First-ever hockey ‘doubleheader’ Saturday on WITR-FM

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A. Sue Weisler

In a rare “radio doubleheader,” WITR-FM (89.7) on Saturday will carry both the women’s and men’s hockey playoff games. Above, last season’s women’s squad lines up prior to a regular-season home contest against Adrian College—this weekend’s first-round playoff foe.

Baseball great Ernie Banks famously said, “Let’s play two!”

The baseball Hall of Famer—who came to be known as “Mr. Cub” during a long career with the Chicago Cubs—was referring to baseball doubleheaders, of course. But RIT hockey fans might be heard shouting the phrase this weekend.

For fans unable to attend Saturday’s hockey “twin bill” at Ritter Arena, WITR-FM (89.7) offers its first-ever hockey doubleheader. Taylor Osmonson, Nick Phelan, and Mike Warren will broadcast the women’s matchup against Adrian College in the NCAA Division III Women’s Ice Hockey Tournament first round, starting with the pregame show at 2:45 p.m. It will be followed by the men’s contest, featuring top seed RIT hosting 12th-seed American International College in Atlantic Hockey Quarterfinals—with Ed Trefzger, Chris Lerch, and Scott Biggar calling the action beginning with the pregame show at 6:45 p.m.

“We’re excited to cover such an exciting weekend of hockey. This will be the first return to the NCAA tournament for the women since 2007 and the men’s first time playing AIC in the playoffs,” WITR’s Osmonson says.

Each of this weekend’s men’s games—Friday, Saturday and, if necessary, Sunday—will be aired live on WITR, starting with pregame shows at 6:45 p.m., and the station will carry all of this year’s RIT men’s hockey postseason contests. Games will also be streamed online at the WITR 89.7 website.

Both Friday’s and Saturday’s games will also be aired live on Time Warner Cable Sports channel 26 (1026 for high-definition subscribers). Sunday’s matchup, if necessary, will be carried on channel 98. Gene Battaglia and John DiTullio will have the play-by-play.

For ticket or other information, go to the RIT Athletics website.