(2/28/09) Colonials take two points in Weekend Series

Friday’s USCHO.com Recap – Gary Heeman

Saturday’s UCHO.com Recap – Gary Heeman

If I were going to have to pull out an ideal future stud on this Colonial team, I would have to say that you can’t look too far past Freshman Goaltender Brooks Ostergard.  Without a doubt, he has played to the top of his game at the key time for this club, and in key moments of games for RMU.  With Ostergard in net, RMU skated to ties in both the Friday matchup and the Saturday matchup against Niagara this weekend.  Both games were a hard fought grudge match.  I was un able to attend senior nite, due to some minor sickness, but listening on the radio.

Friday’s Score: 3-3

Saturday’s Score: 0-0

RMU snapped their 7 game losing streak against the Purple Eagles on Friday nite, only to continue to tarnish Niagara’s hopes at a CHA Regular Season Championship; currently BSU and Niagara could possible host a share of the regular season title.  RMU is heading to Bemidji, Minnesota this week for their final games of the season March 6th and March 7th; followed by the CHA Tournament.

I will have more information and my look on the games soon.  As well as a recap on the broadcast that took place on Friday Nite over RMU-TV.  The game will be re-aired this upcoming week on RMU-TV and MCA-TV, and eventually landing on Comcast OnDemand.

(2/21/09) RMU sweeps UAH after 6-3 win

Recap on RMUColonials.com

The Colonials picked up their 8th win after a scoring onslaught that came in the 2nd period, final score of 6-3.  RMU picked up 4 much needed points this weekend, now holding onto the 3rd spot in the CHA after their first weekend sweep of the 2008-2009 season.  The Colonials have picked up 7 points after going 3-0-1 in their last 4 games, their longest point streak of the season.  They finished 3-1-2 against the Chargers this season.

Did I hear someone say “en fuego”?  Ya, it’s official, this team is on fire.  Brooks Ostergard started his fourth consecutive game, picking up his 3rd career win, he’s on fire.  Nathan Longpre picked up a goal and an assists, he’s on fire.  Chris Margott picked up another assist, also on fire.  Denny Urban put in two helpers, he’s heating up, not quite on fire, but extremely warm, on some lower level teams they might call it on fire, but not here, not yet, but we’re getting there.

We’re scoring on the Power Play, 2 of 5 tonite, not bad.  How-ev-a (pronounced – however) 8 real penalties in the game, we had 12 total, but in the 3rd period, it must have gotten chippy, Dave Cowan picked up a 10 minute misconduct at one point as well as 3 others, all at the 20 minute mark of the game.

With only four games remaining for each CHA team, RMU could potentially finish in 2nd place in the conference with a little help from Alabama-Huntsville.  RMU and Niagara are only seperated by 6 points going into their upcoming series next weekend. Here is how things could play out:

-If RMU picks up one win, and as long as UAH does not pick up more than a win themsleves, then RMU would have the 3rd place spot locked up.

-If RMU were to win out collecting the rest of their season points that are still up for grabs (8), and Niagara were to lose the remainder of their games (by way of RMU and UAH), then RMU would pick up the 2nd place spot, just edging out Niagara by a point in the standings.  The Colonials have not beaten the Purple Eagles yet this year, going 0-4.

Nothing like ruining their Senior day, good job boys.

————————————————————————————————————————————————–

From UAHChargers.com

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Wrapping up the 2008-09 home schedule on Saturday afternoon, the Alabama-Huntsville (5-18-3, 3-10-3 CHA) hockey team dropped a 6-3 College Hockey America contest to Robert Morris (8-17-5, 4-7-3 CHA) at the Von Braun Center.

