Moon Township, Pa. - The Robert Morris University women's hockey coach Paul Colontino announced the signing of seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent (NLI) this month. 

Brittany Howard (St. Thomas, Ontario / London Junior Devilettes), Tia Kipfer (Stratford, Ontario / London Junior Devilettes) and Jessica Dodds (London, Ontario / London Junior Devilettes) have played alongside one another on the same team for at least two-seasons within the PWHL.  Maeve Garvey (Oakville, Ontario / Burlington Junior Barracudas), Mackenzie Johnston (Barrie, Ontario) and Mikaela Lowater (Thornhill, Ontario) also come to Robert Morris from the PWHL. Rikki Meilleur (St. Adolphe, Manitoba) represents central Canada for the seven joining the Colonials for the 2013-14 academic year.

"We are very excited that these individuals have decided to continue their playing career at Robert Morris University," said Colontino. "This group has shown the ability to both excel in the classroom and on the ice and will be a positive additions to the Colonial family."

Brittany Howard (F) - The assistant captain for the London Junior Devilettes for the previous four seasons.  Last season with the Devilettes, Howard played in 13 games scoring four goals and tallying nine assists.  Thus far this season, Howard has seen action in 15 contests registering 20 points, 10 goals and 19 assists.  In 2011, Howard was named MVP of her high school hockey team.

Tia Kipfer (F) - Also a member of the PWHL London Junior Devilettes, the high school senior has registered 12 points so far this season, scoring nine goals and passing out three assists.  Last season Kipfer totaled 15 goals and eight assists. As a member of St. Michael Catholic Secondary School's hockey team, Kipfer scored 25 goals and notched 20 assists last season. The forward was awarded with the Dedication Award for her high school team during the 2011-12 season.

Jessica Dodds (G) - The third member of the London Junior Devilettes to join the Colonials.  Dodds has registered a 24-6-2 record with the Devilettes from 2011 until the present.  Thus far this season, Dodds has registered two shutout performances with 1.20 goals against average.  The netminder has tallied 294 saves while recording a .958 save percentage. As a member of Team Ontario Blue, Dodds lead the team to its first ever gold medal at the 2012 National Women's U-18 Championships in Dawson's Creek, British Columbia.  For her performance at the national championships, Dodds was named the tournament top goaltender.  Dodds was also one of 22 athletes selected for Team Canada (U-18) who will compete at the World Championship in Finland later this month and in to the new year.

Maeve Garvey (F) - Garvey joins the Colonials from the Burlington Junior Barracudas of the PWHL.  In the previous two seasons in the PWHL, Garvey has played in 77 games, registered 52 points (30 goals, 22 assists).  Served as a team captain for her team last season while leading the team in scoring, shooting percentage and game-winning goals. Garvey was named a Halton Regional Female Hockey Finalist for her performance on her high school hockey team while graduating with the Ontario Secondary Extended French Certificate.

Mackenzie Johnston (F) - Johnston has also played the majority of her youth hockey within the PWHL.  The forward is playing the current season with the Etobicoke Dolphins. In her previous two seasons in the PWHL, Johnston has registered 13 goals and 21 assists. Johnston was a member of the Aurora Panthers team who competed in the Final Four of the PWHL during the 2011-12 season.

Mikaela Lowater (D) - The only defenseman of the class of 2017, Lowater joins RMU from the Mississauga Junior Chiefs. Last season, Lowater ranked second on the team in points by a defenseman with 14 while her team finished second overall in the PWHL.  So far this season, Lowater has passed out seven assists in 15 contests.  As a member of Team Ontario Red, Lowater earned a silver medal at the 2012 National Women's U-18 Championships in Dawson's Creek, British Columbia.

Rikki Meilleur (F) - Currently serves as the captain of the Shaftebury Titans.  This season with the Titans, Meilleur has played in 40 games to register 45 points. The forward has scored 17 goals while dishing out 28 assists. As a member of Team Manitoba, Meilleur has earned a bronze and silver medal at the 2011 and 2012 National Women's U-18 Championships in Dawson's Creek, British Columbia.

Earlier this month, the RMU women's hockey team received its first votes of the season in two national polls, United States College Hockey Online (USCHO) and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine.  The national votes mark the time since January 2012 that RMU claimed votes in the weekly polls. At the midway point of the 2012-13 campaign, the Colonials own an overall record of 9-3-2 with a 5-1-0 College Hockey America (CHA) record.

The Colonials return the game action January 4 and 5 as they welcome league opponent RIT to the RMU Island Sports Center.  Faceoff is for 7:05 p.m. Friday and 2:05 p.m. on Saturday.