ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The RIT women's hockey team begins its 2025-26 season with a pair of nonconference home games against Post University this Friday and Saturday. Friday's game starts at 6:00 p.m., while Saturday's game starts at 3:00 p.m.
 
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HONORING STU HUGHES
RIT will honor Stuart Hughes who lost his battle with cancer on July 15 with a moment of silence, and a ceremonial puck drop before the start of Friday's game. Mr. Hughes, affectionately known as Stu, was a Henrietta native who began working on the university grounds crew at the age of 18. After serving 20 years tending to RIT's grounds, he transitioned to become the Ice Operations Manager of Frank Ritter Arena and the Gene Polisseni Center when it opened in 2014.
 
PRESEASON RANKINGS/ACCOLADES:
RIT was selected to finish third in the AHA Preseason Coaches' Poll behind Penn State (1) and Mercyhurst (2). Junior defensewoman Emma Pickering was named a Coaches' Preseason All-AHA Defender.
 
2025-26 AHA Preseason Coaches' Poll
Team (First Place Votes)
Penn State (6)
Mercyhurst (1)
RIT
Syracuse
Robert Morris
Lindenwood
Delaware
 
ABOUT LAST SEASON:
RIT recorded 16 wins and advanced to the AHA Semifinals. The Tiger's 16 wins were the most in a season since RIT won 15 games in 2014-15. The Tigers beat Lindenwood 4-0 in the AHA Quarterfinal. It was RIT's first home playoff win since a 6-4 victory against Lindenwood in 2022. Emma Pickering was a First Team All-AHA selection and Brac Kelley was an All-Rookie Team selection. Jordyn Bear was named AHA's Best Defensive Forward.
 
THE CAPTAINS:
Pickering, senior forward Jaidan Fahrny will wear the "C" in 2025-26. Senior forward Lexi Sung and junior forwards Linda Rulle and Addie Alvarez will don the "A".

"Our five captains each bring unique aspects and perspective to their leadership," said Celeste Brown. "They each represent what it means to be a student-athlete at RIT and push our standard each day."
 
NEW KIDS IN THE ROC:
Ten newcomers have been added to the 2025-26 roster, including four defenders, five forwards and a goalie. Kolbee Ashe, Cassie Barnes, Tilli Keranen, Heron Rohweder and Olivia Urbach will add depth at forward. Lily Andreassi, Laura Dyke, Riley Gramlich and Cassandra Kehler will sure up the defense and Tahlia Vasseur will compete for time in goal.

Keranen helped Team Finland to the 2022 U18 WJC bronze medal, while Barnes led the Mississauga Jr. Hurricanes to a bronze medal in the provincial championships. Rohweder was the captain of the Purcell Hockey Academy, and Ashe was a Second Team All-Star for the Saskatoon Stars in 2024-25. Urbach led the Barrie Jr. Sharks to a third-place finish at the 2024-25 OWHA Jr. Championships.
 
Kehler was the 2024 BCEHL Female U18 AAA Player of the Year, while Dyke was the Charles Holt Hockey Award at Northwood Prep in 2025. Andreassi was the captain of the San Diego Angels and was a 2024 High School Nationals All-Tournament Team selection. Gramlich was a First Team CSSHL All-Star selection while playing for the South Alberta Hockey Academy and was captain of Team Saskatchewan. Vasseur played at the Ontario Hockey Academy. She was the Team MVP in 2023-24 and won the team championship in 2024-25.
 
THE GOALIES:
Senior Sophia Bellina recorded a 4-3-2 record last season with one shut out. She recorded a 2.42 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage. Sophomore Brenna McNamara had a 1-1-0 record in her rookie campaign. She finished the season with a 3.44 goals-against average and an .849 save percentage. First year Tahlia Vasseur will vie for playing time.
 
RETURNING SCORERS:
RIT returns three of its top five scorers from 2024-25. Alvarez led the Tigers with 32 points and 26 assists to go along with six goals. She finished third in Atlantic Hockey averaging 0.72 assists per game. Kelley finished third on the team with 26 points on nine goals and 17 assists. Pickering was fifth on the team with 22 points on 11 goals and 11 assists. She finished tied for ninth in the AHA in goals, including a conference-best eight power play goals.  Sophomore forward Kailey Favro tallied 10 goals and had eight assists in her rookie campaign.
 
THE DEFENSE:
Pickering and sophomore Madison Buziak returns this season. Buziak played in 34 games last season, recording three assists and 19 blocked shots. Kehler, Dyke, Andreassi and Gramlich will vie for playing time in 2025-26.
 
ABOUT POST:
Post enters this weekend 0-2-0 after a pair of losses to the University of St. Thomas by scored of 7-0 and 6-1. Senior goalie Hannah Saunders made 26 saves in Friday's loss and sophomore netminder Devyn Amundson made 50 saves the following day. Senior forward Maddy Noonan scored the Eagles' lone goal on Saturday.
 
Post recorded a 13-21-3 record last season, including an 11-14-3 record in NEWHA competition. The Eagles tied with Assumption for sixth in the NEWHA standings and beat No. 2 Franklin Pierce in the NEWHA Tournament quarterfinals.
 
THEY COME FROM FAR AND WIDE:
The 23 Tigers hail from eight states, five Canadian provinces and two countries in Europe, with the largest groups coming from Ontario (4) and Saskatchewan (4). Players hail from as close as Rochester, NY to as far away as Kuopio, Finland (4,353 miles).
 
2025-26 SCHEDULE:
The Tigers begin their season with a two-game series against Post, before a weekend series at No. 14 Northeastern (Oct. 3-4).
 
RIT beings conference play with a pair of games at Robert Morris (Oct. 10-11. The Tigers return home to host No. 9 St. Lawrence for a two-game series October 16-17 as part of Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend.
 
The Tigers host Syracuse on October 24 followed by a game at Syracuse the following day. RIT hosts Lindenwood for a pair of AHA contests October 31 and November 1.
 
RIT plays at No. 6 Colgate (Nov. 7-8) followed by a weekend series at Mercyhurst (Nov. 14-15). The Tigers host No. 8 Penn State for two games (Nov. 21-22) and Robert Morris (Nov. 28-29). RIT closes out the first semester with a pair of AHA home games against Delaware (Dec. 5-6).
 
The second semester begins with two conference games at Delaware (Jan. 8-9), followed by a pair of home games versus Mercyhurst (Jan. 16-17). RIT closes out the month of January with two games at Lindenwood (Jan. 30-31).
 
The Tigers kick off February with a home-and-home series against Syracuse. RIT plays at Syracuse (Feb. 6) followed by a home game the following day. RIT wraps up the regular season with a pair of home games at Penn State (Feb. 13-14).
 
The AHA tournament is scheduled to begin February 19.
 
ABOUT ATLANTIC HOCKEY AMERICA:
Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) embarks on its second season in 2025-26 following the merger between the Atlantic Hockey Association and College Hockey America. The conference fields 10 men's teams (Bentley University, Canisius University, The College of Holy Cross, Mercyhurst University, Niagara University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Robert Morris University, Sacred Heart University, the United States Air Force Academy and the United States Military Academy), and seven women's teams (University of Delaware, Lindenwood University, Mercyhurst University, Penn State University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Robert Morris University and Syracuse University).