By: Joey Campbell
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - After coming off of a two-game series that saw the RIT Tigers men's hockey team (7-22-1) fall to Holy Cross for a combined score of 12-2, the Tigers looked to get things going against the American International College (AIC) Yellow Jackets (10-17-1). With RIT fans in attendance for Fan Appreciation Night, they went home happy as the Tigers secured a 3-0 shutout victory over the Yellow Jackets.
"The support has been great all year long, and we're disappointed that we haven't played better for them and kept them engaged, we've got some great crowds and we've let them down," RIT men's hockey head coach Wayne Wilson said. "Hopefully we can finish off strong here with three home games."
With the shutout, it secures first year goalie Ethan David's first career collegiate shutout. His last shutout came Apr. 5th, 2024 in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) during the Vernon Vipers playoff run. David stopped all 30 shots from the Trail Smoke Eaters in the 2-0 win.
"Yeah, I thought he played very well tonight," Wilson said. "We haven't been the greatest defensively in front of him or the other goalies and tonight we were a little bit better in that area."
David recorded 22 saves in the win for the Tigers.
Standing in net for the Yellow Jackets was Chase Clark. The 6'6" junior from Williamsville, New York was drafted by the Washington Capitals in 2021 with the #183 pick in the sixth round. He recorded 27 on 29 shots on goal for a .931 save percentage.
No pucks would cross the red line in the first period, but the Tigers went into the intermission with some momentum. After an interference call on Yellow Jacket junior defenseman David Posma, the Tigers went to work on the powerplay generating multiple high danger chances. With five shots on the powerplay for the Tigers, they led the shot toal 11-to-six going into intermission.
With 12.1 seconds remaining in the second period the Tigers broke the scoreless tie. It started with a couple chip passes into the zone starting from sophomore forward Tyler Fukakusa then to sophomore forward Matthew Wilde. A saucer pass from him found sophomore forward Christian Catalano in front of a defenseman and the goalie. With a toe drag to his forehand, he was able to get the puck past the defenseman and with an easy snap release over the glove of Clark made it 1-0 Tigers.
Christian Catalano lead taking goal on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (RITMHKY on X)
While it was AIC dominating the period for quite some time, the Tigers were able to begin buzzing late in the period. The Yellow Jackets had five consecutive shots on net until the Tigers found some offense late into the second period. The Tigers led the shot department 19-to-13 and found themselves ahead with 20 minutes remaining,
At the 7:33 mark in the third period, the Tigers added onto their one goal lead. With a deflection at the Yellow Jacket blue line from Tigers junior forward Simon Isabelle, it left fifth year defenseman Dmitri Mikrogiannakis all alone with a breakaway towards the net. A deceptive release from Mikrogiannakis beat Clark through the five-hole to give the Tigers a two-goal lead.
Mikrogiannakis' goal on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (RITMHKY on X)
"Yeah, I saw Tanner Andrew had the puck on the wall and I just kind of saw a lane there," Mikrogiannakis said. "He was little late coming over, and I jumped in there. You don't see me with too many breakaways being a defenseman, so I just stuck to my gut and shot it."
A full-ice empty-net goal from Tigers senior forward Grady Hobbs would seal the deal for the RIT to give them a 3-0 victory over AIC.
With the win, the Tigers now sit at 8-22-1 on the season. With the victory, it still keeps them in ninth place among the Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA). As for the Yellow Jackets, they drop to 10-18-1, keeping them at eighth in the AHA standings.
The Tigers return to the ice today with a rematch against the Yellow Jackets. Puck drop is at 6:05 p.m.
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