Bulldogs sweep the series
October 24, 2009 by Dave Weldon
Filed under Men's Team
The Ferris State Bulldogs have swept the weekend series against the Colonials, in a 4-1 victory. Robert Morris has fallen to 1-3-0 on the season (with 1 overtime loss).
Freshman Goaltender, Eric Levine, made his first career start in goal for the Colonials.
Recaps and updates to come later, so check back.
USCHO.com – Bulldogs sweep Colonials
A slow start to the game turned into an onslaught of chances for the Bulldogs in the second period. They put 23 shots on goal in the frame and connected on three of them.
“The difference in the game was the second period,” said Robert Morris head coach Derek Schooley. “It was an even game except for that.”
After seeing the puck enter the net once only to have the goal waved off because the play was called dead, the Bulldogs stepped up the pressure and were rewarded when Todd Pococke fired home a cross ice pass from Matt Case.
However, the Colonials came roaring back and scored their only goal of the game 23 seconds later. After winning the face off following Pococke’s goal, a Ferris State defensive breakdown led to a 3-on-1 for Robert Morris. Zach Hervato made a clean pass to Scott Kobialko who slid the buck behind a sliding Pat Nagle.
Both teams missed their share of chances in the third period. Cody Crichton and Trevor Lewis had a Colonials’ 2-on-1 get broken up with solid defense from the Bulldogs with 12 minutes play in the game. Then, a few minutes later, Lewis deflected a shot from Dave Cowan wide of the net. One of the Bulldogs best scoring opportunities in the frame came with six minutes left when Cody Chupp hit the crossbar.
“They funnel pucks to the net,” said Schooley. “It’s tough when the puck is coming from everywhere.”
Ferris State head coach Bob Daniels was extremely pleased with how his team played both offensively and defensively.
“I thought we got a lot of pucks to the net tonight,” said Daniels. “We went to the net hard. We potentially drew a lot of penalties.”
Colonials fall in OT, 5-4
October 24, 2009 by Dave Weldon
Filed under Men's Team
#17 Chris Kushneriuk and #11 Cody Chricton (power play) both scored goals in the first period. #25 Furman South scored in the second period, followed by a short handed goal in the third period by Kushneriuk, which sent the game to overtime. Ferris State scored 32 seconds into the overtime period to win the game.
Goaltender #35 Brooks Ostergard faced 47 shots, making 42 saves.
RMU took 43 attempted shots, only getting 28 to hit the net, where as Ferris State attempted 69 attempts, 47 reaching the net. RMU was able to block 12 shots in the game, and the Bulldogs blocked 13.
RMU was 1 for 7 on the power play, with 7 shots. Ferris State was 2-5 with 17 shots.
Kushneriuk went 11 for 21 on faceoffs, #21 Nathan Longpre went 7 for 13, and #16 Scott Kobialko went 5 for 7.
If you really want, you run the risk of signing up for the 1 month free trial, and paying up front for the subscription, and hoping to get your $8 back. There is at least a game recap for the evening, but no thanks, but here is the link: Big Rapids Pioneer
USCHO.com’s Arena Reporter – John Denny covered the game, here are some highlights of his article:
The goal at the 32 second mark of overtime capped a back and forth night at Ewigleben Ice Arena. The Colonials fought back from a two goal deficit in the third period to send the game into overtime.
“We showed a tremendous amount of character coming back, but we have to tighten up our mistakes” said Robert Morris head coach Derek Schooley.
“We’ve got to stay out of the penalty box,” said Schooley. “Both teams gave up a lot of penalties tonight.”
It was the first time in the young season that the Bulldogs gave up more than one goal.
“I’m pleased with our effort but we need to be smarter,” said Schooley. “We’ve given up 12 goals in three games and you can’t do that. We have to tighten up defensively and be better on the little things that cost us tonight.”
Daniels felt his team played great inside the Robert Morris zone but was not pleased with the play on the other two thirds of the ice.
“I’m disappointed we gave up four goals,” said Ferris State head coach Bob Daniels. “We were very lackluster on defense tonight.”
