Men's Hockey | 12/11/2019 9:30:00 AM

PITTSBURGH -- The Robert Morris University men's hockey team is happy to announce five new recruits in the early National Letter of Intent signing period.
 
The Colonials welcome forwards Kyler Head, Gavin Gulash and Randy Hernández, defender David LaFrance and goaltender Noah West, all of whom signed NLIs this fall.
 
RMU head coach Derek Schooley gave kudos to assistants Michael Gershon and Ryan Cruthers for their collaborative efforts in securing the newest members of the program, all of whom will enroll for the fall of 2020.
 
"Michael and Ryan have put together a very strong recruiting class that we feel will continue to elevate Robert Morris hockey," Schooley said. "We are excited to welcome these five student-athletes to the Colonial Family as they each will bring a unique skill set to our locker room next season while being outstanding team members on and off the ice."
 
Head, 20, has increasingly excelled over three seasons in the Tier II junior-level North American Hockey League (NAHL) with the New Jersey Titans. After scoring 25 points in 61 games last season, the 6-foot-4 native of New York has erupted for over a point per game this fall, piling up 26 (12g, 14a) in 25 appearances.
 
"Kyler is a big power forward with a very good skill set," Cruthers said. "Over his junior career with the New Jersey Titans he has developed into a very physical point producer who we are extremely excited to have coming to Robert Morris."
 
Gulash, 20, is a teammate of Head's who has also spent the past three seasons with the NAHL's Titans. A New Jersey native who stands at 6-foot-2, Gulash scored 47 points last season across the regular season and playoffs, including 32 goals. He has nine points (3g, 6a) in 15 games this fall.
 
"Gavin is a proven natural goal-scorer with a very high compete level and a strong hockey IQ," Cruthers said. "With the New Jersey Titans we know we are getting another well coached player that will fit into our culture both on and off the ice while continuing to be a goal scoring threat in our league."
 
Hernández, 20, is in his second season with the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, where he has poured in 57 points (25g, 32a) in just 33 games this fall. The Miami native also played 61 games in the United States Hockey League and trained with the renowned U.S. National Team Development Program.
 
"Randy might be one of the fastest players in junior hockey," Gershon said. "His ability to make plays at high speeds makes him a dynamic, two-way scoring threat. Adding not only his skill and speed, but also his international experience playing for Team USA, will be invaluable."
 
LaFrance, 18, is in the midst of his second full season with the Rockland Nationals of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL), where he has 34 points (6g, 28a) in 87 total games. A 6-foot-1 native of Ottawa, LaFrance was 15 years old when he made his junior hockey debut with the CCHL's Gloucester Rangers.
 
"David is another smooth-skating, puck-moving defenseman," Gershon said. "He has been a mainstay for the Rockland blue line, starting as a 17-year-old. David has the ability to add points from the back end while being a solid defender and we are looking forward to his continuing his development as a Colonial."
 
West, 19, has excelled in two NAHL seasons for the Jamestown Rebels, following up a .911 save percentage and a 2.29 goals-against average in 24 appearances last season with a .920 SV% and a 2.64 GAA in 20 games this fall. The 6-foot-2 Indianan developed his skills with the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies and the Chicago Fury programs.
 
"Noah is good-sized goalie that moves well, challenges shooters and takes up a lot of net," Gershon said. "He is a calming presence in the net and doesn't let much get in his way of stopping pucks. Noah is also a leader off the ice and we look forward to having his presence and leadership in our locker room and on the ice."
 
In addition to these five new recruits, the Colonials recently added a defenseman for the second half of the current season: Pittsburgh native Tyler Love. Read more about him here. He'll be eligible for the Dec. 15 matchup against Army West Point.
 
Robert Morris (7-7-2, 7-4-2 Atlantic Hockey) wraps up the fall semester with a pair of games this weekend at the RMU Island Sports Center. As part of the program's inaugural Hockey Fights Cancer Weekend, the Colonials will take on Army at 5:05 p.m. Saturday and 1:05 p.m. Sunday.