2012 RIT Polisenni Center Goundbreaking

ROCKY!
ROCKY!

>> ROCKY PERROTTA: GOOD
AFTERNOON, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN, AND WELCOME TO THE
SITE OF THE FUTURE HOME OF THE
RIT TIGERS: THE GENE POLISSENI
CENTER!
MY NAME IS ROCKY PERROTTA, AND
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE
TO YOU NOW THE "STARTING
-- IT'S A BIG, MONDAY YEW MEN
TUESDAY HERE AT RIT WHEN YOU
HAVE THREE FACTORS ALL COMING
TOGETHER: RITCHIE, THE BIG
GONE, AND STU'S ZAMBONI.
YOU KNOW SOMETHING'S GOING ON.
AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, WE ARE
HERE TOGETHER AS WE BREAK THE
GROUND FOR THE GENE POLISSENI
CENTER.
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE
TO YOU NOW THE "STARTING
LINEUP" FOR TONIGHT'S
GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY.
FOR YOUR RIT TIGERS:
STARTING AT PRESIDENT,
DR. BILL DESTLER!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
AT SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS,
DR. MARY-BETH COOPER!
>> COOPER!
>> ROCKY PERROTTA:
AT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS,
LOU SPIOTTI!

[APPLAUSE]
>> ROCKY PERROTTA:
AND IN HIS 14TH SEASON AS HEAD
COACH OF THE RIT MEN'S HOCKEY
TEAM,
COACH WAYNE WILSON!
THE COACH OF THE NCAA DIVISION

TH >> COACH, COACH, COACH,
COACH!

>> ROCKY PERROTTA:
THE COACH OF THE NCAA DIVISION
3 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS,
SCOTT MACDONALD!
AND STARTING AT INTERPRETER,
GAYLE MACIAS!
>> MACIAS!


AND NOW OUR GENEROUS LEAD
DONORS TO THE TIGER POWER PLAY
CAMPAIGN FOR RIT HOCKEY:
FROM THE POLISSENI FOUNDATION,
WANDA POLISSENI, GREG
POLISSENI, AND VALERIE
POLISSENI WILCOX!
>> POLISSENI!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> ROCKY PERROTTA:
TOM GOLISANO!
>> GOLISANO!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> ROCKY PERROTTA:
STEVE AND VICKI SCHULTZ!

>> ROCKY PERROTTA: AND FINALL
FINALLY, JM ALLAIN!
>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
AND WE ARE ALSO JOINED TODAY BY
TWO ELITE, NCAA DIVISION I
HOCKEY TEAMS: THE MEN AND WOMEN
OF THE RIT TIGERS!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> RIT!
RIT!
RIT!
RIT!
RIT!
RIT!
>> ROCKY PERROTTA:
AND, FINALLY, PLEASE ALSO
WELCOME ANOTHER ELITE HOCKEY
TEAM, WHO FORMED OUR ENTRY
TUNNEL TODAY:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE
ROCHESTER MONARCHS!
[APPLAUSE]
NOW, ONE MORE TIME FOR YOUR
STARTING LINEUP FOR YOUR RIT
TIGERS!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
AND NOW LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
DIRECT -- WELL, FROM HER OFFIC
OFFICE, WHICH IS OVER THERE,
BUT SHE'S UP HERE RIGHT NOW.
, PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME DR.
MARY-BETH COOPER.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> MARY-BETH COOPER: GOOD
AFTERNOON, BUT BEFORE I GET
STARTED, HOW ABOUT WE GIVE
ROCKY A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.


I MIGHT SUGGEST TO YOU THAT HE
IS THE BEST VOICE IN ROCHESTER,
AND MAYBE THE NATION, BUT
CERTAINLY THE BEST IN TIGERLAN
TIGERLAND.
THANK YOU, ROCKY, FOR ALL YOUR
TIME.

[APPLAUSE]

