Re: >>> RIT Tigers - 2013 Offseason: The Future Looks Bright <<<
I don't know where to send it. This is what I wrote.
Rochester Institute of Technology
Conference: Atlantic Hockey (2006-2013), DI Independant (2005), ECAC West - DIII (1962-2004)
Location: Henrietta
Hockey Program Founded: 1962, RIT founded in 1829
Total Universiy Attendance: Fall 2012: 17, 17,950
Nickname: Tigers
Mascot: Ritchie. Ritchie is ogten seen walking around the arena. He often will be part of the pregame
skate before the teams go out on the ice and between periods helping with the between period contests.
Band: Just known as the RIT Pep Band. The Pep Band and was founded during RIT's DI era.
Music Traditions: After RIT goals and after the game, the band plays "Eye of the Tiger". They also
play the "Hey!" song after the national anthem where the fans will yell "You Suck!" after the Hey.
Arena: Frank Ritter Memorial Arena. The student section (as well as some alumni) is called the Corner
Crew. They traditionally wear orange shirts and jerseys.
The Frank Ritter Memorial Arena was formerly known as Ritter-Clark Rink. It was built prior to the
hockey team being founded, but had hockey in mind. The Tigers also play their Homecoming Game at Blue
Cross Arena, home of the AHL Rochester Americans. This year, the Tigers will also have an outdoor
game at Frontier Field, home of the IL's Rochester Red Wings.
All Time Record: 856-469-75 (.638)
Championsips and Tournament Appearances:
National Championhips: 1982 (D II), 1984 (D III)
Conference Championships: 1985, 1993, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2009
Regular Season Conference: 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006,
2008, 2009, 2010
NCAA Tournament: 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2009
Rivals:
1. Air Force
RIT and Air Force joined Atlantic Hockey in the same year, and ever since then, the two teams have been
dominant. The teams have won most of the regular season and conference tournaments. The games are
usually very close as well. They are often one goal games, with the occasional overtime. The rivalry
is based on respect due to Air Force being a military institute.
2. Niagara
These teams started their rivalry in DIII when Niagara started their hockey program as a DI school
starting out by playing DIII. The Purple Eagles consistantly gotten the better of the Tigers though,
only losing once in the DI era for the Tigers.
3. Canisius
This is another team that RIT played when bpth teams played DIII hockey. RIT tended to dominate the
series back then and when RIT started playing DI. The rivalry rampled up during a game where 225
penalty minutes and a melee where there was a goalie fight.
Greatest Players:
1. Simon Lambert - Lambert is the only RIT player to be a Hobey Baker Finalist. When he graduated, he
was RIT's leading scorer in the Division I era with 132 points. His 55 goals still stand as the
career DI leader. He did it in only 3 seasons of DI action, adding 20 points in RIT's last DIII year.
2. Dan Ringwald - Dan was one of if not the best defenseman ever to play at RIT. He has the career
record in assists for RIT with 104 and 4th overall in poinst with 125 in the DI era. Dan was also a
standout on defense as well with a +34 +/- rating for his career.
3. Jerry Galway - If Ringwald was not the best defenseman ever, Galway was. Galway was the DIII player
of the year in the 2001-02 season. He tallied 164 points in his four years on 46 goals and 118 assists
for his career. He was a 3 time All American first team defensemen.
4. Steve Toll - He only played 88 games for the Tigers, but put together some eye popping numbers. He
had 77 goals and 108 assists for 185 points. Had he played his senior year, he would have challenged
the top spot in RIT's record books in points.
Greatest Coachs
1. Wayne Wilson - Coach Wilson is the winningest coach in Tiger history. He is 267-143-44 overall. He
won the Spencer Penrose DI Coach of the Year award after the 2009-10 season. He has been the only
coach the Tigers have known in the DI era and has kept the Tigers near the top of the Atlantic Hockey
standings.
2. Eric Hoffberg - After a slow start to his coaching career, Coach Hoffberg really got rolling. He
lead the Tigers to 5 NCAA tournament appearances and a NCAA DIII National Runner up in 1996. Hoffberg
compiled a 188-82-22
Last Season
Last season was very disappointing for the Tigers, as they failed to make it to the conference tournament
semifinals for the first time in Atlantic Hockey. The Tigers were 15-18-5. They were able to keep
their streak of beating a ranked team every year they have been DI with a win over Michigan.
Key Players for the Upcoming season
Jordan Ruby - He had a 3:05 goals against last year with an 8-10-1 record. He played a lot better after
claiming the #1 starting job last year. Highly touted coming into college play, he will be the Tiger
goaltender with the most experience and is expected to be the starter.
Matt Garbowsky - Matt was the leading scorer for a potent RIT offense last year. He had 11 goals and
22 assists last year for 33 points. He scored a goal in 9 of the last 12 games of the season for RIT.
This year, he will be one of the captains of the team.
Mike Colavecchia - Mike followed up his 32 point sophomore season with a 30 point junior season. He
could have had more points except for missing games due to injury. He will be the top returning goal
scorer for RIT, and with 20 points this year, will have 100 in his career.
