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Robert Morris University Athletics

MHK7 1718 Gameday 02.02.18

Men's Hockey Ashley Chase

Day Tripping Colonials Square Off With Sacred Heart

Robert Morris plays Friday at 10:35am, Saturday at 2:05pm in Bridgeport, Ct.

Pittsburgh, Pa. - Okay, campers, rise and shine. The Robert Morris University men's hockey team will be up and at it with the woodchuck-chuckers on Groundhog Day. The Colonials open a series with the Sacred Heart Pioneers at 10:35 a.m. on Friday, February 2 at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The series concludes with a 2:05 p.m. tilt on Saturday, wrapping up a stretch four day games on the road in New England.

GAME INFORMATION
Robert Morris Colonials (11-13-2, 10-8-2 AHC) at Sacred Heart Pioneers (7-14-4, 5-10-4 AHC)
at Webster Bank Arena, Bridgeport, Ct.
Friday, February 2  //  10:35 a.m.
LIVE VIDEO  //  LIVE STATS
Saturday, February 3  //  2:05 p.m.
LIVE VIDEO  //  LIVE STATS

TEAM CAPSULES

ROBERT MORRIS COLONIALS 
Record: 11-13-2, 10-8-2 Atlantic Hockey SACRED HEART PIONEERS
Record: 7-14-4, 5-10-4 Atlantic Hockey
  • Head Coach: C.J. Marottolo (9th Season)
  • Points Leader: Vito Bavaro (22), Marc Johnstone (20)
  • Goals Leader: Vito Bavaro (13), Jason Cotton (10)
  • Goaltending: Brett Magnus, 7-8-2, .901 save%, 3.42 GAA
  • Blocked shots: Liam Clare (42) 
  • All-Time Record vs. RMU: 0-20-1
  • Last Time Out: SHU earned a 2-1 win over Air Force Friday. Jackson Barliant scored in the first, before Mel Melconian chipped in the eventual game winner in the second. Brett Magnus recorded 17 of his 35 saves in the final period to secure the win.
COMPLETE NOTES PACKAGE (.PDF)

THIS IS ONE TIME WHERE TELEVISION REALLY FAILS TO CAPTURE THE TRUE EXCITEMENT OF A LARGE SQUIRREL PREDICTING THE WEATHER
That's right, the theme of this weekend's game notes is Pennsylvania's most famous holiday, Groundhog Day. All the headings are quotes from the movie, "Groundhog Day." Proceed with caution.

TOO EARLY FOR FLAPJACKS?
Friday's game marks the first morning game to be played in the history of the Robert Morris program. 

WHAT IF YOU WERE STUCK IN ONE PLACE AND EVERY DAY WAS EXACTLY THE SAME AND NOTHING THAT YOU DID MATTERED
That about sums it up for Sacred Heart. History has repeated itself in 20 of 21 meetings between these teams as the Colonials sport a 20-0-1 all-time record against the Pioneers, who have never won a contest in the series history.

WHAT IF THERE IS NO TOMORROW. THERE WASN'T ONE TODAY?
You'd miss the 100th game of Eric Israel's career. Should the junior defenseman suit up Friday & Saturday, he'll reach the century mark.

I'M A CELEBRITY IN AN EMERGENCY.
Star senior forward Brady Ferguson needs your help! Ferguson has been nominated for the Hobey Baker Award, the most prestigious honor in NCAA men's ice hockey. You can help with the fan vote by visiting Vote4Hobey.com. Ferguson leads the Colonials in scoring with 12 goals and 36 points on the season, ranking 4th in the NCAA and 2nd in Atlantic Hockey, just three points shy of the NCAA scoring lea. 

DID HE ACTUALLY CALL HIMSELF, "THE TALENT"?
Junior forward Alex Tonge is the January Player of the Month for Atlantic Hockey. Tonge led the NCAA and Atlantic Hockey with 2.20 points per game, scoring 11 points on 5 goals and 6 assists. Tonge scored five goals on ten shots and held a plus-five rating.