SO HERE WE ARE.
WHO'D HAVE THOUGHT.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT A
LITTLE BIT EARLIER.
IT JUST SEEMED LIKE IT WAS TWO
OR THREE YEARS AGO WHEN WE
THOUGHT CAN WE DO THIS?
AND WE ARE DOING IT.
YOU ALL ARE HERE ON A VERY,
VERY EXCITING DAY.
I'D LIKE TO FIRST WELCOME BACK
ALL OUR ALUMS AND PARENTS WHO
ARE HERE FOR BRICK CITY
WEEKEND.
WELCOME BACK TO ROCHESTER.
AND ALL OUR FRIENDS FROM
ROCHESTER SUPPORTING US ON THIS
IMPORTANT DAY, WE ARE SO GLAD
YOU ARE WITH US.
WE KNEW THAT WE WERE GOING TO
NEED A GREAT DEAL OF TIME,
TALENT, AND TREASURE TO BE D1
COMPETITIVE.
HOWEVER, WHAT WE DIDN'T KNOW,
THAT BOTH OF OUR TEAMS WOULD
TREAT THE RIT FAMILY TO A LEVEL
OF OUTSTANDING PLAY AND
EXCITEMENT THAT WOULD INCLUDE
SOME AMAZING VICTORIES,
NUMEROUS ATLANTIC HOCKEY AND
ECAC CHAMPIONSHIPS, A TRIP TO
THE FROZEN FOUR, AND A DIVISION
3 NATIONAL KHOYVRP BY OUR
OUTSTANDING WOMEN [CHEERS AND
APPLAUSE]

I WOULD SAY THAT THEY EARNED
THEIR NEW HOME.
DON'T YOU AGREE?

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

SO ON BEHALF OF THE MEN'S TEAM
AND THE WOMEN'S TEAM, BUT
REALLY ON BEHALF OF ALL RIT
STUDENTS AND ALUMNI AND
ESPECIALLY OUR CORNER CREW, WE
WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO GREAT, GREAT
YEARS AHEAD.
I WANT TO SAY A SPECIAL THANKS
TO THE POLISSENI FOUNDATION, TO
MR. GOLISANO, STEVE AND VICKI,
JM, AND ALL THE DONORS THAT
MADE THIS POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT IS NOW MY PLEASURE TO BRING
FORWARD THE MAN WHOSE VISION
THIS REALLY WAS, YOUR RIT
PRESIDENT, BILL DESTLER.
BILL.

[APPLAUSE]

>> PRESIDENT DESTLER: YEAH, IT
WAS LESS VISION THAN GETTING
OUT OF THE WAY, TO TELL YOU THE
TRUTH.
WELCOME, EVERYONE!
FANTASTIC TODAY.
TODAY WE CELEBRATE
THE START OF CONSTRUCTION FOR
WHAT MAY WELL BECOME THE BEST
KNOWN BUILDING ON THE RIT
CAMPUS.
THE GENE POLISSENI CENTER WILL
BE THE HOME FOR RIT'S
NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED DIVISION
1 MEN'S AND WOMEN'S HOCKEY
TEAMS STARTING WITH THE 2014
SEASON.
NOW, YOU KNOW, WAEN AND BILL --
WAYNE AN BILL, WHAT ABOUT THE
2013 SEASON?
COULD WE DO THIS IN JUST A YEA
YEAR?
FOR MANY PEOPLE AROUND THE
COUNTRY, THIS ARENA WILL BE THE

UNOFFICIAL FACE OF RIT AS THEY
WATCH THE TIGERS COMPETE ON A
NATIONAL STAGE.
FOR THOUSANDS OF HOCKEY FANS
WHO WILL TRAVEL TO THIS CAMPUS
WITH THEIR FAVORITE TEAMS -
AND THEY TELL ME THERE ARE A
FEW PEOPLE WHO LIKE TEAMS
OTHER THAN RIT -- THEY WILL
COME -- >> BOO!

>> PRESIDENT DESTLER:
THAERLTS.
THEY WILL
COME TO A STUNNING NEW
FACILITY THAT OFFERS COMFORT
AND STYLE THAT IS ON PAR WITH
OUR TEAMS' COMPETITIVE LEVEL.
AND MANY THOUSANDS, EVEN
MILLIONS MORE, WILL WATCH RIT
HOCKEY FROM THE COMFORT OF
THEIR HOMES VIA NCAA HOCKEY
TELEVISION COVERAGE.
THEY WILL SEE A FACILITY THAT
MAKES THEM WANT TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT THE SCHOOL THAT PRODUCES
SUCH A FANTASTIC FAN EXPERIENCE

TO GO ALONG WITH TWO AMAZING
TEAMS.
AND THE WORLD'S BEST EDUCATIO
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
NOW, THIS IS A BIG PROJECT.
BIG IN SIZE -- I DON'T KNOW HOW
MANY OF YOU NOTICED THE BALLOON
PILES OUT THERE.
THERE ARE FOUR CORNER BALLOON
PILES WHICH SHOW THE OUTLINE OF
THE BUILDING.
BUT ALSO BIG IN THE COMMITMENT
NEEDED TO BRING THIS TO LIFE.
BUT, IN TRUE RIT FASHION, WE
HAVE ASSEMBLED THE TOP-NOTCH
VARSITY-LEVEL TEAM WE NEED TO
BUILD THE GENE POLISSENI
CENTER.
YOU MIGHT SAY THAT WE'VE PUT
TOGETHER THE ULTIMATE
CONSTRUCTION HAT-TRICK.
LEADING OFF, UNDER THE
[LAUGHTER]
O, WELL, YOU KNOW.
[LAUGHTER]
I THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD.
YOU KNOW?