RMUColonials.com – Colonials drop close decision in OT
But in the second, the Bulldogs would battle back with two goals early in the period. Riley tallied a short hander at 6:27 while Aaron Lewicki notched his second of the year to give Ferris State a 3-2 advantage.
Early in the second, FSU continued their scoring frenzy with a fourth goal from Casey Haines on the power play at the 5:07 mark.
Not ready to give up, Robert Morris stormed back two goals of their own to deadlock the game once more. At 7:27 of the second, sophomore Furman South (Sewickley, Pa. / Bay State Breakers) recorded the first goal of his career, and his third point in three games to bring the Colonials within one. Senior Dave Cowan (Calgary, Alberta / Olds Grizzlys) and Cramer had the assists on South’s goal.
Shorthanded and with under five minutes to play, Kushneriuk put the biscuit in the basket for the second time of the night at 15:51. Sophomore James Lyle (Nepean, Ontario / Smiths Falls Bears) tallied his first point of the year with the assist.
Ferris State Athletics – Haines’ Overtime Tally Propels Bulldogs, 5-4
Senior left wing Blair Riley (Kamloops, British Columbia) gave Ferris State the 1-0 lead only 37 seconds into the game on an assist from Casey Haines, who would register a three-point night. Following Riley’s second tally of the season, Robert Morris bounced back to score twice less than two minutes apart as Chris Kushneriuk scored at 14:56 on an even-strength situation and then Cody Crichton lighted the lamp with 3:33 remaining in the opening frame on a power play to give the Colonials a 2-1 lead.
The Bulldogs would regain the lead in the second period by accounting for both scores with the first coming at 6:30 as Blair Riley found the back of the Colonials’ net on a short-handed lamplighter for his third of the season. Senior right wing Aaron Lewicki (Livonia) would put Ferris State ahead at 3-2 as a little over five minutes later with his second goal of the year.
Weekend Preview: Ferris State (CCHA)
October 23, 2009 by Dave Weldon
Filed under 2009-2010, Gameday
After a short week of practice coming back from Alaska with a win, Robert Morris is headed up to Big Rapis, Michigan to take on the Ferris State Bulldogs of the CCHA, in a Friday/Saturday set of games. This will be the first time that the Colonials have played at Ewigleben Ice Arena, as this will be the second set of games for these two clubs.
Online Webcast: B2TV
Friday at 7:05pm, Saturday at 5:05pm
Online Radio: WWBR
Live Stats here: Friday & Saturday
10/17/08 – RMU 6 – FSU 3
10/18/08 – RMU 4 – FSU 4
Robert Morris currently holds the series record of 1-0-1, averaging 5.0 goals per game, and FSU averaging 3.5 goals per game. Ferris State’s power play is running at 18.2% (2-11) and 56.3% (9-16) on the penalty kill the all-time series, while Robert Morris has posted a 43.8% rating on the power play (7-16) and a rating of 81.8% (9-11) on the penalty kill. In the win last season on October 17th, it was currently Colonial #21 Nathan Longpre who scored twice (once on the power play) to get the Colonial attack going. On October 18th, it was Longpre again who scored (short-handed), as well as #17 Chris Kushneriuk (who scored twice) and now Student Assistant Coach, Kyle Burton.
The Colonials out-shot the Bulldogs 30-23 on October 17th, and a change of pace in the second game October 18th, when the Bulldogs surged for 40 shots, to RMU’s 21.
Robert Morris was able to stay poised in the Friday night game, even with 9 penalties, but what kept them going on Saturday was limiting their time in the box to only 5 times, a trend that needs to continue in this year’s weekend series.
Ferris State is currently 3-1-0, with two wins coming against Connecticut and one win/one loss at Canisus (both are AHA teams).
In their only loss to Canisus, they were shutout 1-0, but out-shot Canisus 48-21, but their acchilies heel was 72 penalty minutes (17 penalties). Canisus also served 16 penalties for 59 minutes, both teams were unable to score on the power play, as Ferris State went 0-7 and Canisus went 0-6.
