Pittsburgh, Pa. - The Robert Morris University men's hockey program announces the promotion of Michael Gershon to assistant coach and the addition of Kyle Pettit to the staff as the team's hockey operations coordinator.

Gershon served as coordinator of hockey operations during the 2015-16 season after spending three years as head coach, president and general manager of teams in the North American Hockey League. Gershon is excited to return behind the bench as a coach with the Colonials for the 2016-17 season.

"I'm really looking forward to having more responsibility, being behind the bench, going out and recruiting the next group of players to come in," Gershon said.

"Michael Gershon is a very smart hockey coach," said head coach Derek Schooley.

"His energy, enthusiasm and passion have been a breath of fresh air since he arrived at Robert Morris last year," Schooley continued. "Our players have an excellent relationship with Michael which will lead to a seamless transition in his his new position."

As a three-year NAHL head coach, Gershon led the development and advancement of his players, moving 31 players into the college hockey ranks. In those three seasons, Gershon coached his team to three consecutive NAHL postseason appearances including an NAHL North Division Title at Port Huron. Gershon compiled an 88-57-19 record in those three seasons, serving as a both a head coach and assistant coach for NAHL Top Prospects games.

A former NCAA Division III defenseman, Gershon graduated from SUNY-Brockport with a degree in Communcations in 2009. Gershon was named second-team All-SUNYAC in the 2008-09 season and served as an assistant captain during his senior campaign. Gershon played professionally in the ECHL on the Wheeling Nailers defense in 2010-2011 and for the IHL's Port Huron Icehawks in 2009-10. Gershon and his fiancée Brandy reside in Wexford, Pa. 

Pettit joins the Colonials in a hockey operations role after working in a similar position for the Manchester Monarchs, an affiliate of the NHL's Los Angeles Kings. Pettit was the Monarchs Video Coordinator for the last year (ECHL) and worked as a hockey operations assistant with the Manchester organization from 2014-15 (AHL). Pettit also has experience working in as interim director of hockey operations with the Northeastern University men's hockey team early in the 2015 season.

Pettit is a graduate of Southern New Hampshire University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Management.

"Kyle Pettit comes very highly recommended from numerous people in professional hockey," Schooley said.

"His experience with video at the AHL and ECHL levels will be a very big plus for our program," remarked Schooley. "We are excited to see the development of our players with his video expertise."

Robert Morris opens the 2016-17 season with an exhibition game on October 1 against Queen's University at 84 Lumber Arena in Pittsburgh. The Colonials begin Atlantic Hockey regular season play against conference rival RIT in Rochester with a series on October 7-8. Tickets for home games are on sale at RMUtickets.com

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