[LAUGHTER]

LEADING OFF, UNDER THE
DIRECTION OF RIT SENIOR VICE
PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE AND
ADMINISTRATION, JIM WATTERS --
WHERE'S JIM?
>> WATTERS!
[APPLAUSE]

>> PRESIDENT DESTLER: JIM IS
LEADING A FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
TEAM THAT IS
EXPERTLY MANAGING THE PROJECT.
WE'RE ALSO THRILLED TO HAVE BBB
ARCHITECTS JOIN THE TEAM, WITH
THEIR EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCE IN
ICE ARENAS AND SPORTS
FACILITIES AROUND THE WORLD.
AND, FINALLY, OUR NEWEST
RECRUITS, LECHASE CONSTRUCTION
SERVICES AND THE HUNT
CONSTRUCTION GROUP, SERVING AS
CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS, MAKES
THIS A TRULY WINNING TEAM.
[APPLAUSE]
YEAH.
WHEN IT IS COMPLETE, THIS ARENA
AND THE TWO TEAMS AND CAMPUS
COMMUNITY IT WILL SERVE WILL
IGNITE RIT TIGER SPIRIT IN A
WAY THAT IS UNIQUE TO ATHLETIC
COMPETITION.
ALUMNI ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
-- AND WE HAVE 107,000 ALUMNI
ACROSS THE COUNTRY --
STUDENTS HERE ON CAMPUS, AND
FRIENDS FROM THE ROCHESTER
COMMUNITY HAVE SUPPORTED RIT
HOCKEY IN ITS UPWARD CLIMB TO
THE HIGHEST RANKS OF FIERCE D1
COMPETITION.
THEIR LOVE OF THE SPORT AND OF
OUR TIGERS HAS CONNECTED THEM
TO RIT MORE DEEPLY THAN WE
COULD HAVE IMAGINED.
YOU CAN'T PUT A PRICE ON THAT
RELATIONSHIP.
AND FOR THOSE WHO WATCHED THE
MEN'S NCAA FROZEN FOUR
APPEARANCE OR THE WOMEN'S 2012
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP -- THE
FIRST OF MANY TO COME, FOR
BOTH TEAMS, I MIGHT ADD --
RIGHT?
RIGHT.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
-- THIS SIGNATURE SPORT FOR
OUR
UNIVERSITY INTRODUCED MANY
PEOPLE TO RIT FOR THE FIRST
TIME.
I KNOW FOR CERTAIN YOU CAN'T
PUT A PRICE ON THAT MARKETING
VALUE -- OR IF YOU COULD, WE
WOULDN'T WANT TO PAY IT!
SO WE'RE HERE TODAY TO
CELEBRATE THE START OF A NEW
ARENA FOR HOCKEY, BUT IT'S
REALLY FOR THE STUDENTS, THE
ALUMNI, AND THE TIGER HOCKEY
FANS IN THE COMMUNITY AND
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THEY ARE THE BENEFICIARIES OF
THE GIFTS THAT MADE THIS
POSSIBLE, AS MUCH AS THE
STUDENT ATHLETES WHO WILL PLAY
HERE, AND IT IS ON THEIR
BEHALF THAT WE THANK THE
GENEROUS DONORS THAT
CONTRIBUTED TO THIS PROJECT.
AND, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I
DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK OF
THE DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI
STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE
BEEN SCOURING THE COUNTRY IN
SEARCH OF THE THOUSANDS OF
DONORS NEEDED TO MAKE THIS
VISION A REALITY.
[APPLAUSE]

