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Robert Morris Colonials men's ice hockey
Current season
Robert Morris Colonials athletic logo
UniversityRobert Morris University
ConferenceAHA
Head coachDerek Schooley
18th season, 275–275–68 (.500)
Assistant coaches
  • Matt Nicholson
  • Ryan Durocher
ArenaClearview Arena
Neville Township, Pennsylvania
ColorsBlue, white, and red[1]
     
NCAA Tournament appearances
2014
Conference Tournament championships
2014
Conference regular season championships
2014–15, 2015–16
Current uniform

The Robert Morris Colonials men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents Robert Morris University. The team played its home games at the Clearview Arena,[2] located at the RMU Island Sports Center in Neville Township, Pennsylvania, United States. The Colonials were a member of the Atlantic Hockey Conference. Until the 2009–10 season, the Colonials were a member of College Hockey America.[3]

History

Robert Morris had a successful club hockey team for several years before rumors started circulating in the early 2000s that the school would create an NCAA Division I program. In December 2002, reports first surfaced that the school was interested in purchasing the RMU Island Sports Center, which would house a men's and women's ice hockey team.[4] On August 8, 2003, the school officially purchased the 32-acre complex – complete with a 1,100-seat hockey arena – for $10 million.[5] The complex is located in Neville Island, only a few miles from RMU's campus in Moon Township.[4] Just 12 days later, on August 20, 2003, Robert Morris athletic director Susan Hofacre officially announced that the Colonials would field an NCAA men's ice hockey team for the 2004–05 season.[6] At the same time, the school added men's and women's lacrosse and women's field hockey as part of an expansion of the athletic department.[7] Two days later, the school hired former Western Michigan defenceman Derek Schooley as its first head coach.[6]

In January 2004, before the school had ever played a game, they were accepted into the College Hockey America conference.[6] Typically, most new NCAA schools play as an Independent in their first years, but a unique series of events led to RMU being immediately accepted into the conference. The fledgling six-team conference was first given an automatic bid to the 2003 NCAA tournament. However, in January 2004, CHA member Findlay announced they would drop hockey from its athletic program effective at the end of the 2003–04 season.[8] This left the CHA one team short of the six required to keep their automatic bid into the NCAA tournament.[9] As RMU was the only NCAA team not already attached to a conference, the CHA invited RMU to join immediately for the 2004–05 season. The school accepted on January 29, 2004.[6]

Schooley quickly moved to secure the Colonials' first recruiting class and hired two assistant coaches.[10] Nevertheless, the Colonials were predictably overmatched in their first year as an NCAA team. The young squad consisted of 22 freshmen and no seniors as Schooley built for the school's future.[11] In its first season, the Colonials finished last in the conference with an 8–21–4 record.

At the start of the 2005–06 season, the Colonials were reminded how much work the program needed to do when they were stunned by the Penn State University club team in a 3–2 exhibition loss prior to the season.[12] Two games later, however, RMU shocked CCHA member Western Michigan in a 5–2 victory that Schooley called "the biggest win for our program."[13] The Colonials improved to 12–20–3 in their second season while advancing to the CHA semifinals for the first time.[6]

In 2006–07, the Colonials improved yet again, finishing 14–19–2. On January 7, 2007, the Colonials beat nationally ranked Notre Dame for their first ever victory over a ranked team.[6] The squad advanced to the CHA tournament final, where they came up just short of qualifying for their first ever NCAA tournament against Alabama–Huntsville. The Colonials jumped out to a 4–0 first period lead and looked set for their first conference championship before the Chargers mounted a frantic comeback that ended with a 5–4 overtime victory.[14]

It was more of the same for the Colonials over the next two years. In 2007–08, the squad finished a school-record 15–15–4 (including a win over #8 ranked Boston University) but again came up short in the CHA tournament.[6] In 2008–09, the school finished only 10–19–7 before reaching the CHA tournament final against Bemidji State. Once again, the Colonials were left heartbroken, as they lost in overtime for the second time in three years.[15]

