ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The RIT Men's Hockey team opened the 2025-26 season with a 1-0 Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) setback to visiting Sacred Heart, Friday.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Sacred Heart scored the lone goal of the game at 14:47 of the first period, converting a power play attempt following a Tiger cross checking penalty. Reid Pabich shuffled a puck to Felix Trudeau for a shot from the point, before Stephane Huard redirected the puck on the crease inside the left post.  

GAME NOTES

• Sacred Heart finished the night with a 25-22 advantage in shots.
• Tiger sophomore goaltender Jakub Krbecek totaled 24 saves, including 10 in the second period.
• RIT killed three of four penalties while Sacred Heart held the Tigers scoreless on four extra-man attempts.
• 1998 RIT graduate Matt Thomas logged his first game as head coach for his alma mater. 

COACH THOMAS SAID
"I liked our compete level, but I didn't really like our start. Our execution wasn't great, and it led to some penalty trouble that killed a lot of the momentum I thought we were creating early. That is something that can be expected in game one. I did think we did a good job of holding them to a limited amount of offense.
 
"At the end of the day, we're going to have to find a way to create more offense and find a way to get pucks in the net, but I liked our team. I liked our compete. I liked the way we made it really hard on them and how we didn't go away. At no point did we fold. If anything, I thought we went to another level, which is a huge step in the right direction. "
 
WHAT'S NEXT
RIT hosts Sacred Heart for a rematch on Saturday (Oct. 11) at 5:05 p.m.