RIT To Join Atlantic Hockey in 2006-07

December 15, 2004

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) has accepted an invitation to join the Atlantic Hockey Association, and will begin competition in the league for the start of the 2006-07 season. The men’s ice hockey program will reclassify to NCAA Division-I status from NCAA Division-III over the next two years. The announcement was made today during a press conference held at the Gordon Field House on the RIT campus in Rochester, N.Y.

Atlantic Hockey Commissioner Bob DeGregorio and Canisius Athletic Director Tim Dillon, President of the Atlantic Hockey Executive Committee, were on hand to make the announcement, along with RIT President Dr. Albert Simone, RIT Athletic Director Lou Spiotti, Sheila Sarratore, President of RIT’s Student Government, and RIT men’s ice hockey head coach Wayne Wilson.

“The addition of RIT to Atlantic Hockey gives the conference a proven winner in college hockey,” said Dillon during the announcement. “RIT has been very successful at the NCAA Division III level and will bring a wealth of amenities to Atlantic Hockey, such as an on-campus rink, hockey-knowledgeable fans and alumni, and renewing a long-time rivalry on the ice with current league members Canisius and Mercyhurst. We look forward to RIT joining Atlantic Hockey and becoming a very competitive and successful member of the conference.”

“This is an exciting day for the RIT family - faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and particularly the students,” remarked RIT President Albert Simone. “We feel honored to be joining Atlantic Hockey. It is a privilege to be associated with the exceptional schools in this conference. We have 24 varsity sports at RIT involving more than 500 student-athletes. Our student-athletes not only excel in competition, but also in the classroom where last year they recorded a 3.13 grave point average across the entire program. The men’s hockey team has a proud 42-year tradition. Today’s announcement is a significant milestone for the program and the university.”

“We are adding an institution that has an outstanding tradition in intercollegiate ice hockey,” commented DeGregorio. “They have one of the stronger programs at the Division-III level, and have won a few national championships along the way. This move, which was demonstrated by our visit, is something that is supported unanimously by everyone on the RIT campus, from the president to the athletic director, to the students themselves. The students took part in a referendum vote, and this is one of the things that they wanted to see happen at the school is to elevate the hockey program.”

DeGregorio and Dillon officially visited RIT on November 19 and 20, and the league granted membership to RIT beginning in 2006-07 two weeks later on December 10 during a vote by the league’s athletic directors. In 2006-07, the Tigers will play an Atlantic Hockey schedule, but not be eligible for post-season play. In 2007-08, RIT will be eligible for Atlantic Hockey and NCAA post-season play.

A well-respected member of the ECAC West, the Tigers have built a winning tradition since the program’s inception in 1962, which includes two NCAA National Championships. RIT has appeared in the NCAA Tournament 13 times, including eight Final Four appearances. The Tigers have won two NCAA championships; 1983 (Division-II) and 1985 (Division-III). They have also won nine ECAC West league titles.

“This is a momentous event in the history of RIT Hockey,” said Athletic Director Lou Spiotti. “We are very proud to be accepted in such an elite grouping of colleges and universities in the Atlantic Hockey Association. A debt of gratitude goes out to all those who have helped to make this happen including our president and his leadership team, our trustees, our coaches, fans and the many hockey alumni who have contributed to our program.”

“RIT will match up with the other members of Atlantic Hockey right away, and that is in no small part due to their history, their tradition, and their commitment to this program,” stated DeGregorio. “If you look into the history of the RIT program, you will see that they have played almost all of the institutions in Atlantic Hockey at one point in the past. They are no stranger to this type of competition. I know that head coach Wayne Wilson is working hard at RIT, he was a great player when he was at Bowling Green, he has a great work ethic, and I think that he will have RIT ready to compete when they get their first league schedule in 2006-07.”

“We are really excited to be joining a league that’s come a long way over in the past year,” remarked RIT head coach Wayne Wilson on the move. “It’s created a buzz around our campus and it’s something our players, student body and community have wanted for a long time. It’s a perfect partnership for us to be affiliated with Atlantic Hockey.”

Located along the banks of Lake Ontario in Western New York with a population in the Greater Rochester area of 1.2 million, the city is home to multiple professional sports teams, including the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League (AHL). Rochester is the second largest metropolitan area in the United States behind Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to not have a major professional sports team in its boundaries, or an NCAA Division-I program.

Founded in 1829, Rochester Inst. of Technology has over 15,000 students pursuing degrees at either the undergraduate and graduate level. RIT’s 1,300-acre campus is located in the suburbs of Rochester, roughly six miles from downtown.

The Atlantic Hockey Association arose when the nine current members joined together on June 30, 2003, to found a new Division-I men’s ice hockey conference. The league includes American International College, Bentley College, Canisius College, the University of Connecticut, the College of the Holy Cross, Mercyhurst College, Quinnipiac University, Sacred Heart University, and the United States Military Academy (Army).

What the coaches of Atlantic Hockey are saying:

“The addition of RIT further energizes our league. RIT is a renowned institution, the city of Rochester has a rich hockey history, and their strong hockey program is well established.”

- Gary Wright, American International

“We, here at West Point, are very excited to be adding RIT to the league. During a time when expansion is inevitable, RIT is a perfect fit for Atlantic Hockey. It is an institution with high academic standards and an excellent hockey tradition. The school boasts a first-class facility on campus, and Wayne Wilson is an outstanding head coach. We look forward to establishing a new rivalry with the Tigers within the league.”

- Brian Riley, Army

“I think RIT is a really good fit for the league. RIT has a very strong academic reputation and also a long tradition of having a very solid hockey program. I think that they really can step right in 2006-07 and compete at this level.

Its a great step for the conference to add another school that has an on-campus rink. I believe it brings the league to five schools with on-campus facilities, which is always a step in the right direction.”

- Ryan Soderquist, Bentley

“We’re excited to have RIT join the ranks of Atlantic Hockey. They have a strong hockey tradition at the Rochester Institute of Technology and we look forward to having that as a part of our league. When UConn faced RIT in the past there was always good competition between the teams and we welcome the opportunity to face them as a conference opponent in the future.”

- Bruce Marshall, Connecticut

“I’m very excited to have RIT become a part of our league. They have a storied program, a great coach, and excellent tradition. We at Holy Cross welcome RIT to our ranks, and look forward to seeing them on the ice.”

- Paul Pearl, Holy Cross

“All of us here at Mercyhurst College are very excited that RIT will be joining Atlantic Hockey. There is a great tradition of men’s hockey there and the program will be a tremendous addition to the conference. The inclusion of RIT in Atlantic Hockey will soften the blow of losing another great program, Quinnipiac, to the ECAC. Mercyhurst is also looking forward to renewing a great rivalry it had with the Tigers from the late 80’s to the late 90’s as members of the ECAC West.”

- Rick Gotkin, Mercyhurst