(1/31/09) RMU taken down by Beavers
January 31, 2009 by Dave Weldon
Filed under Men's Team
Robert Morris fell 5-1 in game 2 of the weekend doubleheader. I was un-able to attend the game, due to other work obligations, but I will direct you to Gary Heeman of USCHO.com for his take on the game.
(1/30/09) 5-3 RMU Falls in tough battle
January 30, 2009 by Dave Weldon
Filed under Men's Team
RMUColonials.com Press Release
A 5 to 3 loss never looks good, the stat sheet showing that all three goaltenders split time, also never looks good but it’s difficult to judge the game based on the fact that only a small handful of this roster has ever faced a very sound, systematic Bemidji State team.
BSU came out aggressive, wasting no time scoring first at the 2:59 mark. The game slowly started to fall away from RMU as BSU went up 2-0 at 12:54 in the 1st, but RMU quickly responded with back to back goals (29 seconds apart) by Towsley and Margott.
The second period had another story, it almost looked like Bemidji was on a powerplay the whole period. The Beavers were extremely aggressive and RMU seemed to be just a second behind on every play.
Robert Morris fell away from their strength in numbers, their speed and up tempo play. We saw a similar situation on Tuesday at Princeton, but the game was a lot closer, as RMU was getting a lot of blocked shots and great goal tending from Jim Patterson.
Tonight, goal tending was extremely below par of what Patterson and Russell are capable of. In the same respect, BSU’s Matt Dalton also had a very difficult time controlling his rebounds and getting the puck out of his crease. There were a lot of bad bounces and traffic in front of Patterson and Russell, which doesn’t make for an easy route to a solid performance.
Even though Patterson only faced 6 recorded shots, Russell with 15, both saw a variety of shots that went wide, as well as tipped pucks in front, leading to re-directed shots, which turned into goals.
Two extremely bright spots to the game were the play of Sophomore Chris Kushneriuk and Senior Jake Obermeyer. I don’t know what, where or when, but in Chris’ recently play he has become extremely confident in bringing the puck through the neutral zone and battling against the boards both offensively and defensively, to keep the play going strong. As for Obermeyer, a normally defensive d-man, someone let him out of the cage, and I think I like it. USCHO.com Arena Reporter, Gary Heeman and I spoke after the game about Obermeyer and he even pointed out how aggressive he was at attacking the puck and getting involved on setting up the offensive zone.
When it comes down to it, the boiling point for this team is their defensive play and controlling the puck in their defensive zone to lead to the breakout of their offensive setup. It wasn’t until after Denny Urban’s holding penalty late in the 3 period, did Robert Morris look focused and in control of their game. That has to begin earlier for them, and stay consistent.
It’s difficult enough playing a team where only a select number of your teammates have actually seen this team before on the ice, let alone adding on to the fact that you just played 4 games in 8 days, with only 3 days in between the Princeton game (Jan 26th) and tonight.
Post Gazette Article on Nathan Handrahan
January 29, 2009 by Dave Weldon
Filed under College Hockey
The Pittsburgh Post Gazette recently posted an article highlighting a Question and Answer segment with Coach Nathan Handrahan on his approach to Coaching the RMU Women’s Program.
Here is the link to check it out! Post Gazette
(1/29/09) It’s Official – RMU Joins Atlantic Hockey
January 29, 2009 by Dave Weldon
Filed under CHA Conference, Men's Team
Thurs 9:15 – Niagara Athletic Director Ed McLaughlin discussed the rationale of moving to Atlantic Hockey in a press release on the University website: Men’s Hockey Release
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Thurs 3:59pm – Atlantic Hockey has released this statement regarding official news of RMU and Niagara, “We are excited that Robert Morris has accepted admission to the Atlantic Hockey Association and that they bring a highly visible and competitive program into the league,” AH commissioner Bob DeGregorio said in the statement. “We will now have a pair of institutions in Western Pennsylvania [joining Mercyhurst], and our hope is that this will provide fans of both Mercyhurst and Robert Morris a chance to see Division I hockey and the start of a great rivalry between the two schools.”
To read more, got to College Hockey News.com
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Update – Thurs 12:45pm – I have been informed that Robert Morris will hold a press conference on February 3rd, to announce RMU being admitted into Atlantic Hockey. Niagara will be joining as well, their press conference is TBD.
Article on Niagara Hockey from the Niagara Gazette
In related news, current CHA member Alabama-Hunstville is seeking to join the CCHA -Huntsville Times
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Wed 12:45pm – CollegeHockeyNews.com is now reporting a similar report as USCHO.com
12:32pm Update from USCHO.com, which reports that RMU and Niagara have been accepted to the Atlantic Hockey conference, beginning in 2010-2011.
An inside source has informed me that both USCHO.com and CHN.com reports are accurate, giving new light to both RMU and Niagara.
Both Coach Schooley and Dr. Craig Coleman of Robert Morris have agreed to make an individual statement/interview to RMUCentreice, once an official statement has been made from Atlantic Hockey.
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Tues 1:37am Update from College Hockey News.com – Awaiting Approval/Official Word
According to CHN, their sources are telling them that RMU and Niagara will have a home once the CHA dissolves.
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The Atlantic Hockey Conference is putting in a vote today to decide if the Robert Morris and Niagara Men’s Hockey programs will be accepted into the conference, at the start of the 2010-2011 season.
