Men's Hockey | 6/5/2019 9:28:00 PM
PITTSBURGH -- With the Newfoundland Growlers' 4-3 victory over the Toledo Walleye on Tuesday night, former Robert Morris University men's hockey standouts Brady Ferguson and Eric Levine became the first program alums to claim the Kelly Cup, the ECHL's postseason prize.
This is the first North American pro championship won by former Colonials. Ferguson, who is RMU's all-time leading scorer, and Levine made history in a different way as well, as the Growlers are the first Canadian team to hoist the Kelly Cup, in addition to being the first expansion team to go all the way in the ECHL playoffs since 1990.
Ferguson (Class of 2018) scored a pair of goals in Newfoundland's Kelly Cup Final Game 4 victory last Friday that put the Growlers in the driver's seat in the best-of-seven series. The native of Texas ranked fifth in the entire ECHL playoffs with 24 points (7g, 17a) in his first 23 pro postseason games.
After compiling 167 points at RMU, Ferguson netted 58 points (30g, 28a) in his first full regular season at the ECHL level; he also skated in eight games for the American Hockey League's Toronto Marlies, for whom he made his pro debut last spring.
As for Levine (Class of 2013), his route to the title was more itinerant. An Illinois-born goaltender, Levine has suited up for 16 professional teams (counting loan stints) since graduating from RMU six years ago.
The Growlers were Levine's fourth team this year, as he caught on as a backup at midseason. Levine is best known around these parts for his 99 combined saves in the 2012 Three Rivers Classic, including 51 against No. 5 Miami in the title game at then-CONSOL Energy Center.
Ferguson and Levine were two of 18 former Colonials to play pro hockey in 2018-19, from the AHL, ECHL and SPHL in North America to several leagues across Europe. All told, 70 program alums have made the
jump to the next level after developing their games at Robert Morris, counting
Alex Tonge and
Michael Louria from the graduating Class of 2019.
RMU completed its 15th NCAA season in March, reaching the Atlantic Hockey semifinal round for a league-record-tying sixth consecutive year. Under head coach
Derek Schooley, the Colonials have collected three conference championships, an NCAA bid and four other tournament trophies. RMU consistently ranks among the top academic teams in the nation, routinely placing 20-plus players on the AHA's All-Academic Team.
For more information on Pittsburgh's only Division I men's hockey team, go to RMUColonials.com, or check out our official accounts on
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