By this time, it was clear that the CHA would soon disband. In 2006, Air Force left the league, leaving the conference with only five teams (one short of the six required to retain the NCAA autobid).[16] Given two years to keep their autobid before losing it, the CHA began the search for a sixth member – likely a club team, as all current Division I teams were already in a conference.[16] After no school expressed interest in joining, Wayne State announced just prior to the 2007–08 season that they would disband their team following the season.[17] Following Wayne State's departure, saving the CHA was all but impossible, and Robert Morris applied for membership into Atlantic Hockey (AHA). In January 2009, the AHA announced that both RMU and Niagara's applications were unanimously approved, paving the way for the schools to join the conference for the 2010–11 season.[18] Robert Morris and Penn State were the hosts of the inaugural Three Rivers Classic NCAA hockey tournament at the Consol Energy Center in December, 2012.[19]

A game between Robert Morris and Army in 2013

On May 26, 2021, Robert Morris University announced it would be cutting the men's and women's ice hockey programs.[20] On December 17, 2021, it was announced the program would be reinstated for the 2023–24 season.[21]

Season-by-season results

Main article: List of Robert Morris Colonials men's ice hockey seasons

Source:[22]

Records vs. current Atlantic Hockey teams

As of the completion of 2018–19 season[22]

School Team Away Arena Overall record Win % Last Result
Air Force Academy Falcons Cadet Ice Arena 15–20–3 .434 1-3 L
American International College Yellow Jackets MassMutual Center 20–7–3 .717 2-3 L (OT)
Army West Point Black Knights Tate Rink 12–7–5 .604 2-5 L
Bentley University Falcons Bentley Arena 15–16–4 .486 3-2 W (OT)
Canisius College Golden Griffins LECOM Harborcenter 18–10–3 .629 4-6 L
College of the Holy Cross Crusaders Hart Center 17–7–2 .692 3-2 W
Mercyhurst University Lakers Mercyhurst Ice Center 14–12–8 .529 4-3 W
Niagara University Purple Eagles Dwyer Arena 24–31–10 .446 2-4 L
Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers Gene Polisseni Center 13–15–5 .470 2-2 T
Sacred Heart University Pioneers Webster Bank Arena 23–3–1 .870 1-3 L

Head coaches

As of the completion of 2020–21 season

Tenure Coach Years Record Pct.
2004–2021 Derek Schooley 17 275–275–68 .500
Totals 1 coach 17 seasons 275–275–68 .500

Players

Current roster

As of September 15, 2023.[23]

