Niagara University, N.Y. — Jack Richard scored twice, including the game-winner early in the second period, and Niagara hockey beat RIT 4-1 on Friday night in the season opener for both teams.
The Purple Eagles start the season 1-0-0, 1-0-0 Atlantic Hockey America, while the Tigers start 0-1-0, 0-1-0 Atlantic Hockey America.
First period
RIT had the better of the opening minutes. Niagara blocked shots by Nick De Angelis, Christian Catalano, Tristan Allen and Jack McAra, and Kevin Scott's try hit the post at 4:07. Niagara then took over. Dallon Melin, Ray Murakami and Maxim Muranov all tallied shots, and Jacob Maillet had two more tries in a 90-second span.
The pressure paid off at 6:53, when Mitch Young scored at even strength with assists from Alix Durocher and Maillet.
RIT tied it at 11:51 on a goal by Camden Bajzer, assisted by Ryan Shaw and Matthew Mania.
Niagara got several more looks, including three from Marshall Finnie, but Jakub Krbecek stopped them. Gravel made five saves in the period, including one on Catalano with seven seconds left, and the teams went to the first intermission tied 1-1. Niagara led in shots 10-6.
Second period
Niagara took the lead 18 seconds after Gravel stopped Catalano. Richard scored at 1:17, off assists from Maillet and Durocher, and the goal held up as the game-winner.
Roughing minors on Niagara's Spencer Young and RIT's Bajzer, plus a tripping minor on Krbecek, gave Niagara a power play at 3:24. It produced two shots from Noah Hackett, neither of which beat Krbecek. Niagara kept pressing after the penalties expired. Muranov, Finnie, Wallace and Adam Gionta combined for five attempts in about a minute, and Gionta had two shots on goal.
Hunter Wallace scored at 13:28 for a 3-1 lead. Gionta and Dante Josefsson-Westling assisted, and Wallace had a shot blocked 17 seconds earlier.
Niagara outshot RIT 15-6 in the period, and Gravel stopped all six shots he faced.
Third period
The Purple Eagles then settled the game with their man advantage. Julian Demiglio was called for tripping at 7:12, and Richard scored 17 seconds later for a 4-1 lead. Durocher and Spencer Young assisted.
Gravel stopped Demiglio at 14:32, then turned away two shots by Nathan DellaDonna at 14:53 and 15:12. RIT pulled Krbecek for an extra attacker at 15:17, but William Moore was called for interference one second later and the goalie went back in. Mitchell Young and Spencer Young each had shots on the ensuing power play, and Krbecek stopped both.
Gravel made six saves in the period, and RIT never got closer than three goals.
Niagara Notes
Niagara improved to 30-24-18 all-time against RIT
Durocher tallied three assists in his collegiate debut
Theo Lemieux, Alix Durocher, Adam Gionta, Dante Josefsson-Westling, Josh Van Mulligen and Mitch Young all made their collegiate debuts
Roberto Mancini made his NCAA debut
Brayden Boehm, Ryan Humphrey and Charles-Edward Gravel all made their Niagara debuts
Richards' two goals was a career-high
Gionta, Mitch Young, Josefsson-Westling and Durocher all tallied their first collegiate points
Up Next
Niagara wraps up the weekend against RIT Saturday October 3 at 5:00 pm in Rochester, NY.
