The fifth annual RMU Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner is set for Friday, Feb. 2, 2018, at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport. The Voice of the Colonials and a 2012 inductee into the RMU Athletic Hall of Fame, Chris Shovlin, will serve as emcee to induct 10 former student-athletes who make up the 27th annual class.

In a special series leading up to the RMU Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner, veteran Pittsburgh sportswriter Joe Bendel takes a closer look at each of the inductees.

Moon Township, Pa. – Brianna Delaney skated feverishly from the penalty box to behind the goal, hoping to make a game-changing play. This was her final collegiate game at Robert Morris University, after all, and she wanted to go out with a flare.

"I was nervous," she said of playing in the College Hockey America Tournament championship game against nine-time defending champ Mercyhurst. "There were two of us in the box, so that wasn't a good situation. We had to get back out there."

And then, just like that, it happened.

Delaney scored the biggest goal of her storied career. She shoved in a rebound that proved to be the game-winner in a pulsating, 3-2, victory. The win not only gave the program its first-ever league tournament title, but also punctuated the biggest turnaround in the NCAA that season.

The Colonials went from 6-21-7 (.279) in 2010-11 to 19-9-4 (.656) in 2011-12.

"We had a long couple of seasons before that one, but everything was different that year," said Delaney, a native of Stittsville, Ontario. "Coach Paul (Colontino) was in his first season and it was like a fresh start. It was fun. Winning is always fun." 

For his part, Colontino expected nothing less from his "go-to" superstar.

"You couldn't have written a better end to Bri's career here," he said. "Her leadership on and off the ice was huge, and her presence was undeniable. She always found a way to contribute." 

Delaney was the first RMU player in history to amass 100 points. She ranks fourth all-time in scoring with 121 points (53 goals, 68 assists), and it is no stretch to say she laid the foundation for the Colonials' nationally ranked program today.

To no one's surprise, she has been elected to the RMU Athletic Hall of Fame.

Delaney will be inducted on Feb. 2, along with nine other former student-athletes, at a ceremony at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport.

"I'm excited," she said. "Coach (Colontino) called me to let me know, and he was so excited for me. I was a little shocked because I'm not involved in hockey as much as I could be, because I'm so busy at home. So when I heard the news, I said, 'Oh my goodness.'"

These days, Delaney is an elementary math and language teacher in her hometown of Stittsville, which is close to Ottawa. She is also raising 2-year-old son Sawyer, who's already on skates, mom reports.

"I started when I was probably 3," she said, laughing. "So I'm making sure he's out there early."

For Delaney, hockey runs deep in her family. She and her three siblings, who learned the game from their father, found various levels of success in the sport. Younger sister Cobina, who played alongside her at RMU for three seasons, remains active in district hockey. She serves as the 16U coach for the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite program. She is also married to RMU assistant Chelsea Walkland.

One the more unique, and rewarding, parts of Delaney's career was the fact she was part of the same three-player class throughout her time at RMU. Delaney, Paige Pieterangelo and Kathryn Stack arrived together and left together. No other players joined the class during their tenure.

"Usually, people are added or subtracted over time," said Delaney, who traveled to New Zealand and Belize to student-teach after graduating from RMU. "But that didn't happen with us. We roomed together throughout. We came in as little freshman and left as three old seniors. We saw so much. Different coaches, different players, wins and losses. It was great, and we still keep in touch today."

A noteworthy statistic about Delaney: She ended her career the way she started it ... with a goal. The first came in her debut at No. 2 Minnesota, which had not lost a season opener since the inception of its program in 1997. Her first-period tally gave the Colonials a 2-0 lead in an eventual 3-2 win.

Despite being outshot, 65-10, that day, the Colonials would not be denied.

"It was a really big upset against the Gophers," she said. "I remember (goalie) Bri McLaughlin had a record number of saves (63), and my goal in that game was similar to the last one of my career. I was at the side of the net."

In between, Delaney evolved into one of the best to ever skate for RMU.

"Bri was firm and deliberate," Colontino said. "When a task was presented to her, she was 100 percent focused on it. She deserves this Hall of Fame honor."
 
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