In the Bulldogs 3 wins this season, they have limited themselves to an average of only 37 shots per game (seeing 25), and are 4 of 19 on the power play (21%), but have served only 21 penalties for 64 minutes (averaging 7 penalties for 21 minutes per game).
There has also been split time in goal between Senior #30 Pat Nagle and Sophomore #29 Tyler Nelson. It’s uncertain as of how Head Coach Bob Daniels will set up his goaltending matchup, I would make the assumption based on their current layout that we will see both goaltenders, similar to how Coach Derek Schooley used to use both Joe Tuset and Christian Boucher on Friday/Saturday matchups.
Both goaltenders are putting up great numbers for Daniels, Nagle holds the current loss, but hosts a .955% save percentage, and a GAA of only 1.01. Nelson putting up a .961% save percentage, and a GAA of 1.00. Nelson has only played for 1:18 longer than his counterpart, 7 more shots (51) making 49 total saves. Nagle has seen 44 shots, making 42 saves, as both goaltenders have only given up 2 goals each.
As a team, the power play is somewhat stagnant at 4 for 23 (17%), but the penalty kill has been phenomenal at 96%, killing 22 of 23 penalties. The Bulldogs have outscored their opponents 13 to 4 in goals, with sophomores Derek Grahman (forward) and Chad Billins (defence), leading the team with 4 points a piece (1 G, 3 A each).
LW 10 Trevor Lewis – C 21 Nathan Longpre – RW 11 Cody Chrichton
LW 14 Zach Hervato – C 17 Chris Kushneriuk – RW 16 Scott Kobialko
LW 18 Ron Cramer – C 27 Brandon Blandina – RW 25 Furman South
LW 9 Nick Chiavetta – C 29 J.C. Velasquez – RW 15 Tom Brooks
LD 4 Brock Meadows – RD 8 Josh Jones
LD 3 Tyler Hinds – RD 44 Denny Urban
LD 5 James Lyle – RD 24 Dave Cowan
G 35 Brooks Ostergard
G 30 Eric Levine
Ferris State Bulldogs
LW 25 Blair Riley – C 6 Casey Haines -RW 8 Cody Chupp
LW 28 Kyle Bonis – C 9 Travis Ouellette – RW 12 Aaron Lewicki
LW 20 Matthew Kirzinger – C 22 Derek Graham – RW 14 Todd Pococke
LW 10 Justin Menke – C 11 Jordie Johnston – RW 17 Eric Alexander
LD 27 Brett Wysopal – RD 16 Matt Case
LD 4 Chad Billins – RD 24 Zach Redmond
LD 32 Tommy Hill - RD 3 Scott Wietecha
G 29 Taylor Nelson
G Pat Nagle
G 31 Jordan Barber
*Nelson & Nagle will most likely split time this weekend, one starting each nite
“In the Crease” with Derek Schooley
October 19, 2009 by Dave Weldon
Filed under Men's Team
This is Episode 2 – From October 19, 2009
Urban earns CHA Offensive Player of the Week
October 19, 2009 by Dave Weldon
Filed under Men's Team
Denny Urban’s play in Alaska this past weekend not only earned him All-Tournament honors, but CHA Offensive Player of the Week honors as well.
CollegeHockeyAmerica.com – Urban, Talbot & Cseter Earn CHA Honors
Offensive Player of the Week: Denny Urban – Jr. – Defense – Pittsburgh, Pa. / Ohio Blue Jackets
Denny Urban picked up two goals and two assists (a goal and an assist) during Robert Morris’s two games in the Brice Alaska Goal Rush Tournament. His second goal of the weekend was the game-winning goal in a 5-3 victory over Alaska-Anchorage.
Articles on the Colonial win in Alaska
October 19, 2009 by Dave Weldon
Filed under Men's Team
Here are some stories today in the local papers up in Alaska:
Anchorage Daily News – Seawolves tumble to Robert Morris
Until Saturday, Robert Morris had gone 0-7-0 against WCHA teams. Granted, all of those were road matches for the Colonials and Saturday’s game was on neutral ice at the Carlson Center, but Robert Morris (1-1-0) had been outscored 45-9 by WCHA teams and never managed more than two goals in a game against a WCHA team.
