Top Story: After a big weekend against the CHA’s top squad, Bemidji State, the Colonials are hoping to have success again this weekend in Huntsville, Ala. when they travel for their final two-game series against the Chargers. Fresh off the first shutout win in over two years, Robert Morris needs to continue gaining strength from strong goaltending and solid defensive play.
Scouting the Chargers: Last weekend, UAH shocked Niagara as they fought the Purple Eagles to a split in their pair of meetings. On Friday, Niagara handed the Chargers a 4-2 defeat. However, UAH fought hard on their home ice to skate to a 3-1 win over the CHA’s second place team. For their efforts, UAH’s Cameron Talbot and Andrew Colburn earned CHA Player of the Week Honors. Senior Matt Sweezy currently leads the UAH offensive assault with 10 goals and nine assists for 19 points. Freshman Cody Campbell also has tallied 19 points with his six goals and 13 assists. Sophomore Talbot has looked strong as of late, posting a 2.71 GAA and .915 save percentage.
Power Outage: Before the Jan 30-31 Bemidji State series, RMU led both CHA team statistical categories that deal with the power play. However, the Colonials have slipped as of late. Overall on the power play, Robert Morris has converted on 28 of 149 attempts for a 18.8 % average. Just three weeks ago, RMU was ranked nationally as the 8th highest power play team in NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey. The Colonials currently hold the 14th spot. Also, Robert Morris is now third in the CHA in penalty killing. The Colonial defensive effort is 119 for 148, killing off 80.4% of their opponents power play opportunities.
Leading the Pack: After playing the first 28 contests of the 2008-09 season, two Robert Morris players are at the top of the standings for scoring in the CHA. Senior forward Chris Margott is in first place on the leader board, notching 17 goals and 15 assists for 32 points. Last season, Margott finished fourth in the CHA for his scoring total of 11 goals and 14 assists. Sophomore Nathan Longpre is in second place and has tallied eight goals and 23 assists for 27 points. These point totals also rank Margott and Longpre nationally. Margott is ranked 9th in total goals, 12th in power play goals, 15th for points per game and 25th in overall scoring. Longpre comes in with a 15th ranking for assists per game and rounds out the top 30 in overall scoring.
Margott & Ostergard Snag Accolades: On Monday, the Robert Morris University men’s hockey team had two student athletes recognized by the CHA for their outstanding play in conference action over the weekend. Senior Chris Margott picked up his second Offensive Player of the Week award in 2008-09, while freshman Brooks Ostergard received his first career mention. Margott, currently the CHA’s leading scorer, tallied two goals and one assist in the two-game series against the Beavers at the Island Sports Center. On Friday, he notched the game winner and the Colonial’s first goal of the weekend to lead the team in their 3-0 shutout victory. In Saturday’s 3-3 deadlock, Margott once again put the Colonials opening score on board and assisted on Nathan Longpre’s goal that tied the game at three all. So far this season, Margott has accumulated 17 goals and 15 assists for a total of 32 points. In between the pipes, the Colonial’s received a tremendous effort from Ostergard. In only his third start of the 2008-09 season, he recorded his first career victory and shutout simultaneously on Friday night. On Saturday he notched another first with his first tie decision. Ostergard posted a total of 64 saves over the weekend, boosting his save percentage in CHA action to .924 with a 2.34 GAA. The freshman was also awarded the first star in Friday’s contest for his stellar performance. RMU’s Friday shutout was the first since Dec. 30, 2006.
Robert Morris Joins Atlantic Hockey Association: Robert Morris University has accepted an invitation to join the Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA) and will be admitted administratively for the 2009-10 season and will start competition in the league for the start of the 2010-11 season. The announcement of the Colonials joining the ranks of Atlantic Hockey was made official at a press conference Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009 in the Hat Trick Club at the Island Sports Center. For the 2010-11 season, the teams in the AHA will be split into geographical scheduling pods. Teams in each of the “regions” will play three games against teams in their own “region”, while playing two cross over games against the other “regions” squads. Each team will play a total of 27 conference games with the standings including all 12 members. Playoffs for the 2010-11 season will be determined prior to the start of that season.
Streak Snapped: Prior to Game 20 against Quinnipiac on Jan. 23, Robert Morris had yet to score the first goal in any match up. RMU took an early 1-0 lead in their 4-5 defeat on Friday night. On Saturday, Jan. 31, the Colonials snapped the streak at home when taking a 1-0 edge on Bemidji State. The Colonials were outscored 59-89 in the first 24 games and outscored 13-29 in the first period. However, Colonial goaltending managed to hold on strong strong early, making more saves in the first period than any other period.
Kushneriuk, Lewis Pick Up CHA Awards: A pair of Robert Morris University men’s ice hockey players were honored Monday by College Hockey America as sophomore forward Chris Kushneriuk was named the CHA Offensive Player of the Week, while freshman forward Trevor Lewis was tabbed the CHA Rookie of the Week. Kushneriuk, a transfer from Wayne State University, had a hand in half of that offensive output scoring a pair of goals and adding four assists. Lewis picks up his second conference honor after posting a four point (1g, 3a) weekend.
