Pittsburgh, Pa. - The Robert Morris University men's hockey team, fresh off their third consecutive win, took to the ice on Saturday evening for the second half of two-game series against Alabama-Huntsville. Despite enduring a nearly 40 minute delay due to shattered glass, the Colonials quickly regained their composure as they extended their winning streak to four games.
In the 4-2 victory, sophomore Brooks Ostergard (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Bay State Breakers) looked strong once again as he stopped 18 shots in his eleventh career win.
Robert Morris, 7-12-3 and 3-4-2 in CHA play, has now won four-straight contests. The Colonial hockey program has not accomplished that feat since Feb. 2008.
Although both teams started the game with a high level of intensity, neither team managed to get on the board in the opening session. Robert Morris held Alabama-Huntsville without a shot for the opening seven minutes. Overall, RMU outshot the Chargers 14-6 in the first period.
Just seconds into the second period, a hard hit shattered a penalty box door and forced the game into a delay. Upon returning to the ice, the Colonials immediately regrouped and were able to strike for the first score of the night. Junior Chris Kushneriuk (Ottawa, Ontario / Wayne State) notched the goal while Nathan Longpre (Peterborough, Ontario / Mahoning Valley Phantoms) and Denny Urban (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Ohio Blue Jackets) had the assists.
Ostergard had a series of outstanding saves throughout the second period. However with under a minute to go, the Chargers deadlocked the game at one with Keenan Desmet's third tally of the year at 19:09 to knot the game at one.
With the score still tied at the opening of the third, it took Longpre just 20 seconds to reclaim the lead for RMU. On a break-away, Longpre went top-shelf to beat the Alabama-Huntsville goalie, Cameron Talbot, to give the Colonials a 2-1 advantage. The assist on his tenth marker of the season was awarded to Kushneriuk.
Clinging onto the one score lead, freshman Andrew Blazek (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Topeka Roadrunners) gave the Colonials a little breathing room as he tallied his first career goal with 7:48 remaining in the game. Lewis and fellow sophomore Cody Crichton (Palgrave, Ontario / Brampton Capitals) earned helpers on the third RMU goal.
With the Chargers back on their heels, Robert Morris continued to surge as forward Ron Cramer (New Wilmington, Pa. / Indiana Ice) sealed the win with his second goal of the weekend. Brandon Blandina (Centennial, Colo. / Indiana Ice) and Blazek assisted on Cramer's goal.
As time continued to wind down, the Chargers still managed to sneak in one last goal as Chris Fairbanks gave UAH their second and final goal with only 18 seconds left. But the last ditch effort was not enough as the Colonials hung on to win, 4-2.
The Colonials looked strong on the penalty kill as they held UAH scoreless on five power play attempts. In the past five games, RMU has had a 87% kill percentage.
Robert Morris will now begin a four-game road trip on Friday as they travel to Hamilton, NY to play Colgate University. Both Friday and Saturday's contests are set for a 7:00 p.m. tilt in Starr Rink.
