RMU Men’s Hockey Notebook: Colonials host RIT this weekend in AHA action

Last weekend, the scoreboard at 84 Lumber Arena lit up early and often as the Robert Morris University men’s hockey team started off the month of February with a sweep of the Sacred Heart University Pioneers in Atlantic Hockey Association action.

On Friday, the Colonials doubled up SHU 6-3, while on Saturday RMU brought all muskets to bear on Sacred Heart, 7-4.

The Colonials went 5 for 10 on the power play over the weekend against the Pioneers, including 4 for 4 on Saturday night.

It was time to quickly lace up the skates again on Tuesday, as Robert Morris hosted AHA rival Mercyhurst University at the RMU Island Sports Center. This time, it was the Lakers who dominated the scoresheet as they downed the Colonials 8-1.

Robert Morris is now 4-4-1 against Mercyhurst since the I-79 rivals have been members of the AHA. The Colonials are 4-5-2 all-time against the Lakers.

PUCK POINTS: Robert Morris is 14-10-2 overall, and the Colonials are tied for sixth in the AHA standings with Bentley, with a 9-9-1 record and 19 points. With only four weeks left in the regular season, third through tenth in the AHA standings are separated by just four points.

RMU is currently 8-6-1 on the road this season, and if they could win one of their three remaining road games, it would mark the first time in the program’s history that the Colonials finished with a winning record on the road.

Senior right wing Adam Brace surpassed 100 career points with his four point performance against Sacred Heart on Saturday night. Adam had one goal and three assists to win first-star honors in the Colonials 7-4 victory.

Senior goaltender Eric Levine’s four career shutouts are the most in Colonials history. His career-best 13 victories, so far this season, is the third most in a single season by an RMU netminder.

The Colonials have teamed up with the Bakersfield Condors and the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL to raise awareness of men’s cancer, and the battle that former three-time RMU captain Chris Kushneriuk is currently in with the disease. By combining their efforts, the teams that Kushneriuk has played for have raised over $20,000 dollars for the cause.

NEXT UP: The Rochester Institute of Technology will come to 84 Lumber Arena for a pair of games against the Colonials on Friday and Saturday. The puck will drop at 7:05 PM both nights.

The Tigers are 9-12-5 overall, and 7-8-4 with 18 points in the AHA. Just one point behind Robert Morris, RIT is in a three-way tie for eighth place in the conference with Connecticut and Army. The teams that finish in the top four at the end of the regular season will receive a first-round bye in the AHA postseason.

In their one previous meeting this season back on Thursday, Oct. 25, Robert Morris defeated RIT 6-4 at Ritter Arena in Rochester, N.Y.