The Colonials wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as they managed to get a one-on-one short handed rush and Ron Cramer gave Robert Morris a 1-0 lead only 4:11 into the game.  UAH would draw even later in the period when freshman forward Cody Campbell (Maple Ridge, British Columbia) launched a wrister from the slot past RMU’s Brooks Ostergard at 12:43 of the period.  Sophomore winger Andrew Coburn (Mount Forest, Ontario) and senior center Joe Federoff (Pittsburgh, Pa.) picked up the assists on the play.  The final two minutes of the period saw Robert Morris take a 2-1 lead on a suspect goal as Scott Kobialko crashed into Cameron Talbot but the play stood at 18:44 of the stanza.

The Chargers tied the contest at two early in the second frame when junior winger Kevin Morrison (Mississauga, Ontario) hit senior Matt Sweazey (Tornoto, Ontario) on a long breakout pass behind the RMU defense and Sweazey knotted the game with a backhanded move at 3:16 for a power-play tally.   The rest of the second period would belong to Robert Morris however, as the Colonials scored three unanswered goals to take a 5-2 advantage into the final frame.  RMU’s Nathan Longpre made a 3-2 game at 9:20 with a one-timer off the faceoff.  Tevor Lewis and James Lyle rounded out the scoring in the period at 12:33 and 19:03 respectively.

The third period saw the Chargers come out skating hard and it paid off at 2:26 of the period when Coburn redirected a blast by senior captain blueliner Scott Kalinchuk (Bowsman, Manitoba) for a power-play marker that Sweazey also assisted on.  Things then got really interesting with 12:47 left on the clock as one of Robert Morris’ own defensemen put the puck in his own net as signaled by the ref standing on the goalline.  Just when the Chargers thought they had drawn within a goal of tying the contest, the ref opted to talk with the goal judge and waved off the apparent score.

Robert Morris then got an insurance measure from Chris Kushneriuk as the Colonials executed a 3-on-2 break at 13:09.

Sophomore netminder Cameron Talbot (Caledonia, Ontario) took the loss in net making 14 saves and allowing five goals in the first two periods.  Junior Blake MacNicol worked the final 20 minutes allowing one goal and making five saves.  Ostergard earned the win with a 22-save performance.

A pregame ceremony saw the Chargers honors seniors Derek Conter, Joe Federoff, Scott Kalinchuk, Josh Murray, Matt Sweazey.

The Chargers are idle next weekend before wrapping up the regular season on March 6-7 at Niagara.

(2/20/09) Colonials pick up win against Chargers

Game notes for the Weekend – RMUColonials.com

Box Score

Talk about getting hot at the right time, with collecting an important 3 points last weekend at home against Bemidji State, the Colonials continued to roll in Alabama-Huntsville, picking up another decisive win, 3-1, on the road coming down the final stretch with five games remaining in the season, all of which are conference games.  The Colonials have a chance to slot themselves in 3rd place going into the CHA Tournament (March 13th and 14th), with Alabama-Huntsville’s season ending next weekend against Niagara (a team in which they are 1-2-1 against this season).

It’s almost a “pick your poison” at this point, as RMU is win-less against Niagara this season, and RMU has seen more success against Bemidji State, most recently last weekend.  However, it may be to the Colonials advantage finishing in 3rd place, getting a matchup against potentially 2nd place Niagara, a team that is currently on a 3 game loosing streak, facing a shot margin of -17, as well as an abysmal 1 of 16 on the Power Play, not typical of the Purple Eagles offense.  The Purple Eagles are off until they come to RMU next weekend (Feb 27th and 28th), the Friday nite game which will be broadcasted Live over RMU-TV, the first Live hockey broadcast in RMU history (more information will be available about the telecast soon).

It seems that Freshman Goaltender Brooks Ostergard is riding a hot hand right now, coming off his first career shutout and his first CHA Conference Award last week, it looks like he put together a great game, only giving up 1 goal, on 20 shots against the Chargers Friday nite.