No. S/P/C Player Class Pos Height Weight DoB Hometown Previous team NHL rights
2 Ontario Michael Craig Freshman D 5' 10" (1.78 m) 174 lb (79 kg) 2002-08-26 St. Catharines, Ontario Nanaimo (BCHL) —
3 Minnesota Mitch Andres Graduate D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 187 lb (85 kg) 1998-09-02 Brainerd, Minnesota Boston College (HEA) —
4 New Jersey Matthew Boczar Freshman (RS) F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2001-05-13 Sewell, New Jersey Northeast (NAHL) —
5 Pennsylvania Luke van Why Freshman D 5' 10" (1.78 m) 163 lb (74 kg) 2003-01-21 Hatfield, Pennsylvania Maryland (NAHL) —
6 Ontario Cade Townend (A) Senior D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1999-06-17 Carleton Place, Ontario Mercyhurst (AHA) —
7 Ontario Tom Gangl Freshman D 6' 3" (1.91 m) 201 lb (91 kg) 2002-01-08 Wingham, Ontario Smiths Falls (CCHL) —
8 New York (state) Gabriel Lunn Freshman D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2003-08-25 Lockport, New York Johnstown (NAHL) —
9 Michigan Dallas Tulik Graduate F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 191 lb (87 kg) 1998-06-23 Kalamazoo, Michigan Ferris State (CCHA) —
10 Pennsylvania Paul Maust Graduate F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1998-06-24 Butler, Pennsylvania Mercyhurst (AHA) —
11 Ontario Cameron Hebert Senior F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1999-03-17 St. Andrews West, Ontario Johnstown (NAHL) —
12 Minnesota Jackson Reineke Freshman F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 174 lb (79 kg) 2002-10-03 Faribault, Minnesota Anchorage (USHL) —
15 New York (state) Charles Merkley Freshman (RS) F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 2002-10-03 Fairport, New York Corpus Christi (NAHL) —
16 Ontario George Krotiris Freshman F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 2002-08-08 Markham, Ontario Cobourg (OJHL) —
17 Indiana Matt Hutton Senior F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1999-04-01 Carmel, Indiana Shreveport (NAHL) —
18 New Jersey Gavin Gulash Junior (RS) F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1999-01-11 Red Bank, New Jersey New Jersey (NAHL) —
19 Alberta Tanner Klimpke Freshman F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 174 lb (79 kg) 2002-12-13 Calgary, Alberta Whitecourt (AJHL) —
20 Ontario McKay Hayes Freshman F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 2002-01-27 Ancaster, Ontario Markham (OJHL) —
21 Ontario Cameron Garvey Freshman F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 181 lb (82 kg) 2002-12-13 Oakville, Ontario Collingwood (OJHL) —
22 Pennsylvania Dominic Schimizzi Freshman (RS) F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 2001-03-12 Greensburg, Pennsylvania Aberdeen (NAHL) —
23 Minnesota Luke Johnson Graduate D 5' 11" (1.8 m) 173 lb (78 kg) 1999-01-07 Edina, Minnesota Providence (HEA) —
24 New York (state) Walter Zacher Freshman F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 181 lb (82 kg) 2002-04-02 Buffalo, New York Austin (NAHL) —
25 Ontario Trevor LeDonne Junior D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 192 lb (87 kg) 2000-02-27 Stoney Creek, Ontario St. Thomas (CCHA) —
27 Ontario Rylee St. Onge Graduate F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 193 lb (88 kg) 1998-04-22 St. Catharines, Ontario Mercyhurst (AHA) —
28 Alberta Logan Ganie Graduate F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1999-06-28 Irma, Alberta Michigan Tech (CCHA) —
30 Pennsylvania Chad Veltri Graduate G 5' 11" (1.8 m) 187 lb (85 kg) 1998-06-03 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Niagara (AHA) —
31 Quebec Francis Boisvert Graduate G 6' 2" (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1999-03-11 Blainville, Quebec St. Lawrence (ECAC) —
33 Ontario Lee Chiang Freshman F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 2002-12-07 Toronto, Ontario Markham (OJHL) —
35 California Michael Sochan Freshman F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 179 lb (81 kg) 2002-07-21 Redwood City, California Surrey (BCHL) —
44 Ontario Thomas Haynes Freshman F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2002-02-06 Mississauga, Ontario Smiths Falls (CCHL) —

Statistical leaders

Source:[24]

Career points leaders

Player Years GP G A Pts PIM
Brady Ferguson 2014–2018 152 66 110 167
Zac Lynch 2012–2016 152 67 89 156
Cody Wydo 2011–2015 151 85 65 150
Alex Tonge 2015–2019 146 56 82 138
Nathan Longpre 2007–2011 121 47 91 138
Chris Margott 2005–2009 132 64 72 136
Greg Gibson 2012–2016 150 66 51 117
Denny Urban 2007–2011 136 28 84 112
Daniel Leavens 2013–2017 136 40 68 108
Scott Jacklin 2012–2016 143 48 59 107

Career goaltending leaders

GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Minimum 30 games

Player Years GP Min W L T GA SO SV% GAA
Frank Marotte 2016–2019 107 5938 50 44 8 252 8 .917 2.55
Terry Shafer 2012–2016 86 4808 43 30 11 214 8 .920 2.67
Eric Levine 2009–2013 72 3953 30 22 11 177 5 .925 2.69
Justin Kapelmaster 2016–2020 78 4267 29 37 7 193 6 .921 2.71
Brooks Ostergard 2008–2012 103 5516 39 41 12 251 3 .917 2.73

Statistics current through the start of the 2019-20 season.

