MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – January 17, 2014 - The Robert Morris University men's ice hockey team and head coach Derek Schooley recently welcomed the addition of three student-athletes to the Colonial hockey family after the signing of their National Letters of Intent.

The newest members of the Robert Morris men's hockey team include Spencer Dorowicz (Olds, Alberta / Olds Grizzlys), Eric Israel (Huntington Woods, Mich. / Brockville Braves), and Robert Powers (Ajax, Ontario / Toronto Lakeshore Patriots).

"As a program, we are very happy to welcome these three to the Colonial family," said associate head coach Matt Nicholson.  "We look forward to their success on and off the ice at Robert Morris."

Dorowicz, a 5-11 forward, currently skates for the Olds Grizzlys in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL).  In 45 games this season, the captain of the Grizzlys leads the AJHL with 32 goals and 57 points.  Dorowicz has produce three hat tricks this season and his eight game-winning goals are also the most in the league.  In five seasons with the Grizzlys, Dorowicz has played in 209 games while recording 67 goals and 94 assists for 161 points.  The head coach for Olds is former Colonial Brett Hopfe.

 "[Dorowicz] brings a lot of speed and a high compete level to the ice with him every game," said Nicholson.

Hopfe had the following to say in an interview with Olds Albertan, "Throughout the years, [Dorowicz] has really come on to be a leader and an offensive threat for us."  Hopfe continued, "[Dorowicz] is definitely a born leader and we'll continue to see that as he develops.  It's pretty easy for guys to follow a player like that when he's willing to do anything he can to help the team win."

Israel, a 5-10 defenseman, currently plays for the Brockville Braves of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL).  In his first season with Brockville, Israel has produced 25 assists, ranking him in the top-20 of the CCHL.  In 41 games, Israel has also scored five goals to total 30 points.  Amongst defensemen in the CCHL, Israel's 30 points are the fifth-most, and 25 assists are the fourth-most in the league.  Israel has recorded four multi-assist games this season, including a three-assist game in November.  In 2012-13, Israel was named the Defensive Player of the Year at the Hill Academy.  Prior to playing with Brockville and the Hill Academy, Israel was a member of the 2006 USA Selects team that went to Moscow, Russia.

 "[Israel] is a great power-play, puck moving defenseman with a high compete level," said Nicholson of Israel, who is in his first year of junior hockey.

In an interview with College Hockey News, Israel spoke about what made him choose Robert Morris, "RMU has a great coaching staff, beautiful campus and an upbeat, hardworking style of hockey."

Taurean White, Brockville's head coach, said in an interview with The Recorder and Times, "[Israel] definitely brings a touch of offense to us; he's the first to jump into the play, but also the first one back."

Powers, a 6-1 defenseman, is currently on the Toronto Lakeshore Patriots of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL).  In 36 games between Toronto Lakeshore and the Stouffville Spirit, Powers has recorded 33 points with ten goals and 23 assists.  Powers' 33 points are the fifth-most by a defenseman while his 23 assists are the ninth-most in the OJHL and his ten goals are the most by a defenseman in the league.  In 128 OJHL games over three seasons, Powers has scored 20 goals and picked up 64 assists for a total of 84 points.

 "[Powers] is a great skater and makes a great first pass," said Nicholson.  He continued, "[Powers] is a great power-play defenseman that will help our offense next season."

The trio of newly signed student-athletes will join Alex Bontje (Nobleton, Ontario / Wenatchee Wild), Brady Ferguson (Carrollton, Texas / Amarillo Bulls), Eli Ghantous (Leitrim, Ontario / Carleton Place Canadians), and Timmy Moore (Grosse Pointe, Mich. / Amarillo Bulls) – all of whom signed NLIs before the 2013-14 season – starting with the 2014-15 season.