THAT IMPORTANT WORK WILL
CONTINUE AS WE REACH FOR THE
FINISH LINE OF OUR TIGER POWER
PLAY CAMPAIGN.
AND AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, WE
HAVE NOW RAISED BETWEEN 9 AND
10 MILLION OF A $15 MILLION
GOAL, AND WE ARE ONLY AT THE
HALFWAY POINT OF OUR CAMPAIGN,
SO WE ARE DOING VERY WELL.
I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO SOME
OF THOSE VERY GENEROUS FANS OF
TIGER HOCKEY.
WITH US TODAY ARE STEVE AND
VICKI SCHULTZ.
WOULD YOU STAND UP FOR A
SECOND?
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
STAY UP THERE.
STEVE AND VICKI KICKED THIS
WHOLE PROJECT OFF JUST ABOUT
TWO YEARS AGO WHEN THEY MADE
THE FIRST COMMITMENT TO TIGER
POWER PLAY.
THESE TWO LOYAL RIT ALUMNI HAVE
BEEN COMMITTED TO RIT AND OUR
HOCKEY TEAMS SINCE THEY WERE
STUDENTS HERE.
AS STEVE HAS GONE ON TO A
SUCCESSFUL CAREER AT
PICTOMETRY, HE'S ALWAYS HELD
RIT CLOSE TO HIS HEART, AND
RECOGNIZED THIS CAMPAIGN AS
THE ONE HE TRULY FELT CALLED TO
SUPPORT.
STEVE AND VICKI,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
DEDICATION TO RIT AND TIGER
HOCKEY.
OUR THANKS ALSO TO TWO OF RIT
HOCKEY'S BIGGEST FANS, YOUR
SONS,
SKYLAR AND HAYDEN.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

NEXT IS MY FRIEND, JM ALLAIN,
ANOTHER ALUM NIS OF RIT.
COME ON, STAND UP, JM.

[APPLAUSE]
JM FOUND TWO PASSIONS THAT HE
COULD BRING TOGETHER IN THIS
PROJECT, HIS LOVE OF HOCKEY AND
HIS BUSINESS OF CREATING
STUNNING PROFESSIONAL
SCOREBOARDS AND VIDEO DISPLAY
BOARDS.
J.M. HAS BEEN AT THE HELM OF
TRANSLUX CORPORATION SINCE
2010.
HE AND THE COMPANY WILL BE
PROVIDING THE STATE-OF-THE-ART
SCOREBOARD THAT WILL BE A FOCAL
POINT FOR THOSE IN THE
POLISSENI CENTER AT EACH HOME
GAME.
J.M., WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THIS PIVOTAL
PIECE OF EQUIPMENT AND FOR
YOUR DESIRE TO HELP RIT BUILD
THIS ARENA.
THANKS SO MUCH.

[APPLAUSE]
WE ARE ALSO PLEASED TO WELCOME
A PERSONAL FRIEND OF MINE AND
PROBABLY OFF MILES PER HOUR
STEADFAST SUPPORTER OF CAMPUS.
AS A MEMBER OF THE RIT BOARD OF
TRUSTEES, AND THANK GOD HE
DOESN'T COME TO MANY MEETINGS
BECAUSE I'D BE IN TROUBLE IF HE
DID.
A RESPECTED MAN, ONE OF THIS
REGION'S GREATEST
PHILANTHROPISTS, TOM GOLISANO,
WOULD YOU STAND UP, PLEASE.

WE ALL KNOW THAT TOM HAS MADE A
TREMENDOUS MARK ON THIS CAMPUS,
WELL BEFORE WE STARTED THIS
PROJECT.
WE ARE SO PLEASED THAT HE JOI
JOINED
THE EFFORT TO BRING THIS ARENA
TO LIFE IN HONOR OF HIS FRIEND
AND FORMER BUSINESS PARTNER.
TOM, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP OF THIS PROJECT
AND FOR THE MANY WAYS THAT YOU
HAVE MADE AN ENDURING IMPACT ON
RIT AND THE ENTIRE ROCHESTER
COMMUNITY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TOM
GOLISANO.


WE ARE ALSO VERY GRATEFUL FOR
THE SUPPORT OF A NUMBER OF
INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS,
MANY OF WHOM ARE WITH US TODAY:
PAUL WILMOT AND WILMORITE
CORPORATION
I DON'T KNOW IF PAUL IS HERE,
BUT IF HE IS, WE THANK YOU FOR
HIS SUPPORT.
CORPORATION
BRUCE BATES
I KNOW TOM IS HERE.
GREG AND CHERYL DEMICHIEL
REMEMBER THAT GREAT GOALIE FROM
OUR FROZEN FOUR SEASON?
THAT'S HIS SON.
SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE.
[APPLAUSE]
ZEKE AND JANE DUDA
ZEKE IS ANOTHER ALUM WHO HAS
MADE GOOD AND RETURNED SOME OF
THAT TO THE ALMA MATER.
[APPLAUSE]
BRIAN AND LINDA HALL
BRIAN'S THE NEXT CHAIRMAN OF
OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
HE COULDN'T BE HERE WITH US
TODAY, I DON'T BELIEVE, UNLESS
YOU'VE SNUCK IN SOMEWHERE,
BRIAN.
IN ANY CASE, WE THANK HIM AND
HIS WIFE FOR VERY, VERY
GENEROUS SUPPORT.
[APPLAUSE]
LECHASE CONSTRUCTION AND THEIR
PRESIDENT AND CEO, BILL
GOODRICH
BILL, GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.
[APPLAUSE]
AND WAYNE LeCHASE, WHO WATCHES
OVER BILL, IS ALSO HERE.
WAYNE, GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.
[LAUGHTER]
[APPLAUSE]
TOM AND NAN HILDEBRANDT
ON THEIR OWN.
TOM, WE OWE YOU TWICE.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE]
AND FINALLY,
MARTY MUCCI, PRESIDENT AND CEO
OF PAYCHEX
MARTY, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR
SUPPORT.
[APPLAUSE]
AND FINALLY, WE ARE JOINED
TODAY BY DONORS WHO, ALONG WITH
TOM, HELPED US NAME THIS ARENA.
FROM THE POLISSENI FOUNDATION,
WE ARE JOINED BY GLENN, GREG
POLISSENI, VALERIE WILCOX
POLZIN, AND OF COURSE, WANDA
POLZIN.
WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND UP.
COME ON NOW.

