Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Robert Morris University men's hockey team will open its 2016-17 season with a rematch of last season's Atlantic Hockey Tournament championship opponent as the slate was unveiled today. The Colonials begin their quest for a third consecutive regular-season title by visiting Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Friday, Oct. 7, and Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Gene Polisseni Center in a matchup of the 2015-16 regular season champion Colonials versus 2016 tournament champion Tigers.

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The month of October features six conference games, concluding with the Colonials welcoming Army West Point for the home-opening series at 84 Lumber Arena at the RMU Island Sports Center Friday, Oct. 28, and Saturday, Oct. 29.

The Colonials play six non-conference games, five of which will be played in Pittsburgh. November opens with a home-and-home series against Ohio State University. RMU travels to face the Buckeyes in Columbus on Friday, Nov. 4, and the series closes on the Colonials home ice on Saturday, November 5.

Dartmouth College comes to town for a pair of games on Thanksgiving weekend. RMU hosts Dartmouth at 84 Lumber Arena on Saturday, Nov. 26, and will cross town to the home of the Pittsburgh Penguins to face the Big Green on Sunday, Nov. 27, at CONSOL Energy Center. The Colonials and Dartmouth will face off for just the second time in program history, following RMU's visit to Thompson Arena last season.

The non-conference schedule concludes Thursday, Dec. 29, and Friday, Dec. 30, at the Three Rivers Classic at the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, when three teams that played in the 2016 NCAA Tournament come to town. Frozen Four opponents Quinnipiac and Boston College will face off on day one of the tournament and Robert Morris will play Ferris State. Winners of each game will play for the Confluence Cup in the championship game, Dec. 30, with the other teams playing a consolation game. The Colonials are the defending Three Rivers Classic champions.

"The Three Rivers Classic features an outstanding group of teams," says Head Coach Derek Schooley. "Any time you can have a field that includes three regular season champions, two playoff champions, three NCAA Tournament teams and a rematch of the NCAA semifinal, it will be a very special experience for our student athletes."

"Going into the season, I am not sure any college hockey tournament can offer this high caliber field at the Home of the defending Stanley Cup Champions."
 

Atlantic Hockey conference games feature a pair of home-and-home games for Robert Morris and Mercyhurst, and home series against Army West Point, Sacred Heart, American International, Air Force Academy, RIT and Bentley. The Colonials will travel for road series against RIT, Canisius, Sacred Heart, Bentley, Holy Cross and close the regular season at Niagara. Robert Morris plays a total of four conference games against each RIT, Sacred Heart, Mercyhurst and Bentley.

Robert Morris will play sixteen home games at 84 Lumber Arena, three games at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, and fifteen true road games.

"Once again, we have a very challenging non-conference schedule which has 5 of our six games in Pittsburgh including three games at the CONSOL Energy Center, which is very exciting for our program" said Head Coach Derek Schooley.

"We are very excited for the upcoming season, looking to continue the success we had in the previous season."

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