Nathan Longpre picked up 2 points in the game (33), scoring in the 1st period, and assisting the Colonials 3rd goal in the 2nd period.   Chris Margott picked up an assist (16) on Longpre’s goal in the 1st period.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————-

From UAH Chargers.com

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Falling behind 3-0, the Alabama-Huntsville (5-17-3, 3-9-3 CHA) hockey team could never recover eventually falling 3-1 to Robert Morris (7-17-5, 3-7-3) on Friday night in a College Hockey America contest at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Ala.

After killing off a five-minute major for boarding, Robert Morris took a first-period lead when Nathan Longpre sent a power-play blast from just inside the blue line that beat UAH sophomore netminder Cameron Talbot stick side at 17:50 with assists from Denny Urban and Chris Margott.

The second period saw the Colonials add on a pair of goals with the first coming in the fourth minute of action at 3:07 when Jason Towsley made it a 2-0 contest.  Trevor Lewis then made gave RMU their three-goal cushion later in the period at 8:28 of the second.

The Charger power play finally got things on track in the third period when junior blueliner Brandon Roshko (Hamilton, Ontario) fed the puck to senior forward Matt Sweazey (Toronto, Ontario), who ended RMU goalie Brooks Ostergard’s shutout hopes at 11:44 of the frame.  Freshman defenseman Tom Durnie (Calgary, Alberta) also picked up a helper on the play.

Talbot took the loss in net for the Chargers making 24 saves while Osterard picked up the win with a 19-save effort.

The two teams battle again on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. in a contest that features $1 hot dogs and soft drinks.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Listen to tomorrow’s game at 3:30pm here – ESPN Radio

LIVE STATS For Feb 21st

Keep voting for Chris Margott- he made it through to the next round

Voting Continues – Margott in Final Round

Voting Ends for the 2009 Frozen Four Skills Challenge at the end of February!  The list was narrowed on February 18th and Colonial Chris Margott has made it through!

Vote here – “Men’s Hockey West”

-click men’s west

-must vote for 6 forwards and 2 goalies

(2/15/09) Hard fought game ends in 3-3 Tie

RMU Coach Schooley Post Game Comments

Box Score

RMUColonials.com Recap

It was a tough guess as to how the second game of this weekend series was going to go, no one expected Robert Morris to keep Bemidji scoreless last night, but I don’t think anyone expected this Robert Morris team to come out the second night and really turn the jets on, getting aggressive early and often.  I think Coach Schooley said it best “I really like this team, our team right now,” in his post game comments.  How could you not like this team right now? Honestly, a team that didn’t have much of an identity at the beginning of this year, an extremely young team, has managed to put a saving grace into this season at the right time.

Going back to tonite’s game, Bemidji jumped out early putting up two goals on the board, and in all fairness, their aggressive forecheck was making it extremely difficult for Brooks Ostergard (who got his second straight start tonite) and the Colonial defense.  RMU was back in their heels, almost allowing BSU to find a way to control the puck in their offensive zone.  It was a sloppy 1st period, both teams battling for puck control, but RMU was able to respond late in the 1st period, when Trevor Lewis made a great pass across the slot to Chris Margott, who was just waiting on the doorstep, blasting one past BSU’s Matt Dalton (he didn’t have a chance).

It didn’t take long in the second period for BSU to build up their lead, putting up their 3rd goal after a 4-on-4 series ended and BSU’s Chris McKelvie just beat the RMU defence for a 2-0 breakout, and with great passing on a 1-2 punch play with teammate Brandon Marino, McKelvie just rocketed one past Ostergard, who was left hung out to dry by his defence.

RMU immediately stepped up their play, from the next faceoff, RMU’s forecheck became extremely aggressive, this team showed that they wanted this win and they were fighting to get their lead back.  It was a much different feeling after the 3rd BSU goal, usually this team would almost give off the aroma that they were deflated or lost as to what to do, but not this time, they stepped it up and got aggressive, almost saying to themselves, let’s go get this one back.