THE POLISSENIS HAVE BEEN GREAT
SUPPORTERS OF THE ROCHESTER
COMMUNITY FOR YEARS.
WHEN WAYNE WILSON BEGAN TALKING
ABOUT THE NEED FOR AN
NCAA-APPROVED ARENA, THE
POLISSENI FAMILY TOOK AN
INTEREST.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, GENE
POLISSENI WAS INVOLVED IN
ROCHESTER COMMUNITY HOCKEY FOR
YEARS, AND ALSO SPENT MANY
HOURS TALKING HOCKEY WITH HIS
GOOD FRIEND, TOM GOLISANO.
BUT IN MUCH THE SAME WAY THAT
THIS ARENA ISN'T JUST ABOUT
HOCKEY ACTION, GENE'S LOVE OF
THE SPORT WASN'T JUST ABOUT THE
ATHLETIC COMPETITION.
GENE SAW SPORTS AS A LENS
THROUGH WHICH A COMMUNITY CAN
DEFINE ITS SELF-IMAGE.
HE SAW THIS HAPPEN FIRST-HAND
AS HE DEVOTED TIME AND EFFORT
TO BUILDING ADULT AND YOUTH
HOCKEY TEAMS IN ROCHESTER.
HE SAW IT HAPPEN ON A LARGER
STAGE IN THE IMMENSE GRATITUDE
THE PEOPLE OF BUFFALO HAD FOR
TOM WHEN HE BOUGHT THE SABRES.
AT RIT, HOCKEY HAS DEMONSTRATED
THAT ABILITY TO BUILD
COMMUNITY, BOTH ON AND
OFF-CAMPUS, IN PRECISELY THE
SAME WAY, AND WILL CONTINUE TO
DO SO AT EVEN GREATER LEVELS
ONCE THE GENE POLISSENI CENTER
BECOMES THE HOME OF TIGER
HOCKEY.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE PASSION
GENE HELD FOR THIS GREAT GAME,
AND FOR HIS LOVE OF THE
ROCHESTER COMMUNITY.
WE ARE ALSO GRATEFUL THAT TOM
GOLISANO AND THE POLISSENI
FOUNDATION CHOSE THIS PROJECT
TO HONOR GENE'S LEGACY, AND WE
WILL BE HONORED TO CALL THIS
BEAUTIFUL NEW ARENA THE GENE
POLISSENI CENTER.
THANKS SO MUCH.

