Matt Garbowsky and Ben Lynch named men's hockey captains for the 2013-14 season

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ROCHESTER, NY (05/08/2013)(readMedia)-- Head Coach Wayne Wilson and the RIT men's hockey team have announced its captains for the 2013-14 season. Junior forward Matt Garbowsky (St. George, Ontario/Powell River Kings) will captain the Tigers, while senior forward Ben Lynch (Blaine, MN/Lincoln Stars) will serve as an assistant captain. RIT enters its eighth season in the Atlantic Hockey Association and ninth as a Division I program.

"Both Matt (Garbowsky) and Ben (Lynch) were selected by their teammates and are very deserving leaders," said Wilson, RIT's all-time leader in coaching wins, who is entering his 15th season behind the bench. "We have been fortunate to have a long history of great leaders, and this duo should be no different. Both players look forward to leading our team back to the NCAA Tournament."

Garbowsky served as an assistant captain for the Tigers in 2012-13 season and enjoyed a breakout year, leading the team in scoring with 33 points on 11 goals and 22 assists. Over his last 11 games, Garbowsky tallied 19 points on nine goals and 10 assists and finished the year as one of the national leaders with 493 face-offs won.

He was named co-winner of the 2013 Greg Moss Hard Hat Award. Garbowsky recorded nine multiple-point games during the season and played in every role, from top-line center, on the power-play, and the penalty killing unit. He was an Atlantic Hockey Player of the Week on March 9 after scoring a career-high four points in a 7-1 win over American International in game two of the Atlantic Hockey Association First Round.

In two seasons, Garbowsky has 20 goals and 33 assists for 53 points in 75 games. He was named the Craig Lauzon Award Winner, as RIT's Rookie of the Year in 2012 after recording 20 points on nine goals and 11 assists.

Lynch stepped up to record 26 points on 10 goals and 16 assists in 38 games during the 2012-13 season, playing a valuable role in all situations. He was named the Atlantic Hockey Association Player of the Week on Dec. 17. He tied a career-high with three points on a goal and two assists in a 6-5 win over Army on Jan. 18. Lynch recorded a point in 18 different contests last season.

In three seasons with the Tigers, Lynch has 68 points on 20 goals and 48 assists and is plus-17 in 112 career games. He was named the Craig Lauzon Award Winner, as RIT's Rookie of the Year in 2011 after recording 30 points on seven goals and 23 assists.

RIT finished the 2012-13 season with a 15-18-6 record, advancing to the AHA Quarterfinals for the sixth straight season. The Tigers had one of the nation's most explosive offensive units, finishing ninth in goals per game. RIT opened the season with an overtime win on the road at perennial power Michigan, who was ranked third in the country.