Men's Hockey | 11/19/2014 8:59:00 PM

ROCHESTER, NY - Former RIT men's hockey standouts Chris Tanev and Steve Pinizzotto will go against each other in a National Hockey League contest on Wednesday, Nov. 19. Tanev's Vancouver Canucks are at Pinizzotto's Edmonton Oilers in a contest that starts at Edmonton's Rexall Place at 8 p.m. EST. It is Tanev's fifth professional season and Pinizzotto's eighth full season.

Pinizzotto recorded the "Gordie Howe Hat-Trick" on Nov. 19, scoring his first NHL goal, while adding an assist, and had a fighting major, although Tanev's Canucks came out on top, 5-4. Tanev blocked a game-high six shots.

In 2009-10, Tanev enjoyed a tremendous season for the Tigers, helping lead the squad to its first trip to the NCAA Tournament and a berth in the Frozen Four.  Tanev played in all 41 games and recorded 28 points on 10 goals and 18 assists.  He led the team and was among the national leaders with a plus-33 rating.  In addition to earning AHA Rookie of the Year honors, he earned All-AHA third team honors.  He was a three-time AHA Rookie of the Week and earned 2010 Atlantic Hockey Championship All-Tournament Team honors. Here is Tanev's NHL player page.

The Toronto, Ontario native helped lead RIT to the 2010 AHA regular season and postseason championship. The Tigers finished 22-5-1 in conference play and 28-12-1 overall. The 28 wins is a school record.  In addition the 22 wins and 45 points in conference play were AHA records.  Behind the play of Tanev, the Tiger defense allowed just 1.82 goals per game in AHA play, and were fourth nationally in scoring defense, allowing 2.20 goals per contest.  RIT set a school record by recording eight shutouts in 2009-10.

Pinizzotto, a native of Mississauga, Ontario, played two seasons with RIT, helping lead the team to the 2007 AHA regular season championship. Pinizzotto recorded 22 goals and 40 assists for 62 points in 58 career games for RIT from 2005-07. He also had 12 power-play goals, 112 penalty minutes and was a plus-1.  Pinizzotto led the squad in scoring with 44 points on 13 goals and 31 assists in 34 games during the 2006-07 season. Here is Pinizzotto's NHL player page.

Both Tanev and Pinizzotto were teammates with the Vancouver Canucks in 2012-13.