Currently, both RMU and Niagara are sitting in the depleated College Hockey America conference, which continues to suffer the loss of programs, since it’s creation in 1999. Air Force left after the 2005-2006 season to join up with Atlantic Hockey, Wayne State University broke down their Men’s program after last season, leaving the CHA with four teams. The latest development in the CHA until now has been Bemidji State’s progression in attempting to find a way into the WCHA.
These three dates in the last year have been the foundation for Bemidji to find it’s program involved with the WCHA:
Original date uncertain (summer 2008) – the Development of the new Bemidji regional events center, where the Beavers will play
Jan 18th, 2008 – WCHA Announces Scheduling agreement with Bemidji State
Jan 15th, 2009 – WCHA lifts moratorium on expansion
From all of this we saw RMU and Niagara seeking their own help:
Jan 25th, 2009 – Atlantic hockey to vote on expansion
There were rumors swirling, with no confirmation that the conference was in talks with both schools, as well as visiting the complexes, but it was difficult to say if any of this was true. Many people had reported seeing Atlantic Hockey officials at both sites, around dates where there was Atlantic Hockey Club hockey being played…coincidence…maybe? maybe not? Either way, there obviously was talk behind closed doors, on a secure phone line, and now we will sit and wait to see if a secure future will be determined for both of these clubs.
Margott a potential Frozen Four Skills Competitor
January 29, 2009 by Dave Weldon
Filed under Men's Team
Just as the Lady Colonials have recieved nominations for the Frozen Four Skills Challenge in this year’s Frozen Four in Washington D.C., RMU’s Senior Forward Chris Margott has been nominated to compete as well.
Margott is among 68 remaining nominations waiting to be cut down to the final 32 participants; the announcement will not be made until after March 29th.
For more go to RMUColonials.com – Margott Nominated for NCAA Frozen Four Skills Challenge
(1/29/09) Coach Schooley on local Bemidji Radio Show
January 29, 2009 by Dave Weldon
Filed under Men's Team
Head Coach Derek Schooley was a guest yesterday on a local Bemidji radio show, “Sports In A Round,” on Mix 103.7 KKBJ FM, where he met questions on several topics, from his view on the current play of his team, as well as addressing everyone’s current questions in the “what if” department, especially his take on the un-official news of RMU and Atlantic Hockey teaming up in 2010.
For all intensive purposes, I have recorded just Coach Schooley’s segment and re-posted it, but if you wish to listen to the entire show, follow this link: Sports In A Round (the first half of the show covers the new Bemidji Regional Events Center, it sounds like this will be great for the local area).
Coach Schooley on “Sports In A Round”
My take on what Coach Schooley had to say:
Obviously, Coach Schooley is not available to give any real word on the current Atlantic Hockey situation, as no one from the parties involved has made an official statement, but Coach did go into the realm that “if” this venture were to happen it would obviously give the fans and local market of Pittsburgh a more exciting product to witness. In the current situation of the CHA, seeing Bemidji State 4 out of the final 6 home games, can get a bit mundane for the fans, seeing the same conference opponents over and over, especially in the crucial run to the conference tournament at the end of the year.
With the possibility of grouping with teams located within the northeast, especially with teams like Mercyhurst, Canisus, RIT all within reasonable driving distance for fans, the obvious choice for Robert Morris has always been to start the program within Atlantic Hockey. A potential 12 team conference also attracts the local Pittsburgh market, which has already noticed it’s only NCAA D-1 team as a competitive team, but without any real knowledge of where the team stands.
That’s the other main response for Coach Schooley in this interview, have the “what if’s” finally stopped, and it looks like they can, if the Atlantic Hockey deal falls through. It’s difficult enough trying to pull in recruits, but to go to a potentially interested player and give them the promise that if they choose Robert Morris, that they won’t have to worry about not playing NCAA Hockey in a year, now that is a tough sell. There have been plenty of positive signs already for Robert Morris to still have a solid recruiting foundation: the College Hockey Showcase, 2 recent graduates leading the ECHL in scoring (as well as splitting time in the AHL), and 6 other players playing minor-pro hockey.
I hope to be able to say, by Friday afternoon/evening, that we have 100% official news that RMU and Niagara are in Atlantic Hockey, as well as some exciting news that should be finalized Friday afternoon, regarding next season.
2009 Frozen Skills Challenge – RMU Potential Participants
January 28, 2009 by Dave Weldon
Filed under College Hockey
From RMUColonials.com – RMU Duo are Potential Participants in Frozen Four Challenge
In this year’s Frozen Four Skills Challenge the potential participants have been narrowed from the original 140 nominations, down to 68. Among those 68 are RMU’s Captain, Kristen Miles and Goaltender Brianne McLaughlin, both are awaiting for the list to be cut down to the final 32 participants (TBD sometime in February).
Miles and McLaughlin will represent the Women’s West Team in the all-star event, joining five other CHA members.
CHA Awards: Kushneriuk, Lewis
January 26, 2009 by Dave Weldon
Filed under Men's Team
Sophomore Chris Kushneriuk picks up Offensive Player of the Week, as Freshman Trevor Lewis takes Rookie of the Week.
Read it here: RMUColonials.com
Great Article on The Hockey News
January 26, 2009 by Dave Weldon
Filed under NHL
Ken Campbell has a great article concerning the NHL’s US National Television spot, current and future. My biggest shock, is that the NBC has not had to pay the NHL to broadcast the games.
Looks like the US NHL market should see a nice shakedown in the coming months.
Here is the article: THN