10, 9, 8, *CAR* ... 6, 5, *QUARTERS* ... 3, 2 ...  *ROBS ARMORED CAR*
Ferguson is counting down the points to becoming RMU's all-time scoring leader. Ferguson is second all-time in scoring with 154 career points. The senior from Carrollton, Texas is just 3 points shy of passing the program's all-time scoring leader Zac Lynch '16 (156 points).

YOU SPEAK FRENCH? OUI.
Longueuil, Quebec native and dual-language goaltender Francis Marotte has five career shutouts and three this season, tied for third all-time at RMU with Eric Levine '13. The all-time record is eight, held by 2016 graduate Terry Shafer. (2nd, Dalton Izyk '17, 6). The single-season shutout record is 4 (Levine '12-13, Shafer '15-16).

WE MUSTN'T KEEP OUR AUDIENCE WAITING. 
The Colonials top line of Alex Tonge, Brady Ferguson and Timmy Moore have combined for 53 points in the last 9 games, dating back to the Colonials sweep of Mercyhurst (Dec. 16 & 17). The trio are ranked 1st, 2nd and 8th in the NCAA in scoring since then. Ferguson has 4 goals and 16 assists in that span, averaging 2.22 points per game. Tonge has 7 goals and 11 assists for 2.00 p/pg. Moore has 7 goals & 8 assists.

PEOPLE JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS INVOLVED IN THIS. THIS IS AN ART-FORM!
Ferguson & Tonge lead the Colonials and Atlantic Hockey in power play scoring with 14 of their respective points coming on the man advantage (Ferguson 5-9-14, Tonge 4-10-14). RMU's 27 power play goals are tied for 2nd in Atlantic Hockey & tenth in the NCAA.

WHY WOULD ANYBODY STEAL A GROUNDHOG?
Ferguson & Lynch have each been quick to steal the puck away on the penalty kill, each scoring a pair of shorthanded goals this season. Ferguson is second in career shorthanded goals among all active players with 7.

I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE SO VERSATILE.
Junior defenseman Eric Israel (56, 2.15/pg) and senior defenseman Alex Bontje (55, 2.12/pg) are second and third in blocks in Atlantic Hockey, ranked 9th and 13th in the NCAA.

I'M BETTING HE'S GOING TO SWERVE FIRST.
Through 63 games, Luke Lynch has nearly matched the scoring rate of his older brother, RMU'S all-time scoring leader Zac Lynch '16.
        
        ZAC - Freshman Season (34 GP, 5G-9A-14P)  Through 63 career games (63 GP, 19G-26A-45P)
        LUKE - Freshman Season (37 GP, 9G-10A-19P) Through 63 career games (63 GP, 21G-21A-42P)

IF YOU GOTTA SHOOT, AIM HIGH. I DON'T WANNA HIT THE GROUNDHOG.
Lynch is 41st in the NCAA & 7th in Atlantic Hockey in shooting percentage at .194 (12 goals, 62 shots on goal).

DON'T DRIVE ANGRY. DON'T DRIVE ANGRY!
The Colonials will try to avoid doing just that this weekend. RMU has a 4-9-0 road record this season, splitting last weekend's series with AIC, dropping the Friday contest but winning Saturday, ensuring a happier bus ride home to Pennsylvania.

I LIKE TO SAY A PRAYER AND DRINK TO WORLD PEACE.
Robert Morris is the least penalized team in Atlantic Hockey, with just 128 penalties for 267 minutes this season, with the 11th lowest average of penalty minutes per game in college hockey at 10.27 a contest.

I'M A GOD. I'M NOT *THE* GOD, I DON'T THINK. 
Brady Ferguson is the NCAA's active career scoring leader. After posting the fifth-highest scoring NCAA men's hockey season in 2016-17 with 58 points, Ferguson is the lone returner out of that Top 5. The Carrollton, Texas native has 12 goals and 24 assists for 36 points in 26 games this season.