Awards and honors

CHA

Individual awards

All-Conference teams

First Team All-CHA

Second Team All-CHA

All-CHA Rookie Team

Atlantic Hockey

Individual awards

All-Conference teams

First Team All-Atlantic Hockey

Second Team All-Atlantic Hockey

Third Team All-Atlantic Hockey

Atlantic Hockey All-Rookie Team

Robert Morris Colonials Hall of Fame

The following is a list of people associated with the men's ice hockey program who were elected into the Robert Morris Colonials Hall of Fame (induction date in parentheses).[25]

Colonials in the NHL

Source:[26] Robert Morris has yet to have an alumnus reach the NHL.

See also

References

  1. ^ "RMU Brand Style Guide" (PDF). March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  2. ^ "Robert Morris Athletics - Colonials Arena". rmucolonials.com. Retrieved 2016-10-17.
  3. ^ "Robert Morris Colonials Men's Ice Hockey". U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  4. ^ a b Times, Business (July 2, 2003). "RMU taps former Pirates v.p. to buy and run sports center". Pittsburgh Business Times. Retrieved November 10, 2010. {{cite news}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  5. ^ Gigler, Dan (January 11, 2001). "Robert Morris Opens Ice Arena". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Robert Morris Colonials History and Records" (PDF). Robert Morris University. November 2010. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  7. ^ Staff (August 22, 2004). "RMU to name hockey coach". Beaver County Times. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  8. ^ Wodon, Adam (January 6, 2004). "Findlay to drop hockey". USCHO.com. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  9. ^ Wodon, Adam (April 22, 2004). "Lindenwood Explores Move into D-I". CollegeHockeyNews.com. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  10. ^ Conference, Northeast (August 19, 2004). "Robert Morris Names Marc Fakler, Shane Clifford Assistant Men's Ice Hockey Coaches". NortheastConference.org. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  11. ^ "2004-05 Team Statistics". USCHO.com. November 2010. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  12. ^ "Penn State 3, Robert Morris 2". USCHO.com. November 2010. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  13. ^ McCinn, Dan (October 15, 2005). "Robert Morris Skates Past Western Michigan". USCHO.com. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  14. ^ Mackinder, Matt (March 11, 2007). "Chargers snag first NCAA automatic bid with OT victory". USCHO.com. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  15. ^ "Bemidji State 3, Robert Morris 2". USCHO.com. November 2010. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  16. ^ a b Brown, Scott (April 23, 2006). "A New World Order". USCHO.com. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  17. ^ Staff, INCH (September 26, 2007). "Wayne State to Drop Hockey Program". insidecollegehockey.com. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  18. ^ Staff, CHN (January 29, 2009). "Niagara, Robert Morris Officially Announce Move". collegehockeynews.com. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  19. ^ Werner, Sam (December 28, 2012). "Robert Morris hockey attracts strong field for Three Rivers Classic." Pittsburgh Post Gazette.
  20. ^ "RMU Charts Strategic Course Headed into its Centennial Year | Robert Morris University". www.rmu.edu. Robert Morris University. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  21. ^ Staff, USCHO (2021-12-17). "Robert Morris announces reinstatement of men's, women's college hockey teams for 2023-24 season". College Hockey | USCHO.com. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  22. ^ a b "Robert Morris Colonials Men's Hockey All-Time Results". Robert Morris Colonials. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  23. ^ "2023-24 RMU Men's Hockey Roster". Robert Morris Colonials. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  24. ^ "Robert Morris Colonials men's ice hockey Individual Career Leaders". Robert Morris Colonials. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  25. ^ "Robert Morris Colonials Hall of Fame". Robert Morris Colonials. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  26. ^ "Alumni report for Robert Morris University". Hockey DB. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
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