Women's Hockey | 6/28/2017 1:54:00 PM

ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT women's hockey team unveiled its schedule for the 2017-18 season on Wednesday, June 28. The Tigers, who enter their sixth season at the Division I level, will play 34 regular season games. RIT will play 14 regular season home games and one exhibition contest at the Gene Polisseni Center.
 
RIT competes in College Hockey America, alongside Lindenwood University, Mercyhurst University, Penn State University, Robert Morris University and Syracuse University. The Tigers will play four games against each opponent: two at home, and two on the road.
 
On Sunday, Sept. 24, RIT hosts Ryerson University in an exhibition contest before beginning the regular season with a pair of games at College of the Holy Cross on Oct. 6-7. The Tigers return home to play six straight games to close out October at the Gene Polisseni Center. On Oct. 13-14, ECAC foe Rensselaer Polytechnic University comes to Rochester for Brick City Homecoming & Family Weekend, while Yale University is in town the following weekend, Oct. 20-21. RIT opens conference play on Oct. 27-28 against Lindenwood.

The Tigers play seven of their eight games in November away from Rochester. RIT heads east to play at national power Boston University on Nov. 3-4 before going up against 2017 CHA Champion Robert Morris on Nov. 10-11. The Tigers play their lone home contest of the month against Syracuse on Nov. 17 before going right back on the road to play the Orange the following day. The Tigers close out the month by heading to Vermont University to play in the Windjammer Classic on Nov. 24-25. The Tigers take on host Vermont in the tournament opener and will play either Colgate University or the University of Minnesota-Duluth the next day.
 
RIT returns home to play its final games of the fall semester at the Gene Polisseni Center against CHA rival Penn State on Dec. 1-2. The Tigers conclude the semester and 2017 calendar year with back-to-back non-conference road weekends at Bemidij State University on Dec. 8-9 and Union College on Dec. 15-16.
 
"We are excited to play some new teams and travel to places we haven't seen as a Division I program," said Bruce B. Bates Women's Hockey Coach Scott McDonald. "Once again, we are playing at least one school from every conference, with great competition that will prepare us for CHA play. Having Rensselaer for Brick City weekend and Yale the following weekend will be exciting for our fans to start the year. Trips to Boston University, Bemidji State and Union will be good tests to see where we stand against some of the best teams in the nation."

After four weeks off over the holiday season, RIT plays its final 12 games against conference foes during the 2018 calendar year. The Tigers kick off 2018 by heading to Mercyhurst to play the Lakers for a pair of games on Jan. 12-13. RIT is right back in action the following weekend, as Robert Morris comes to Rochester on Jan. 19-20. January ends with two road games at Lindenwood on Jan. 26-27.
 
The Tigers are off to start February and return to action with a home-and-home series against Syracuse on Feb. 9-10. After a two-game series at Penn State on Feb. 16-17, the Tigers wrap up the regular season with a pair of home contests against Mercyhurst on Feb. 23-24.
 
"The CHA is getting stronger every year, and this season will be no exception," said McDonald, who enters his 12th year behind the bench for the Tigers in 2017-18. "Every league game is crucial; we need to give a top effort each night in order to be successful."  
 
The 2017 College Hockey America playoffs will take place over a three-day stretch from March 1-3, all at the HARBORCENTER in downtown Buffalo. The third through sixth place finishers will face-off in a first-round matchup (3 vs. 6, 4 vs. 5) on Thursday, March 1, while the top two teams receive a bye. The CHA Tournament Semifinals will take place on Friday, March 2 and Championship will be held on Saturday, March 3. The league champion will receive an automatic berth to the 2017 NCAA Tournament.
 
RIT won back-to-back CHA Championships in 2014 and 2015 and appeared in its first NCAA Tournament as a Division I program in 2015. 

"It's a fun format, having all six teams in Buffalo," said McDonald, RIT's all-time leader in coaching wins. "In a one-game format, anything can happen and with the parity of our league, all six teams are capable of winning the CHA Tournament. We want to get back to winning a league championship."
 
RIT advanced to the CHA Semifinals in 2016-17 and is looking for its third league title in 2017-18. The Tigers are set to return 16 players from last season's squad.

Season and single game ticket information will be released in the near future at www.ritathletics.com and www.rittickets.com. Season ticket package renewals begin July 10, while new season ticket sales start for the RIT community July 24 and general public on July 28. Single game, flex packs, and group tickets will go sale on Aug. 7. For more information, contact the Gene Polisseni Center box office at 585-475-2516 or online at www.rittickets.com.