        NCAA Men's Hockey Active Career Points Leaders:
        Brady Ferguson, Robert Morris – 154
        Dylan Sikura, Northeastern (CHI) – 127 
        Jake Evans, Notre Dame (MTL) – 123
        Dylan Gambrell, Denver (SJS) – 121
        Adam Gaudette, Northeastern (VAN) – 121

I'VE GOT FRIENDS WHO LIVE AND DIE BY THE ACTUARIAL TABLES
Brady Ferguson reached a milestone on Saturday, January 20 with his 60th career goal, becoming the fifth player in RMU history to reach the 60 career goal mark.

        RMU All-Time Goals Leaders
        1. Cody Wydo, 85 - 2011-15
        2. Zac Lynch, 67 - 2012-16
        3. Greg Gibson, 66 - 2012-16
        4. Chris Margott, 64 - 2005-09
        5. Brady Ferguson, 60 - 2014-18

I DID THE WHISTLING BELLY-BUTTON TRICK AT THE HIGH SCHOOL TALENT SHOW? BING!
Brady Ferguson shattered the all-time assists record with his 92nd assist, coming on Saturday, January 27, surpassing Nathan Longpre '11 who held the mark. Current record is now 94.

GOOD SAVE!
Sophomore goaltender Francis Marotte has been named to the Mike Richter Award watch list, the award presented yearly to the player deemed the best goaltender in men's Division I college hockey.

MY YEARS ARE NOT ADVANCING AS FAST AS YOU MIGHT THINK
The Colonials played their 500th game as a program on Saturday, January 20 at home vs. Bentley, marking the 500th career game as a head coach for Derek Schooley. Robert Morris holds a 221-217-60 record all-time in its first 500 games.

HE'S THE FASTEST JACK IN JEFFERSON COUNTY!
More like Allegheny and Washington Counties. The Colonials roster contains three players who call Pittsburgh home: Jacob Coleman (Moon Township), Alex Dagnal (McMurray) and Luke Lynch (Shaler).

FOR YOUR INFORMATION, HAIRDO, THERE IS A MAJOR NETWORK INTERESTED IN ME.
A trio of Colonials were invited to NHL development camps in the summer of 2017. Top college free-agent prospect Brady Ferguson lit up the final day of Pittsburgh Penguins camp with five goals in two end-of-camp three-on-three tournament games. Forward Alex Tonge attended Winnipeg Jets camp and goaltender Francis Marotte participated in Vancouver Canucks camp.


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Players Mentioned

Dalton Izyk

#31 Dalton Izyk

G
5' 11"
Senior
Sr.
Alex Bontje

#2 Alex Bontje

D
6' 0"
Senior
Sr.
Jacob Coleman

#27 Jacob Coleman

F
5' 7"
Sophomore
So.
Alex Dagnal

#33 Alex Dagnal

F
6' 0"
Senior
Sr.
Brady Ferguson

#12 Brady Ferguson

F
6' 0"
Senior
Sr.
Eric Israel

#8 Eric Israel

D
5' 9"
Junior
Jr.
Michael Louria

#7 Michael Louria

F
5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
R-Jr.
Luke Lynch

#28 Luke Lynch

F
5' 11"
Sophomore
So.
Daniel Mantenuto

#9 Daniel Mantenuto

F
5' 9"
Sophomore
So.
Francis Marotte

#1 Francis Marotte

G
6' 1"
Sophomore
So.

Players Mentioned

Dalton Izyk

#31 Dalton Izyk

5' 11"
Senior
Sr.
G
Alex Bontje

#2 Alex Bontje

6' 0"
Senior
Sr.
D
Jacob Coleman

#27 Jacob Coleman

5' 7"
Sophomore
So.
F
Alex Dagnal

#33 Alex Dagnal

6' 0"
Senior
Sr.
F
Brady Ferguson

#12 Brady Ferguson

6' 0"
Senior
Sr.
F
Eric Israel

#8 Eric Israel

5' 9"
Junior
Jr.
D
Michael Louria

#7 Michael Louria

5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
R-Jr.
F
Luke Lynch

#28 Luke Lynch

5' 11"
Sophomore
So.
F
Daniel Mantenuto

#9 Daniel Mantenuto

5' 9"
Sophomore
So.
F
Francis Marotte

#1 Francis Marotte

6' 1"
Sophomore
So.
G