NOW IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INVITE
WANDA POLISSENI TO COME UP FOR
A FEW WORDS.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO THAT?
YOUR FRIEND IS GOING TO TALK?
BUT YOU CAN TALK TOO IF YOU
WANT.
>> I AM REALLY MOVED BY THIS.
I WANT TO THANK TOM, WHO WENT
BACK MANY, MANY YEARS WITH GEN
GENE.
THEY WERE BROTHERS IN MORE SOUL
THAN ANYTHING.
I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR
PARTICIPATING AND HELPING US
MAKE THIS BUILDING AN HONOR OF
MY HUSBAND.
I'M SO THRILLED FOR ALL OF THE
HOCKEY PLAYERS, ALL OF THE
STUDENTS AT RIT.
IT'S A WONDERFUL THING.
I'M -- WE'RE THRILLED TO BE A
PART OF IT.
I'LL LET MY LITTLE BOY SAY
SOMETHING.
[LAUGHTER]
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANKS, MOM.
BILL.
MY ARENA, MY SECTION.
[LAUGHTER]
GOT THAT COVERED?
[APPLAUSE]
I ACTUALLY THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE
TOUGH TO GET TICKETS.
JUST TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
MY FATHER, YES, HE WAS HOCKEY.
HE LIVED, HE BREATHED HOCKEY.
IF YOU HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH
MY MOM, SHE'LL TELL YOU ALL
ABOUT IT.
I ACTUALLY THINK THERE WAS A
POINT THAT HE TRIED TO START
THAT AFTERSHAVE, I THINK IT WAS
CALLED LAKESHORE.
TOM WILL TELL YOU ABOUT IT, BUT
THAT'S KIND OF CREEPY.
[LAUGHTER]
HE LIVED AND BREATHED HOCKEY SO
MUCH THAT WHEN I WAS A KID, IT
QUICKLY BECAME OUR FAMILY SPOR
SPORT.
THEN AFTER A FEW YEARS OF HIM
BUYING HOCKEY EQUIPMENT FOR MY
OLDER BROTHER, I SUDDENLY
WONDERED WHY I WAS A PETE ROSE
FAN AND I GOT A BASEBALL MITT
FOR CHRISTMAS.
HENCE MY BASEBALL CAREER BEGAN.
BUT HE LOVED HOCKEY SO MUCH.
YOU KNOW, STARTING ALL THESE
LEAGUES GROWING UP, AND HE PLA
PLAYED UNTIL HE WAS OLDER.
HE DRAGGED US TO THE BOY'S CLU
CLUB, LAKESHORE, AND MY BROTHER
GROWING UP PLAYING, HOCKEY WAS
EVERYTHING.
AND IT'S JUST GREAT TO BE HERE
ON THIS CAMPUS BECAUSE MY
FATHER WAS HOCKEY, AND RIT IS
HOCKEY.
AND HE WOULD TRAVEL THE WORLD
TO FIND A GREAT GAME, AND
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE HERE, I
MEAN, THE FROZEN FOUR IS
NATIONALLY KNOWN NOW, AND I
THINK THIS ARENA IS GOING TO
BRING MORE NATIONAL EXPOSURE TO
RIT CAMPUS ON A WHOLE.
YOU'VE SEEN WHAT IT HAS DONE
FOR OTHER COLLEGES IN THE AREA,
AND IT'S GOING TO DO IT HERE AS
WELL.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING I
IT.
SO I CONGRATULATE RIT AND THE
PRESIDENT AND STAFF FOR WHAT
THEY HAVE DONE.
AND HOW MORE FITTING IS IT FOR
OUR FAMILY TO BE INVOLVED, BUT
MY FATHER'S BEST FRIEND, TOM.
HOW ABOUT ANOTHER ROUND OF
APPLAUSE FOR HIM?

SO WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS AND A
GREAT SEASON COMING UP NEXT
YEAR.
CONGRATULATIONS, RIT, ON BEHALF
OF MY FAMILY AND FOUNDATION, I
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF THIS
CAMPUS.
[APPLAUSE]

>> PRESIDENT DESTLER: WANDA,
THANKS AGAIN, AND THANKS TO FOR
YOU, AND ON BEHALF OF EVERYBODY
AT RIT, WE JUST CAN'T THANK YOU
ENOUGH FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR
US AND WHAT THIS WILL MEAN TO
OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO, I
THINK, FOR THE COMMUNITY OF
ROCHESTER.

