The No. 18-ranked RIT Tigers closed out the first semester atop the Atlantic Hockey standings and have used a quartet of nonconference games to resync following a 20-day winter break.

The Tigers (13-6-1 overall, 9-2-1 AHA) got back into action Dec. 29 in the Ledyard Bank Classic. Despite a 5-2 loss to No. 8 Maine, it helped the Tigers loosen up after the prolonged break. Maine went on to claim its first tournament title in 11 years.

RIT skated to a 4-2 win over Lake Superior State the following day. The Tigers tallied a pair of goals in 2 minutes and 55 seconds of the second period from freshman Tyler Fukakusa and senior Cody Laskosky to break a tie, and they added an insurance goal for a third-place finish in the tournament.

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The following week, the Tigers were led by netminder Tommy Scarfone in his second shutout of the season, a decisive 4-0 win over Clarkson. Fukakusa and Laskosky provided the primary assists on the game’s opening goals en route to a three-goal first period.

And the crowd goes Wild(e)!!! #RoarTech https://t.co/5jwgB6l8p9 pic.twitter.com/WNWW7mNjAs

— RIT Men's Hockey (@RITMHKY) January 6, 2024

The Tigers closed out their nonconference schedule over the weekend with a tie against St. Lawrence. RIT claimed the unofficial shootout victory.

Even with a 1-1 tie, it was a showing of pure offense, with St. Lawrence outshooting RIT 47-43 for a combined 90 registered shots on net. That averages out to a shot on net every 43 seconds, including the added five minutes of the extra frame.

Goaltenders Scarfone and SLU’s Ben Kraws each earned the padded season stats from the onslaught of shots they faced.

“I take a lot of pride in my numbers and how I do,” Scarfone told Kevin Oklobzija of Pickin’ Splinters. “Because people that aren’t watching the games, that’s what they’re going to go by.”

While the Tigers skated to a 2-1-1 record in their four nonconference games, they slipped to second in Atlantic Hockey.

Sacred Heart used its games in hand from the fall to jump the Tigers by a single point with a series split with Mercyhurst. The Tigers now hold a game in hand.

The Tigers next eight games are a combination of four of the bottom five teams in the Atlantic Hockey standings.

Only two of RIT’s remaining 14 games come against a conference foe in the top half of the standings, presenting a favorable schedule to stack points and claim their second straight AHA title and No. 1 seed for the postseason tournament.

The large returning cast at RIT is eager to prove they have what it takes after a premature end to the 2022-2023 season.

Three-time leading scorer Carter Wilkie, senior netminder Scarfone and new additions, including Fukakusa and fellow freshman Matthew Wilde, are just a few of the pieces in place for a promising opportunity at an expanded season this spring.

RIT is back in action this week for a Thursday game at Niagara and Saturday home game hosting Canisius, with each respective game as their first matchup of the season.

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