ROCHESTER, NY – The two-time defending College Hockey America Champion RIT women’s hockey team begins its 2015-16 season with a weekend series against Minnesota State. The Tigers and Mavericks face-off at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2 and conclude the weekend series from the Gene Polisseni Center at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3.
Before the opening face-off on Friday, RIT will honor Trustee Emeritus Bruce B. Bates, who provided the gift where endowed earnings will support the salary of the women’s head hockey coach and provide budget relief to athletics. It is RIT’s first endowed coaching position, as head coach Scott McDonald is now the Bruce B. Bates Women’s Hockey Coach.
RIT opened the 2015-16 season with a resounding 9-0 win over the Ottawa Lady Senators last Friday. RIT scored twice in each of the first two periods and exploded for five third period goals, out-shooting Ottawa 58-13. Logan Land (Turkey Point, Ontario/Holy Trinity Catholic) tallied six points on a goal and five assists in her debut. Jess Paton (Woodstock, Ontario/Waterloo K-W Rangers) recorded the hat-trick with an assist, while Mackenzie Stone (Kars, Ontario/South Carleton) added a goal and two assists. Kandice Sheriff (Brampton, Ontario) scored twice, while Brinna Dochniak (Marine on St. Croix, MN/Stillwater) and Kendall Cornine (Kinnelon, NJ/Morristown Beard) added two helpers each. Haley Northcote (Cumberland, Ontario/Minnesota State) also had a multiple-point effort with a goal and an assist. Goaltenders Brooke Stoddart (Elmvale, Ontario/Elmvale), Jetta Rackleff (Bend, OR/Summit), and Jenna de Yonge combined on the shutout.
Entering just its fourth Division I season, RIT is gunning for its third consecutive College Hockey America Championship in 2015-16. The Tigers return 15 players from last season’s team that advanced to the NCAA Division I Championship Tournament for the first time and add nine highly skilled newcomers.
Minnesota State is one of a few Division I teams who played regular season contests last weekend, opening with a 2-2 tie and 3-0 win on home ice over Union. Katie Johnson and Hannah Davidson lead the team in scoring with three points apiece. In goal, Brianna Quade stopped 36 of 38 shots, including her first collegiate shutout in the 3-0 win. Last season, the Mavericks finished 3-32-1, placing eighth in the WCHA.
It is the first ever meeting between the two schools.
Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for RIT staff, faculty, and alumni, and $3 for youth. RIT students receive free admission (one ticket limit per valid RIT ID). Tickets are available at the Gene Polisseni Center and Gordon Field House Box Offices, by calling (585) 475-4121 or by visiting www.rithockey.com.
Video and live stats will available for Friday’s game. Both games will be broadcasted over the airwaves on WITR 89.7 FM and be available online.