LET'S PLAN TO MEET BACK HERE
TWO YEARS FROM NOW TO CUT A
RIBBON AND OFFICIALLY OPEN THE
GENE POLISSENI CENTER.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
NOW, ON BEHALF OF OUR TWO
OUTSTANDING HOCKEY TEAMS, I
WANT TO ASK HEAD COACH WAYNE
WILSON OF OUR MEN'S TEAM TO
OFFER HIS PERSPECTIVE.
WAYNE.
>> COACH, COACH, COACH!
>> WAYNE WILSON: THANK YOU.
WHAT A SPECIAL DAY TODAY IS.
THE ONLY THING THEY TOLD ME WAS
I SHOULD BE IN CHARGE OF THE
WEATHER, AND I THOUGHT I DID A
PRETTY GOOD JOB OF THAT.
MY JOB IS DONE HERE.
MY GUYS PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO
LISTEN TOO MUCH TO ME HERE
ANYWAY, BUT ON BEHALF OF SCOTT
AND -- SCOTT'S TEAM AND MY
TEAM, THE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S
HOCKEY TEAMS, WHAT A GREAT
THING.
AND I'VE BEEN HERE NOW 14 YEARS
AND HAVE SEEN THE PROGRAM GROW,
AND TO FINALLY HAVE A NEW RINK,
WHICH WILL NOT ONLY HELP OUR
TEAMS, BUT OUR CAMPUS, OUR
COMMUNITY, JUST WHERE WE ARE ON
THE BIG THINGS AS FAR AS THE
HOCKEY COMMUNITY GOES, IT'S
GOING TO MAKE IT VERY, VERY
SPECIAL.
A LOT OF PEOPLE TO THANK.
OBVIOUSLY, THE ONES THAT ARE UP
HERE ARE DONORS.
WE COULDN'T HAVE, OBVIOUSLY,
DONE IT WITHOUT YOU GUYS.
OTHERS OUT THERE ALSO THAT HAVE
CONTRIBUTED, IT'S -- WE REALLY
NEEDED SUPPORT, AND IT'S NOT
THE EASIEST TIMES TO GET
SUPPORT, BUT YOU REALLY
BELIEVED IN WHAT WE ARE DOING
HERE AS A UNIVERSITY, WHAT WE
CAN DO FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND
WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
IT TELLS US THAT WE'RE DOING
THE RIGHT THINGS HERE AT RIT,
AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.
TO OUR LEADERSHIP, OUR
PRESIDENT RIGHT ON DOWN TO OUR
VICE PRESIDENTS, OUR DIRECTOR,
OUR LEADERSHIP ON CAMPUS, 14
YEARS -- IT'S BEEN 14 YEARS
TILL WE GOT A NEW RINK, BUT
IT'S BEEN 14 YEARS OF
UNBELIEVABLE SUPPORT THAT I
KNOW I HAVE FELT, THAT I'VE
RECEIVED SINCE I GOT HERE FOR
14 YEARS; THAT THE PLAYERS THAT
HAVE PLAYED HERE IN THE PAST
HAVE RECEIVED.
AND IT'S BEEN A LOT OF HARD
WORK OVER A LOT OF YEARS TO GET
TO THIS POINT, BUT IT'S BEEN
CERTAINLY WORTH IT.
AND I REALLY -- THE PLAYERS
THAT HAVE PLAYED HERE IN THE
PAST ARE ALUMNI.
WE HAVE ONE PERSON -- I DO WANT
TO RECOGNIZE DARRELL SULLIVAN
BACK THERE.
HE IS LOOKING OVER HIS SHOULDE
SHOULDER, WONDER WHO HE IS
TALKING ABOUT HERE.
BUT HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST
COACHES HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY.
THE THINGS HE WOULD HAVE HAD TO
HAVE GONE THROUGH -- NEVER MIND
THE NEW LOCKER ROOMS WE HAD,
NEVER MIND THE OLD LOCKER ROOMS
WE HAD, THEY HAD NO LOCKER
ROOMS.
[LAUGHTER]
BUT THERE WAS A SPECIAL GROUP
OF PEOPLE THAT STARTED PLAYING
CLUB HOCKEY BACK HERE IN THE
EARLY '60s THAT DIDN'T HAVE
LOCKER ROOMS, EQUIPMENT, THE
FANS THAT SUPPORTED THEM, BUT
THEY LOVED THE SPORT AND THEY
STARTED PLAYING HERE, AND AS
THE SPORT GREW AND DARYL TOOK
CHARGE OF HIS FIRST TEAMS, AND
ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY STARTED
WINNING CHAMPIONSHIPS, AND THEY
WENT FROM PRACTICING AT
MIDNIGHT TO GETTING GOOD
PRACTICE TIME.
IT'S BEEN A LOT OF HARD WORK,
AND IT'S CERTAINLY I'M VERY
APPRECIATIVE OF THEIR EFFORTS
BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM LAYING
THAT GROUNDWORK AT A RINK
DOWNTOWN TO WHERE WE ARE GOING
TO BE MOVING FROM THE RITTER TO
NOW THE GENE POLISSENI CENTER,
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THEIR
EFFORTS TO GET OUR PROGRAMS,
BOTH OUR PROGRAMS, TO WHERE
THEY ARE TODAY.
SO IT'S BEEN A LOT OF HARD
WORK.
WE'VE ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OF
IT.
I KNOW SINCE WE'VE BEEN HERE.
WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
THE NEW RINK.
WE LOVE THE OLD RINK.
WE ARE APPRECIATIVE THAT WE'RE
MAKING ROOM FOR A BIGGER,
STRONGER CORNER CREW IF THAT'S
POSSIBLE.
[APPLAUSE]
OUR BAND, WHO HAS BEEN LEFT
OUTSIDE THE TENT -- [LAUGHTER]
-- IT'S BEEN GREAT FOR THEM.
THEY -- [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

