Pittsburgh, Pa. -- Robert Morris University men's hockey opens its home slate with a weekend series against Atlantic Hockey conference foe Army West Point at 84 Lumber Arena this Friday and Saturday. The Colonials (1-2-1, 1-2-1 AHC) sport the league's top power play while the Black Knights (2-1-1, 2-0-0 AHC) boast the nation's best penalty kill. Robert Morris leads the all-time series 10-4-4.

GAME INFORMATION   |   TICKETS
Friday, October 28, 7:05pm
LIVE STATS   |   LIVE VIDEO ($)   |   970 ESPN Pittsburgh or Online
Saturday, October 29, 7:05pm
LIVE STATS   |   LIVE VIDEO ($)   |   970 ESPN Pittsburgh or Online

GAME NOTES
Robert Morris (.pdf)   |   Army West Point (.pdf)

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LADIES FIRST
This weekend, the men's and women's teams play doubleheaders on both Friday and Saturday, with the women's team opening conference play against Mercyhurst on Friday at 3:05pm and again on Saturday at 2:05pm. Both of those games are ticketed separately from the men's games and the arena will be cleared between games.

STUDENT SHUTTLE
There's a free shuttle providing transportation from campus to the arena for Friday's games. Pickup on campus is at Lexington & Concord. The shuttle runs from 2:00pm - 10:00pm.

PROMOTIONS
Several special promotions at 84 Lumber Arena this weekend. On Friday, the first 800 fans in attendance will receive a magnet schedule, courtesy of Mario's Family Italian Restaurant. On Saturday, it's Halloween Hockey! There will be a Costume Contest during the first intermission at both the men's and women's games, with a chance to win gift cards to Giant Eagle and Moe's Restaurant. Saturday night is also "Skate with the Colonials!" Fans are welcome to join the team for a skate following the game. Bring your own skates or rent from the Island Sports Center for $3.00. 

LAST TIME OUT
ROBERT MORRIS   |    WATCH HIGHLIGHTS:   Friday at Canisius     Saturday at Canisius
Robert Morris picked up a point last weekend with a tie in the second game of a two-game series at Canisius. Friday, the Colonials lost to the Griffs 6-3. Brady Ferguson scored the first goal of the game before Canisius made a game-long run to take a 6-1 lead. Matthew Graham scored his first collegiate goal to make it 6-2 before Ben Robillard tipped in his first of the season to close the game 6-3. On Saturday, Alex Tonge scored a pair of power play goals while Francis Marotte made 34 saves in his first collegiate start, helping Robert Morris to a 2-2 tie. Freshman Jacob Coleman picked up his first two career assists, one in each game.

ARMY WEST POINT  |
After opening the season 2-0-1, Army suffered its first loss of the season, 3-2 to UMass on Friday. The Minutemen took a 3-0 lead, before Captain Ryan Nick and Clint Carlisle scored back-to-back power play goals for Army. Parker Gahagen made 22 saves in the loss, marking the only time this season the senior has given up more than 2 goals in a game.

COLONIALS MUSKET SHOTS
CONFERENCE LEADER
Brady Ferguson leads the Atlantic Hockey Conference in scoring with 10 points on 5 goals and 5 assists. The junior forward is second in goals behind Holy Cross junior T.J. Moore (6). Ferguson paces the AHC in points per game (2.50), power play points (7), power play assists (5), shots (22), and shots per game (5.50).

RECORD-SETTING START
In the second game of the 2016-17 season, Brady Ferguson and Eric Israel added their names to the RMU record books. Ferguson set a new program record for points in a game with 6 points on 3 goals and 3 assists. Israel matched the record for most assists in a game with 4, also tying the previous single-game points record with 5, now second in that category behind Ferguson.

POWER UP
The Colonials top power play unit put on a display in the opening weeked of play at RIT, scoring five power play goals during 12 power plays, taking 20 shots. RMU managed three power play goals in its two-game series at Canisius and leads the conference, converting at a 29.6% rate. The AHC's top three power play scorers are Colonials; Brady Ferguson, Eric Israel, Alex Tonge.

BLOCK PARTY
Senior defenseman Rob Mann picked up where he left off in the shot-blocking department. Mann finished sixth in the NCAA with 94 blocks & fourth with 2.52 blocks per game in the 2015-16 season. The senior captain blocked 6 shots in the season-opening series. Eric Israel was fourth in the conference last season and leads the team with 7 blocks so far. 

SO FRESH
The Colonials have ten freshmen on the roster and eight of them have seen game action: Forwards Matthew Graham and Luke Lynch have played in every game, Jacob Coleman, Kevin Lavoie, Daniel Mantenuto and goalie Francis Marotte have each played in 3, while forward Michael Coyne & defenseman Sean Giles have each made one appearance.

FAST FRANKY
Freshman goaltender Francis Marotte has already factored in two decisions through four games, picking up his first career win in a relief appearance at RIT, and earning a tie in his first career start at Canisius. Marotte has stopped 63 of 66 shots and sits in third in the AHC with a .955 save percentage & 1.69 GAA.

CHASING 200
Head Coach Derek Schooley is 8 wins shy of reaching 200 career victories.

SCOUTING THE BLACK KNIGHTS
Brian Riley is in his 13th season as the head coach at Army West Point. The Black Knights were picked tied for fourth in the preseason coaches poll, following an AHC semifinal finish last season. It was RMU who defeated Army 2-1 in overtime in the AHC semifinal game.

Senior goaltender Parker Gahagen is one of 20 goalies neamed to the Mike Richter Award watch list, the award give to the top goaltender in NCAA D-I men's hockey. Gahagen sports a 1.23 goals against average with a .956 save percentage this season, first in the NCAA in GAA and 2nd in sv%. Gahagen has a 2.52 GAA and .923 save percentage for his career. The senior has two shutouts thus far, both of Sacred Heart. Conor Andrle leads the Black Knights in scoring with four goals while Clint Carlisle has 4 points on two goals and two assists.