Men's Hockey | 9/30/2015 10:53:00 AM

ROCHESTER, NY – The 2015-16 RIT men's hockey team looks to begin its journey of defending the Atlantic Hockey Conference title with a season-opening exhibition against the University of Ontario Institute of Technology on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7:05 p.m. at the Gene Polisseni Center.  
 
RIT returns 19 players, including all eight defensemen, 10 forwards, and one goaltender to the squad that finished last season with a 20-15-5 record. RIT won eight straight games en route to its second Atlantic Hockey title, first since 2010. RIT knocked off top seeded Minnesota State, 2-1 to advance to the Midwest Regional final. The Tigers are picked to finish second in the 2015-16 Atlantic Hockey preseason poll.
 
UOIT finished 10-18 last season, as a member of the prestigious Ontario University Athletics Conference (OUA) in Canada. The Ridgebacks, who have already played four preseason games, will also travel to Atlantic Hockey rival Canisius on Sunday before returning to Canada to open the season versus McGill.
 
The Tigers enter year two at the Gene Polisseni Center, which sits on the south side of the Student Alumni Union. The Polisseni Center boasts 4,000 seats and, with standing room, has a total capacity of 4,300 complete with a student/pep band/Corner Crew section. Other seating options include reserved chair-back seating and a special club section. Six corporate suites are available—four on the club level, one on the media level and a unique bunker suite at ice level.
 
Tickets for Saturday's game are available at the Gene Polisseni Center and Gordon Field House Box Offices, or by calling (585) 475-4121 or by visiting www.rithockey.com.
 
Immediately following the game, there will be a free open skate at the Gene Polisseni Center. Limited quantities of skates will be available for use, but fans can bring their own.

Video and live stats will available for Saturday's game.

RIT opens the regular season with road games at Clarkson and No. 19 St. Lawrence of the ECAC on Oct. 9-10, before hosting Bowling Green at Blue Cross Arena as the focal point of Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend on Oct. 17. The Tigers play their first regular season home game at the Gene Polisseni Center against No. 20 Colgate on Oct. 24. RIT president Bill Destler will dye his hair orange if the game against Colgate is a sellout.