Pittsburgh, Pa. / Island Sports Center - The Robert Morris University men's hockey team finished off their season-series with Bemidji State in convincing fashion, handing College Hockey America's first-place team a 4-1 loss Saturday night at the RMU Island Sports Center. The Colonials took the season series, 3-1, and improve to 13-13-1 and 9-7-0 in CHA play following their team-record fifth consecutive victory.
The Colonials need just one point in their last four conference games to clinch a first-round bye in the CHA Tournament. With four points against Bemidji State (13-11-4, 8-4-4 CHA) this weekend, Robert Morris trails Niagara (19 points) and the Beavers (20 points) in the conference standings.
Junior Ryan Cruthers (Farmingdale, N.Y. / Army) had two goals Saturday and three goals on in the two-game series. Junior goaltender Christian Boucher (Orleans, Ontario / Cumberland Grads) continued his recent streak of hot play allowing just one goal while making 35 saves. He has given up just four goals in his last three starts.
Robert Morris broke open the scoreless tie just seconds after killing off a 5-on-3 Bemidji State power play. Senior Aaron Clarke (Peterborough, Ontario / Niagara University) picked up a loose puck behind the net after a shot by junior Brett Hopfe (Didsbury, Alberta / Olds Grizzlys) from the left circle. Clarke carried the puck along the goal line and found Cruthers streaking down the slot. Cruthers beat Matt Climie gloveside to put RMU up 1:59 into the middle stanza.
Junior Sean Berkstresser (Apollo, Pa. / Pittsburgh Forge) put a book-end on the period, carrying the puck end-to-end beating four Beavers along the way. The junior broke in on Climie alone and again beat the junior netminder high on the glove pushing the Colonials lead to 2-0 with the four-on-four score.
The Colonials pushed the margin to 3-1 just 96 seconds into the final period when Cruthers scored his second of the game and 11th of the season. Set loose down the left wing by junior Joel Gasper (Crookston, Minn. / Billings Bulls), Cruthers again beat Climie high on the glove side.
Bemidji State made it a game at 8:31 of the third period as Blaine Jarvis beat Boucher five-hole from in-between the circles. Rob Sirianni forced a RMU turnover just inside the blue line and Jarvis picked up the puck to skate in all alone on Bemidji.
Junior Logan Bittle (Peoria, Ill. / Soo Indians) put the game away, however, at 11:51 of the third period. The junior forward got credit for a deflected shot from the point by junior Jeff Gilbert (Barrie, Ontario / Aurora Tigers) with freshman Kyle Frieday (Burlington, Ontario / Oakville Blades) also picking the assist.
Climie finished the game with 24 saves while both teams failed to score on five power play chances.
The Colonials take on Miami (Ohio) in a home-and-home series next week starting with a 7:05 p.m. game in Oxford, Ohio, Thursday, February 15. The Redhawks visit the RMU Island Sports Center Saturday, February 17, for a 7:35 p.m. contest.
