RIT announces class of 2015

Courtesy of RIT Sports Information

ROCHESTER, NY – RIT men’s Hockey Head Coach Wayne Wilson announced the Class of 2015 on Tuesday, May 31. The group of seven student-athletes includes five forwards, one defensemen and one goaltender. Six student-athletes from the incoming class are from Canada and one hails from the United States.

“We are really happy with our incoming class of newcomers,” stated Wilson, who will enter his 13th season as head coach of the Tigers. “All seven guys can come in and play right away and will be a big part of our team in 2011-12 and beyond.  We had needs to fill mostly upfront, losing our top two scorers, and will add depth to the defense and in net, and feel this class will be a strong addition to go along with our returners.” 

Forwards Matt Garbowsky (St. George, Ontario/Powell River Kings), Brad McGowan (Langley, British Columbia/Surrey Eagles), Brandon Thompson (North Vancouver, British Columbia/Langley Chiefs), Brad Reid (Delta, British Columbia/Salmon Arm Silverbacks), and Nick Gordon (Pittsburgh, PA/Sioux City Musketeers) highlight a standout group who will add plenty of offense and grit for the Tigers.

Matt Garbowsky led the British Columbia Hockey League with 44 goals and was sixth overall with 80 points last season to earn the Vern Dye Trophy as the Coastal Conference Most Valuable Player.  In addition, Garbowsky was a Coastal Conference All-Star and led Powell River to the best record in the league and a trip to the Fred Page Cup championship series.  The 5-foot-10 forward added 12 power-play goals and 11 game-winning goals.  In two seasons with Powell River, Garbowsky recorded 71 goals and 62 assists for 133 points in 107 games.

Brad McGowan led the British Columbia Hockey League with 15 power-play goals and was third overall in scoring with 89 points (36-53-89) last season to earn the Bob Fenton Trophy as the Coastal Conference Most Sportsmanlike Player.  In addition, McGowan was a Coastal Conference All-Star and led Surrey to 35 wins.  The 6-foot-1 forward finished second in playoff scoring with 20 points (7-13-20) in 14 games.  In two seasons with Surrey, McGowan recorded 48 goals and 87 assists for 135 points in 117 games.

Brandon Thompson helped lead the Langley Chiefs to 31 wins, recording 64 points (13-51-64) in 60 games, while adding 14 points (3-11-14) in 10 playoff games.  Thompson, who stands 5-foot-11, played four seasons in the BCHL, recording 159 points (37-122-159) in 224 games.

Brad Reid, a 6-foot-2 forward, recorded 52 points (23-29-52) in 57 games, split between the Coquitlam Express and Salmon Arm Silverbacks in the BCHL last season.  He recorded 135 career points (62-73-135) in 217 games over four seasons with five different teams in the BCHL.

Nick Gordon, who stands, 6-foot-2, played in 21 games last season with Sioux City in the USHL, battling injuries to record six points.  In 2009-10, he recorded 48 points on 22 goals and 26 assists in 30 games to lead Northfield Mount Hermon prep school, leading the squad to the New England Prep League Championship

“All five forwards fit into our up-tempo system really well,” said Wilson, RIT’s all-time leader in wins and the 2010 Spencer Penrose Award winner as Division I National Coach of the Year.  “Matt Garbowsky is a great, two-way center, who is excellent on face-offs and is a tremendous competitor.  Brad McGowan has exceptional skill, crafty, and is a great playmaker.  Brandon Thompson is a speedy forward, who is a strong playmaker, and will agitate our opponents.  Brad Reid is a physical player, and powerful skater, who has a knack for scoring big goals.  Nick Gordon has real good hands, is a good playmaker, and a big right winger

On defense, Stuart Brownell (Burlington, Ontario/Georgetown Raiders) joins an experienced group that returns all seven blue liners from the 2010-11 season, allowing the fewest goals in Atlantic Hockey.  

Brownell, who stands, 6-foot-4, played in 48 games split between the Georgetown Raiders and Streetsville Derbys in 2010-11, recording 23 points on six goals and 17 assists.  He recorded a career-high four points in a win over Dixie on Nov. 14, 2010.  Brownell tallied 39 points (8-31-39) in 96 games over two seasons in the Ontario Junior League.

“Stuart has great size and is a strong skater, who moves the puck very well,” said Wilson.  “He will fit in with our experienced group of returning defensemen and  compete for playing time.”

In net, Jordan Ruby (Tavistock, Ontario/Wellington Dukes) will make his debut for the Tigers in 2011-12.  Ruby led Wellington to a magical season in 2010-11, as the squad advanced to the Royal Bank Cup semifinals and won the 2011 Dudley Hewitt Cup and OJHL Championship.  During the regular season, Ruby was 26-5-4 with a 2.21 goals against average, .932 save percentage, and three shutouts.  Ruby was the MVP of the 2011 OJHL playoffs, finishing 16-4, with league leading totals of 16 wins, three shutouts, a 1.71 goals against average, and a .946 save percentage. 

"Jordan is very athletic and quick," said Wilson.  "His list of accomplishments at the junior level speaks for itself.  Jordan is technically sound, a great competitor, and plays well under pressure.  He will compete for playing time with Shane (Madolora) and Josh (Watson).  The addition of Jordan makes us very deep in net."

RIT finished the 2010-11 season with a 19-11-8 record, winning its fourth Atlantic Hockey Association regular season title in the last five years.  The Tigers were one game away from playing in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season.