Which is what they did, two late goals, 38 seconds apart, first – a great one-timer by Chris Kushneriuk, off a GREAT pass from the low end of the circle by Jason Towsley.  The next goal (tiying goal) came off the faceoff, won by Chris Margott, only to be fired in by Nathan Longpre, who was sitting in the right wing slot – Matt Dalton, stunned.

Now we’re going into the 3rd period tied, 3-3.  Who woke this team up? What woke them up?  I don’t know, but I sure as hell like it.  For the entire 3rd period, both teams were battling, it was getting more and more aggressive, neither team was letting up.

This one ended in a 3-3 tie after overtime, but RMU has to look as this weekend as a great visual for what they can do to finish out the remainder of this season, putting themselves in great position going into the CHA Tournament.

3 Stars of the Nite:

1) Nathan Longpre (RMU) – 1 goal,  2 shots, 0 +/-

2) Chris Margott (RMU)- 1 goal, 1 assist, 8 shots, 0 +/-

3) Brandon Mario (BSU) – 2 assists, 1 shot, +1

Just a few thoughts on the night:

I’ve bitten my tongue here and there on different things regarding RMU Hockey in general, but tonite, I have to mention a few things.  It all revolves around what you would describe as “Game Entertainment,” obviously there are certain limitations, for example, there isn’t a jumbotron, so RMU doesn’t have the visual aid to help get players, parents, and fans alike pumped up for a game, which is understandable.  So it comes down to two aspects to deliver:

1- Public Address Announcer, was FANTASTIC tonight, had to be a new guy, almost sure he is a student at Robert Morris, extremely professional sounding, well done, please please please, hire this guy full-time for the job.  Two Thumbs Up.

2- DJ/Music, ok not as fantastic, or really all that impressive.  I have 100% confidence, that my feeling on how things were done, were just poor.  Prime Examples:

1- Start of the 3rd Period we play “Shout,” the fun entertaining “we have won this game type of song”

2- 15:00 mark of the 3rd Period we play a version of the “Cha Cha Slide” – aka “Everybody Clap your Hands”

3- Start of OT, we play “Cotton eye Joe”

Aside from the OBVIOUS rip off of the Pittsburgh Penguins Game Entertainment Department, who routinely has introduced these songs to the Pittsburgh Arena Entertainment, and I know for a FACT that RMU did not play these songs as often, or at all (Cotton Eye Joe) until mid-way of this season.  Also, the Cha Cha Slide has never been played at an RMU game prior to this year, also another obvious rip off.

My problem, is not the obvious rip-off, it is the time these songs were played.  WE ARE IN A  3 TO 3 TIE HOCKEY GAME!  WHAT THE HELL!  Here is a thought, why not playing some of the songs in which the guys request for warm ups songs, like I don’t know, rock songs, up-tempo, excitement driven songs.  Wait…wait..that does remind me, we did hear a version of “Hurricane” that the Penguins have been playing for 4 or 5 years, usually at the start of the 3rd Period or Overtime, but RMU played the song, a longer 1:00-2:00 minute version at the start of the 3rd Period.

On a little side note, the song “Stacey’s Mom” by Fountain’s of Wayne, they hit the top 40 chart back in 2004, I’m sure there are plenty of songs we can play besides this one during an intermission/pre-game, some 5 years after this band had it’s 15 minutes of fame.

Let’s go for two things after tonite, 1) Try being Original and not borrowing other’s ideas, 2) Updating the iTunes play list to present day. (Not a personal attack on the DJ in quesiton, just a few thoughts from an annoyed fan)

Side Note of the Night:

Someone on ESPN.com’s staff get’s paid to check out the RMU Hockey Score and post it – Proof Here

(2/14/09) Colonials Shutout Beavers

(*I was not able to attend, due to a work related duty -  Will be in attendance for the Sunday matinee)

Robert Morris came away with a huge win tonite, shutting out the Bemidji State Beavers, 3-0.  Freshman Goaltender Brooks Ostergard picked up his first career shutout, in his third career start.  This is also the first shutout posted by the Colonials this season (outside of the exhibition 9-0 win against Ryerson).