Alums in the AHL: Over the winter break, two former Colonials have been called up to AHL affiliates. Aaron Clarke, a 2006 graduate, became the first Robert Morris player to play professionally after graduation. He spent the beginning of the 2008-09 season, and entire 2007-08 season with the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL. On Dec. 26, the Binghamton Senators signed Clarke to a 25-game professional tryout agreement. Clarke recorded a game winner and his first AHL goal in only his second game with Binghamton. A 2008 graduate and Hobey Baker finalist, Ryan Cruthers started the 2008-09 season with the Mississippi Sea Wolves (ECHL). Scoring 35 points in 29 games for the Sea Wolves, Cruthers was named to the ECHL All-Star Team on Dec. 31 as the leading rookie scorer in the league. Also on Dec. 26, he was signed to the Lake Erie Monsters (AHL) where his as since appeared in four games while notching two assists.
Longpre Once Again POTW: For the second time this season, sophomore forward Nathan Longpre was named CHA’s Offensive Player of the Week on Dec. 8, 2008. Longpre picked up five points in two games over the Dec. 5-6 weekend. On Friday night against CHA foe, Niagara, Longpre had a hand in both goals, scoring one and assisting on the other. In Saturday’s contest against Ohio State, Longpre tallied his second goal of the weekend and added a pair of helpers to round out the weekend.
Towsley is Tops: In the Dec. 5 contest against Niagara, senior forward Jason Towsley recorded his third goal and fourth point in just two games. He picked up Robert Morris’ first score of the night to tie the game at one late in the first period. Also, On November 24, 2008, Towsley led the Colonial scoring efforts in both games at LSSU tallying three points. For his efforts, Towsley was named CHA Offensive Player of the Week. In Friday’s contest, Towsley recorded an assist on the Colonial’s lone goal of the night. On Saturday, Towsley notched two goals against the Lakers. His first score gave Robert Morris its first lead of the weekend, putting the Colonials ahead 2-1. Just over a minute later, Towsley struck for a second time to extend the lead to 3-1 in favor of RMU.
Hervato Commits: Head Coach Derek Schooley has announced that Zach Hervato signed a National Letter of Intent to continue his hockey career at RMU. Hervato is the first addition to the Class of 2013. A member of the bronze medal winning Team Canada East, he currently is a forward for the Smiths Falls Bears of the CJHL. While playing for Team Canada at the World Jr. A Challenge, Hervato picked up one goal and two assists.
CHA Accolades: On November 3, 2008 two RMU players, Chris Margott and Denny Urban were recognized for their outstanding play by the CHA. This was the third consecutive week Colonials earned awards from the CHA. Margott picked up his 100th career point as he scored RMU’s first goal against UAH on Friday night. He also would go on to pick up the game tying goal with less than two minutes remaining. On Saturday, Margott put forth another strong performance when he tied the game at two all in the Colonials come from behind victory over the Chargers. He now is the leading scorer in the CHA with ten points. Urban had a solid four point weekend as he notched a helper on four of the six Robert Morris’ goals. He also was +2 on the weekend, playing physical defense and breaking up numerous Charger scoring opportunities. Urban is currently the top scoring defenseman in the CHA.
Welcome to the 100 Point Club: On Friday, October 31, 2008, senior Chris Margott picked up his 100th career point as he scored RMU’s first goal against Alabama-Huntsville. This makes him only the second player in RMU hockey history to accomplish such a feat. He went on to total four point in the series, recording three goals and one assist.
50th Win: The October 17, 2008 win over Ferris State marked the 50th win in Colonial Hockey history. Also, the win gave Head Coach Derek Schooley his 50th career victory. Coach Schooley has been with the Robert Morris hockey program since it’s creation in 2004.
The 2008-09 Season: The Robert Morris University men’s ice hockey team graduated 14 seniors in the Class of 2008. Since the completion of the 2007-08 season, ten Colonials have signed professional contracts with various AHL, CHL and ECHL franchises. The current Colonial roster features 15 newcomers - 12 freshmen and three transfers. This year’s squad has only eight upperclassmen as 21 players on the roster hold freshmen or sophomore status.
CHA Pre-Season Poll: In a poll conducted by College Hockey America, Robert Morris was tabbed to finish 3rd in the conference for the 2008-09 season. Niagara was the pre-season favorite garnering three of four first place votes. Bemidji State was selected to finish second, and Alabama-Huntsville tied with Robert Morris in the third slot. Also, senior forward Chris Margott was named to the Pre-season All-CHA team after his performance last season. Margott returns this year after finishing third in the league in scoring with 44 points.
Courtesy: Robert Morris Athletics