The Seawolves (2-2-0) aided the Colonials by beating a path to the penalty box — Robert Morris, from Pittsburgh, enjoyed 10 power plays. And the Colonials on three occasions enjoyed extended 5-on-3 power plays, and cashed in on one, defenseman Denny Urban’s game-winning goal late in the second period.
Newsminer.com – Colonials soar past Seawolves
Less than a half hour after their 5-3 victory over the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves in the Brice Alaska Goal Rush on Saturday afternoon, the Colonials were rushing out of the Carlson Center to catch a plane back to Pittsburgh.
“It’d be a bad flight if we lost, but now it’s going to be fun,” RMU coach Derek Schooley said, luggage in hand.
Urban named to All-Tournament Team
October 18, 2009 by Dave Weldon
Filed under Men's Team
Here is the All-Tournament team for the 2009 Brice Alaska Gold Rush. The Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks took the tournament after their win in overtime to RPI. Robert Morris Junior Defenceman Denny Urban was named to the team, after picking up a goal and an assist in both games in Alaska, picking up 2 points on the power play as well.
G – Allen York – Rensselaer
G – Jon Olthius – Alaska Anchorage
D – Denny Urban – Robert Morris
D – Joe Sova – Alaska
F – Jarret Granberg – Alaska
MVP – Dion Knelsen – Alaska
CHA article on IllegalCurve.com
October 18, 2009 by Dave Weldon
Filed under CHA Conference
Eric (or “Goon”) of IllegalCurve.com & “Goon’s World,” wrote a brief snip about the CHA today, highlighting the fact that the UAH Chargers have come out of the gates battle ready, and how the CCHA may have made a horrible decision (let’s face it, they did make a horrible decision).
To show the CCHA they made a horrible mistake, the Chargers went out and beat the Fighting Irish to open the season. You know, the same Notre Dame that has been sitting at the top of the CCHA with Miami and Michigan. Question: is Notre Dame overrated or is UAH that good? I want to believe that UAH is that good. Notre Dame got a little pride back the next night as they beat the Chargers 3-1. UAH followed that loss with a victory against Air Force Academy last night 4-2. So hockey fans are you paying attention? UAH is not just going to go away.
Read the rest of this article at IllegalCurve.com
Colonials top Seawolves 5-3
October 18, 2009 by Dave Weldon
Filed under Men's Team
In an impressive bounce-back performance Saturday nite, Robert Morris came away with their first win against a WCHA team in the program’s history, scoring 5 goals against Alaska-Anchorage. The Colonials are now 1-1-0 heading back from Alaska this week.
RMU started off the game 0-2 on the power play, but getting good chances and opportunities, which led late into RMU’s first PK when #16 Scott Kobialko (Kushneriuk & Hervato on the assists) scored short-handed to give the Colonials a 1-0 lead, with just six seconds remaining in the 1st period.
The Colonials seemed to have the upper hand throughout the 2nd period, with a lot of back and forth play, and wasn’t until the 4:20 mark when defenceman Chris Leinweber scored to tie the game at 1-1.
Momentum quickly swung back to the Colonials when UAA picked up two penalties within a 28 second split, giving RMU a 5-on-3 opportunity (RMU saw 3 total in the game). #10 Trevor Lewis (Kushneriuk & Urban picked up assists) became no match for the Seawolves as he stuffed one home, and the Colonials came with an onslaught of shot after shot, giving Lewis his first goal of the year, and the Colonials the lead back at 2-1.
A little over 2 minutes later, Nick Haddard scored to even the game for the Seawolves at 2-2. It wasn’t much later when the 3rd line produced some positive numbers, as #27 Brandon Blandina (Furman South & Ron Cramer on the assists) scored his first, putting the Colonials back on top 3-2.
RMU found themselves on another 5 on 3 power play, looking to go up by two, but the Seawolves managed to kill off the first penalty (Baldwin 2 min for holding the stick & Lafranchise a 5 min major for boarding), then Kevin Clark was able to breakaway from the Colonial power play and put one in the net short-handed, evening the score at 3-3.
