Moon Township, Pa. – In the midst of the 2023-24 campaign, head coach
Logan Bittle and his staff recruited five student-athletes for the following season.
Bringing in players from Pittsburgh, Canada and across seas, the program welcomes four defensemen and one forward.
Adding more depth and talent to the roster, the Colonials, while focused on the current season in the College Hockey America conference, are prepared for the upcoming campaign.
Growing up in Cannonsburg, Pa., Mya Kearns joins her hometown team after spending five seasons developing with the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite teams. She'll rejoin current RMU players
Kaitlyn Schooley and
Liviya Rubin who also played with her at Pens Elite.
Playing on defense, Kearns started on the Pens Elite 14U squad in the 2019-20 season. After two seasons at that level, she moved up to the 16U roster for two seasons and is now currently a member of the 19U team.
"I picked RMU to pursue a great education and continue to play the game I love," said Kearns. "I enjoy the welcoming atmosphere and the homely feeling the school gives me."
From up north, defenseman Shayne Desjardins will join the roster next season. Born in Newmarket, Ontario, Desjardins will enter Division I hockey after playing three years with the Whitby Wolves.
So far this season, she's collected one goal and seven assists in 15 games.
"RMU is a place that provided me with an immediate sense of reverence and passion," said Desjardins. "From the first day I met RMU's coaching staff, I knew there was no other choice. Being greeted with coaches who show me they genuinely care about me and my journey is what makes the difference. Logan, Liam and Jordan welcomed me graciously to "the Moon" and I couldn't be happier."
Continuing on the blue line, RMU signed Mya Farr out of Belmont, Ontario.
Competing in the OWHL U22 league, Farr is the captain of her squad. Across the past two years, she's appeared in 49 games, collecting three goals and eight assists, totaling 11 points.
"Choosing a school to pursue your education and hockey career is a huge decision," stated Farr. "When I visited RMU it just felt like home. I knew right away that the school and hockey program checked the boxes of what I was looking for. The values of a school are important to me and hearing what RMU stood for helped drive my decision. The fundamentals followed by the coaching staff were exactly what I was looking for. Since making my decision to attend RMU many people have reached out and shared stories of people they knew who had or are attending RMU and it's been nothing but amazing comments. I am so happy and excited that I know I made the right choice to attend RMU."
And, to finish off the defensive unit, the Colonials welcome Emma Goding from Finspang, Sweden.
In program history, she's the first player from Sweden on the roster and fourth player to play at RMU that is from outside North America.
For the past two seasons, Goding has played in the Swedish Hockey League, skating for MoDo Hockey. During this season, she's appeared in 13 games producing one goal and one assist with a +8.
Recently, in 2022-23, she dressed for the Sweden U18 squad in the World Juniors and International Juniors tournament, registering three goals, three assists and six points across 13 games.
"I chose RMU because I felt that they offered the best opportunities for me as a hockey player to develop my skills," said Goding. "I'm really looking forward to joining the team and getting started."
Finally, at forward, Bittle brings in TJ Flores out of Milton, Ontario.
Featuring in the OWHL U22 league last season for the Burlington Barracudas, she appeared in 43 games. Her 18 goals and 30 helpers reached 48 points which was 11
th best in the league.
"I chose RMU because right when I stepped on to the campus, the atmosphere felt very welcoming," said Flores. "The hockey program has had great success in the past and I hope to contribute. I believe RMU is somewhere I am going to thrive on and off the ice."
Up next, RMU will welcome RIT for a two-game set in conference play. The first match will be played on Friday, November 17 at 7:00 p.m. and the following day at 3:00 p.m.
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