ROCHESTER, N.Y. – RIT Head Men's Hockey Coach Wayne Wilson announced the six newest members joining the program for the 2023-24 campaign.
 
"We look forward to our latest class of players joining the team," said Wilson, who enters his 25th season behind the Tiger bench. "Associate Head Coaches Brian Hills and Dave Insalaco have done another outstanding job finding student-athletes who will bring a high-level of achievement and success not only on the ice, but in the classroom."
 
Luke Lush – Goaltender – Sherwood Park, AB – Sacred Heart (Atlantic Hockey)

: Luke is a big and athletic goalie with track record of being an excellent starting netminder at the Division I level who will be using his additional COVID year of eligibility following a four-year career at Sacred Heart. He was instrumental in the Pioneers' third-place Atlantic Hockey finish a season ago, compiling a 2.69 GAA and a .899 save percentage in 35 appearances and over 2,000 minutes played. Lush is a former midget teammate of current RIT senior forward Cody Laskosky's with the Sherwood Park Kings. 
 
Christian Catalano – Forward – Brampton, ON – Maryland Black Bears (NAHL)

: Christian has good speed, carries the puck well, has good hands and plays a powerful game. He is a proven goal scorer who competes really hard, is not afraid to finish checks and will take pucks hard to the net. This past year with the Maryland Black Bears, Christian tied for second in the NAHL with 30 goals and totaled 57 points in 57 games. In 2021-22, Christian played for the Toronto Jr. Canadians (JRC) (on a line with Tyler Fukakusa and Matt Wilde who are also joining us this year) and scored 34 goals and 39 assists for 73 points in 52 games to finish seventh overall in the league and first among rookies in scoring. As coaches, we see Christian being a goal scorer and power forward that will be hard to defend due to his strength, athleticism and compete level.
 
Tyler Fukakusa – Forward – Mississauga, ON – Toronto Jr. Canadiens (OJHL)

: Tyler is a speedy and skilled centerman with excellent vision and great hands who is also very agile and shifty when bringing the puck up the ice. His poise with the puck allows him to make plays that are very unexpected and his passing skills are exceptional. Tyler also has a very high compete level and is not afraid to stick his nose into the dirty areas on the ice. Last season with the Toronto Junior Canadians (JRC), he was voted OJHL MVP after leading the league with 35 goals and 70 assists for 105 points in 53 games, also garnering first-team all-star and Most Gentlemanly Player honors. He was also voted a first-team all-star during his rookie year with JRC, leading the league with 67 assists and finishing third with 88 points. We envision Tyler being a very exciting player for the Tigers with his style of play and cleverness.
 
Kevin Scott – Defenseman – Ashburn, VA – Fargo Force (USHL)

: Kevin is an excellent skating, two-way defensemen who defends well and is very physical on the ice. Also an excellent penalty killer, he helped the Fargo Force (USHL) win the Anderson Cup with the best regular season record and make a run to the Clark Cup finals. He was voted Fargo's Most Improved Player, finishing with four goals and two assists in 50 appearances. Kevin also spent over three seasons with the Maryland Black Bears (NAHL), including a 2021-22 campaign that saw him total seven goals and 11 assists with a +18 plus-minus in 60 appearances. 
 
Crossley Stewart – Defenseman – Barrie, ON – Burlington Cougars (OJHL)

: Crossley is an excellent skating and puck moving defensemen with great offensive instincts. He gets up the ice to facilitate offense both off the rush and at the offensive blue line and also possess excellent poise and skill to make an impact on the power play. He finished third for the Burlington Courgars and fifth among all OJHL defensemen with 54 points (10G, 44A) on his way to second-team all-star honors last season. 
 
Matthew Wilde – Forward – Mississauga, ON – Toronto Jr. Canadiens (OJHL)

: Matt is a pure goal scorer with a quick and accurate shot who also has good size (6-2, 190 lbs.) and skates well for a big guy. He knows how to position himself to get open for scoring opportunities and is not afraid to shoot the puck. He also gets in on the forecheck, will use his big frame to finish checks and steal pucks to make plays. This past year, Matt finished third overall in the OJHL with 42 goals and added 44 assists to finish fourth overall with 86 points in 52 games. The previous season, he finished fourth with 81 points (39G, 42A) to earn the first of two-straight second-team all-star selections. We see Matt as a dangerous scorer and a guy that will be hard to handle in front of the opposing team's net.