Yes, RIT had a tremendous team that year.  My major source of hockey history
notes that they not only won the championship over Bemidji, but during the
season won 4 out of 5 games against Div. I opponents!  Keep in mind, though,
that not having athletic scholarships didn't (and still doesn't) mean they
didn't have highly recruited players.  Virtually every powerhouse Div. III
program always seems to come up with wonderful financial aid packages for
student-athletes they really want.
 
BTW, my source also mentions that Mason was fired from Dartmouth & hasn't been
able to get another head coach position since :-{
 
Finally,  Canisius' program is doing okay, if not spectacular.  The team hit a
nice peak a few years ago, about the time it made a 4-game trip to Alaska, and
has been holding its own since.  This year's recruits look rather  promising,
so we may see some more competitive games against the RITs, Plattsburghs, and
Elmiras over the next couple of years.  Actually, I commend our coach for doing
so much with so little.  Hockey is a VERY minor sport at Canisius [sigh], a
Div. I school with basketball as its flagship sport.  However, for most of our
major competitors, hockey is THE #1 sport, and they're funded accordingly.
Even though we're a Div. I hockey program on paper, in fact we're more of a
David to the Div. III Goliaths in hockey.