Quick Stats from the night:

-Margott scored his 16th on the Powerplay, of course Longpre dished it to him.  It’s a one-two punch, it happens.  -Ostergard made 32 saves in 60 minutes, RMU was out-shot, but only by 4.

-Colonials: 5 for 5 on the PK,  that’s 100%. 1 for 4 on the PP, that’s 25%.   Good numbers.

For more go to

Recap – RMUColonials.com

Box Score – Collegehockeystats.net

(2/12/09) RMU Prepares for BSU Beavers

RMU hosts a pair of games this weekend against CHA leader, Bemidji State this Saturday, February 14th (7:05pm) and Sunday, February 15th (5:05pm).  RMU is currently 0-2 this season against the Beavers, dropping two games to Bemidji at the Island back on January 30th and 31st.

If the first two games of this season series (6 total games at season’s end) was a preview, yikes.  It could be very possible that RMU could be playing from behind in both contests.  Bemidji is an experienced team, that follows a great defensive system.  The first game of that weekend series was much better than the second, it was a constant battle back and forth.  RMU was coming off a short week, after coming off a weekend that rolled into Monday against #9 Princeton.  Many people wrote RMU off on the first game, but to their surprise, they saw an energized team up for the challenge.  The game was close late in the 2nd period of the January 30th game, as RMU fought back to tie it up at 3-3, but only to fall behind after BSU capitalized on the powerplay (Matt Krug serving a 2 minute “contact to the head” penalty – questionable call if you ask me).

The demise of this game was it’s inconsistent goaltending.  After a GREAT start in Princeton, Jim Patterson got the call again, Schooley attempting to stick with the hot hand.  Even though RMU lost in Princeton, Patterson was practically standing on his head, making saves he had no business making, keeping RMU in a game that should have been dominated by the Tigers.  Not so much this nite, as Schooley didn’t take long to pull Patterson for Russell, as he only lasted about 12 minutes.  Then we got to playing a little Russian Roulette, where it seemed that Schooley was ready to pull a fan, or find a way to put pads on his goaltending coach, Joe Tuset.  It was just a bad night for all three guys in net.

Ostergard looked the best in net, but he didn’t see time until late, when BSU seemed to be slowing down a bit.  Patterson and Russell both became hostages to BSU’s passing infront of the net, and the Colonial defense just could not clear out the traffic in front for their netminders.  I can’t put their perfomances on the line for RMU dropping this game, the effort was there, just needed more attention from the defense.

I was unable to attend the second game, due to work purposes, so I would direct you to this link/recap, to get the best judgement of how the second game faired:

USCHO.com Recap – Gary Heeman January 31st

Gameday Info

Listen Live for Free on Yahoo!

Listen Live of the BSU Broadcast

Live Stats via RMUColonials.com

(2/11/09) RMU adds Brendan Jamison of the EJHL

Defenceman Brendan Jamison of the Jersey Hitmen in the EJHL has committed to playing for RMU next season.  The news came today, as the announcement was made on the Jersey Hitmen website: Jersey Hitmen Hockey

Jamison hails from Allison Park, PA, his father is an RMU Alum.  This is a great recruit for RMU, as his choices came down to Clarkson, RMU and the University of Vermont.

(2/11/09) Schooley on FSN Tonite

Head Coach Derek Schooley will appear on FSN’s “Savran on Sportsbeat” tonite at 6:30pm, prior to the Penguins and Sharks game.  It is assumed that Coach will speak of the news of RMU joining Atlantic Hockey.

In the 1st intermission of tonite’s Penguins game, FSN’s Dan Potash will talk with Coach Schooley live at Mellon Arena, about the direction of RMU Hockey and the excitment surrounding the program.

Next Page »