January 30, 2009
by Joe Venniro

Men’s hockey to play United States Under-18 National Team tonight at Blue Cross Arena

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The RIT Tigers men’s hockey team hosts the United States Under-18 National Team in an exhibition tonight at Blue Cross Arena.

The RIT Tigers men’s hockey team, winners of 11 straight games, hosts the United States Under-18 National Team in an exhibition game oat 7:05 p.m. today at Blue Cross Arena.

RIT (16-9-1, 15-4-1 AHA), holders of the longest active streak in Division I, is riding its longest winning streak since the 2000-2001 season. Last weekend, the Tigers swept Canisius, winning by scores of 5-2 and 4-3.

The Tigers lead all of Division I with eight shorthanded goals and have outscored opponents 53-27 during the 11-game winning streak. RIT is the fourth-highest scoring team in Division I. Six players have scored at least 22 points and 12 have at least 10 points.

Jeremy Morin, a native of Auburn, N.Y., leads the U.S. Under-18 team with 19 goals this season. He scored a team-best 48 goals for the squad last season and is projected to be a first-round draft pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

The U.S. Under-18 squad is 11-10-1 against NCAA competition this season, including a 5-9-1 mark against Division I teams. The U.S. squad defeated Alaska-Anchorage, Union, RPI, Harvard and Michigan State and tied #3 Cornell—all on the road earlier this season.

The United States Under-18 team leads the all-time series with the Tigers, 8-5-1. The two teams last met during the 2005-2006 season, with each team winning twice.

In recent years, NHL stars such as Patrick Kane and fellow 2009 NHL All-Stars Mike Komisarek and Zach Parise, along with young stars Phil Kessel, Drew Stafford, Nathan Gerbe, Peter Mueller, Jack Johnson and John-Michael Liles, played for the U. S Under-18 team. Eighteen members of this season’s team will be playing Division I college hockey next season.

Tickets are available for Friday’s game at the Gordon Field House and Activities Center Box Office or by phone at (585) 475-4121. Fans can also purchase tickets via ticketmaster.com or at the Blue Cross Arena Box Office. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for alumni, faculty and staff and $6 for RIT students (at Gordon Field House only) with ID before Friday. On Friday, tickets are $12 for adults and $9 for students with ID.

The game can be heard on WITR-FM (89.7). For more, visit RIT Athletics.