Men's Hockey | 9/17/2012 1:50:00 PM

ROCHESTER, NY – Head Coach Wayne Wilson and the RIT men's hockey team have announced its captains for the 2012-13 season. Senior defenseman Chris Saracino (St. Louis, MO/Green Bay Gamblers) will captain the Tigers for the second straight season, while senior forward Adam Hartley (West Vancouver, British Columbia/Surrey Eagles) and sophomore forward Matt Garbowsky (St. George, Ontario/Powell River Kings) will serve as assistant captains. RIT enters its seventh season in the Atlantic Hockey Association and eighth as a Division I program.

“We're very pleased with the leadership our three captains bring to our team,” said Wilson, RIT's all-time leader in coaching wins, who is entering his 14th season behind the bench. “We have been fortunate to have a long history of great leaders, and this group should be no different. We are very lucky to not only have our three captains, but also guys like Brian Potts, Jeff Smith (Spokane, WA/Tri-City Storm), Greg Noyes (Lucan, Ontario/Salmon Arm Silverbacks), and Eliot Raibl (Vancouver, British Columbia/Quesnel Millionaires), who don't wear the letter, but have also emerged as excellent leaders for our team.”

Saracino, who was one RIT's three captains a year ago, battled injuries, playing in just 14 games in 2011-12, recording two goals and seven assists for nine points. He was the Most Valuable Player of the 2011 Catamount Cup, hosted by the University of Vermont. In 2010-11, Saracino finished among the national leaders with a plus-28 rating, while chipping in with 20 points, earning All Atlantic Hockey Association second team honors. In 90 career games, Saracino has nine goals and 32 assists for 41 points and is plus-42.

“Chris is healthy and wants to make the most of his senior year, not only with his play on the ice, but also by being a vocal leader,” said Wilson. “He is our leader and will look to have a great season.”

Hartley, a 6-foot-3 forward, has made an impact offensively since he stepped foot on campus in 2009. Last year, Hartley scored 15 points on seven goals and eight assists in 37 games. In 2010-11, Hartley set career-highs with 11 goals, 14 assists, and 25 points in 36 games. Seven of his goals came on the power-play. As a freshman, Hartley chipped in with 18 points and won three defensive face-offs in the final 45 seconds of RIT's 2-1 win over No. 2 Denver in the NCAA East Regional Semifinal.

“Adam went home for the summer and came back in great shape and is primed for a great senior year,” said Wilson. “He is well respected by his teammates and will be a good captain for us this year.”

Garbowsky emerged as a tremendous two-way forward for the Tigers in his rookie season a year ago, scoring 20 points on nine goals and 11 assists, while recording a plus-10 rating, playing in all 39 games. The 5-foot-10 forward instantly became one of RIT's best penalty killers, scoring two shorthanded goals, and was a main reason the team finished in the top-10 nationally in that category.

“Matt is a quiet leader, but his play and his work ethic speak for itself,” said Wilson. “He is a great representative for the younger players on the team, regardless of class year.”

RIT finished third in the Atlantic Hockey Association last season, and advanced to the league championship game for the third straight year, finishing 20-13-6. In 2009-10, RIT enjoyed a magical run, advancing to the NCAA Frozen Four for the first time as a Division I program. Hartley and Saracino played vital roles as freshmen on that squad.