AND THEN LOOKING AT TOMORROW
NIGHT, KNOWING THAT THE LAST
THREE YEARS, SELLING OUT BLUE
CROSS AT TEN-FIVE, THIS RINK IS
LONG OVERDUE, AND LOOKING AT A
RINK THAT'S GOING TO BE SOLD
OUT, 4500, AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY
GET A TICKET WITH A SEAT ON IT
SO IF YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE
RESTROOM OR GET POPCORN THAT
YOUR SEAT IS STILL GOING TO BE
THERE WHEN YOU GET BACK --
[LAUGHTER] -- I THINK THAT'S
GOING TO BE PRETTY NEAT.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO START
SAYING YEAH, I'LL GO TO THE
GAME NOW.
I GOT A SEAT AND I CAN ACTUALLY
MOVE AROUND A LITTLE BIT AND
STILL HAVE A SEAT.
SO FOR EVERYONE OUT THERE FOR
YOUR SUPPORT, I GUESS I THOUGHT
I WAS COMING TO A
GROUNDBREAKING AND A PEP RALLY
BROKE OUT HERE.
THIS IS AWESOME, AND THANK YOU
SO MUCH.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> ROCKY PERROTTA: THANK YOU,
COACH.
NICELY SAID.
NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I'D
LIKE TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE
DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION RIGHT
HERE IN FRONT OF THE STAGE,
WHERE THE RIT TIGER
GROUNDBREAKING TEAM IS GOING TO
BE TAKING THEIR POSITIONS NOW.
THE GROUNDBREAKING TEAM IS
GOING TO BE JOINED BY THE
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MEN'S
HOCKEY TEAM, NUMBER 27, CHRIS
SARCINO.
REPRESENTING THE WOMEN'S TEAM,
NUMBER 10, KIM SHLOTMAN.
RIT'S MASCOT, RITCHIE!
RITCHIE'S A HECK OF A SKATER IN
HIS OWN RITE.
AND THE PRESIDENT OF RIT
STUDENT GOVERNMENT, TAYLOR
DEER!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
ALL RIGHT.
WE ARE GETTING OUR PARTICIPANTS
ASSEMBLED OVER THERE.
THEY ARE GETTING THEIR DIGGING
TOOLS IN HAND.
NOW, GROUNDBREAKERS, I HAVE TO
REMIND YOU, OKAY, ALL NCAA
RULES ARE IN EFFECT.
THERE IS TO BE NO HOOKING, NO
SLASHING, AND NO HIGH STICKING.
[LAUGHTER]
NO THROWING DIRT ON THE
ANNOUNCER EITHER.
OKAY.
WE'RE ALMOST THERE.
OKAY.
WE'VE GOT EVERYBODY LINED UP.
AND NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO SAY
-- AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN ME IN
SAYING -- THAT WE WILL OFFICIA
OFFICIALLY COMMENCE
CONSTRUCTION ON THE FUTURE HOME
FOR THE RIT TIGERS, THE GENE
POLISSENI CENTER,
IN 10 . . . 9 . . .
8 . . . 7 . . .
6 . . . 5 . . .
4 . . . 3 . . .
2 . . . 1 . . .
ZERO!
(HORNS BLOWING, CHEERS, AND

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU
ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY.
WE HOPE THAT MANY OF YOU WILL
STAY ON CAMPUS TONIGHT AS OUR
WOMEN'S HOCKEY GAME GETS GOING
AT 7:00 AT THE RITTER ARENA
VERSUS PRINCETON.
WE HOPE YOU HAVE TICKETS FOR
TOMORROW'S GAME AT BLUE CROSS
ARENA.
TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR
THE WOMEN'S GAME, WHICH IS
VERSUS YALE AT 2:30.
OF COURSE, A SELLOUT CROWD OF
10,000-PLUS WILL WEAR THEIR
ORANGE AND WATCH THE MEN TAKE
ON PENN STATE AT 7:35.
ON BEHALF OF THE RIT TOOIING
ERS, THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT
-- TIGERS, THANK YOU FOR COMING
OUT THIS AFTERNOON, AND HAVE A
WONDERFUL EVENING.
GO TIGERS!



>> HEY, TIGER FANS!
>> WHAT!
>> GIVE ME A T -- GIVE ME AN I
-- GIVE ME A G -- GIVE ME AN E
-- GIVE MEEN A R -- GIVE ME AN
S.
WHAT'S IT HE SPELL?
>> TIGERS!
>> I CAN'T HEAR YOU.
>> TIGERS!
>> THEY CAN'T HEAR YOU.
>> TIGERS!
>> HEY, WHERE ARE THEY FROM?
>> RIT!
RIT!