the AHA’s preseason poll. … The Lakers are winless in six straight home games against the Tigers (0-5-1). … These teams are meeting for the 43rd and 44th times in a series that began in 1988 at the Division III level. The Lakers have faced only one team more often (Canisius – 65 games). … The Lakers trail the all-time series 25-13-4, including a pair of one-goal losses last season. … Raven has matched his single-season high in goals set in 2008-09. … Sophomore F Paul Chiasson (4-3-7) had two goals in last Friday’s win at Sacred Heart – his first multi-goal game since Feb. 26, 2010 at Connecticut. … Sophomore F Grant Blakey (3-3-6) had a career-high three assists in last Friday’s win. … Senior F Scott Pitt (3-4-7) and Cameron need two and six points, respectively, to reach the 100 mark in their careers. … Junior D Patrick Goebel (upper-body injury) rejoined the lineup last weekend after a three-week absence. … The Lakers are 5-for-57 on the power play (8.8 percent), which is tied for 56th among 58 NCAA Division I teams.
RIT – The defending champion Tigers, which last season were the first conference team to reach the Frozen Four, have been inconsistent this season. They haven’t won or lost more than two straight games this season. … They are 2-5 on the road. … Madolora appears to be the replacement for graduated G Jared DeMichiel. Madolora earned the AHA’s top goaltender honor last week for posting his first career shutout in a 4-0 win against American International last Friday. … That was the team’s first shutout win of the season after totaling eight last year. … The Tigers tied the program’s Division I record with five first-period goals in that game. … Burt, the team’s leading scorer last season, has points in six straight games (one goal, eight points). … The Tigers rank 51st nationally on the penalty kill (76.7 percent). They had a streak of 17 straight successful kills snapped in Saturday’s loss to AIC.
Up next: vs. Alabama-Huntsville (Dec. 16-17, 7:05 p.m.)
– Victor Fernandes
