May 19, 2011

Three former RIT players enjoy strong post-season in AHL

Courtesy of RIT Sports Information

Bobby Raymond is the lone Tiger still playing, as his Binghamton Senators have advanced to the Calder Cup Finals. Chris Tanev is currently on the Vancouver Canucks active roster after his Manitoba Moose were eliminated in the Western Conference Semifinals. Two-time Calder Cup Champion Steve Pinizzotto recently completed his season with the Hershey Bears, and was called up to the Washington Capitals.

"We are very proud of our former players and their accomplishments after RIT," said RIT Head Coach Wayne Wilson, who recently finished his 12th season at the university. "All three players are great representatives of our school, and hockey program, and it doesn¹t surprise us on the success they are now having in their professional hockey careers. We are excited to watch them play for both the Stanley Cup and Calder Cup Championships."

Raymond, who graduated from RIT with a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering in 2009, was called up to the Senators after playing the regular season with the Florida Everblades of the East Coach Hockey League. Raymond was named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team after playing in all 72 games, recording 34 points on eight goals and 26 assists, while playing at a plus-26, third best in the league. Raymond has made an immediate impact for the Senators, with a goal and an assist in eight games, while playing at a plus-4. In game two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Raymond scored the game-winning goal and added an assist in Binghamton's 4-3 win over Portland.

Raymond was a 2009 All-Atlantic Hockey Association second team member, and 2008 third team selection, in addition to being a two-time winner of the Greg Moss Hard Hat Award at RIT. He played in all 144 games over four seasons at RIT, recording 13 goals and 29 assists for 42 points. Raymond helped lead RIT to a pair of Atlantic Hockey Association Regular Season titles.

Tanev, the 2010 Atlantic Hockey Association Rookie of the Year, made his National Hockey League debut with the Vancouver Canucks at Colorado on Jan. 18, 2011, becoming the first former RIT player to appear in an NHL contest. He played in 29 games for the Canucks, recording one assist, and is back on their active roster, as the squad attempts to win their first Stanley Cup.

In addition, Tanev played in 39 games with the Manitoba Moose in the American Hockey League during the regular season, and 14 more in the postseason. Tanev recorded a goal and two assists and led the team with a plus-7 rating, as the Moose lost a tough, seven-game series to Hamilton in the Western Conference Semifinals.

In 2009-10, Tanev enjoyed a tremendous season for the Tigers, helping lead the squad to its first trip to the NCAA Tournament and a berth in the Frozen Four. Tanev played in all 41 games and recorded 28 points on 10 goals and 18 assists. He led the team and was among the national leaders with a plus-33 rating. In addition to earning AHA Rookie of the Year honors, he earned All-AHA third team honors. He was a three-time AHA Rookie of the Week and earned 2010 Atlantic Hockey Championship All-Tournament Team honors.

Pinizzotto played in six games with the Bears in the 2011 postseason, recording four points, as the Bears attempt at a three-peat was denied by the Charlotte Checlers in the first round. During the regular season, Pinizzotto scored 17 goals and added 25 assists for 42 points and a team-leading 178 penalty minutes. He has played four full professional seasons and was called up to the Washington Capitals after Hershey's season ended. He helped lead the Bears to the 2009 and 2010 Calder Cup Championships.

Pinizzotto recorded 22 goals and 40 assists for 62 points in 58 career games for RIT from 2005-07. He also had 12 power-play goals, 112 penalty minutes and was a plus-1. Pinizzotto led the squad in scoring with 44 points on 13 goals and 31 assists in 34 games during the 2006-07 season.