Moon Township, Pa. – The RMU women's hockey program announced Friday the official broadcast team for all home and playoff games for the 2023-24 season.
RMU Athletics welcomes back the team's original announcers when the programs started in the early 2000's. The radio duo will be Gero von Dehn on play-by-play and Bob Kennedy on color for the 17th official season for the Colonials.
For the men's hockey team's first season, von Dehn was behind the mic in 2004. When the women's team was added the following year in 2005, he did play-by-play for both clubs until 2013. With the addition of Tim Benz and Mike Prisuta, von Dehn exclusively became the play-by-play voice of the women's team. Kennedy joined the Colonials broadcast booth with von Dehn in 2005, announcing for both teams, and then continued with his broadcast partner, staying on the women's side, up until 2021. Together, they announced for 16 consecutive years.
"I am thrilled to have Gero and Bob back on the call of RMU women's hockey games," said head coach
Logan Bittle. "They are two of the best in the business, and have a long history calling our games. They called our first ever championship, and many other incredible games. Both of them take pride in their craft and provide a great experience for those watching at home. We're extremely happy to have both Gero and Bob back as members of the RMU Women's Hockey family."
Behind the mic since the start of the programs, von Dehn introduced Derek Schooley as the men's head coach at a press conference in 2004. Not only on the mic for Colonials hockey, von Dehn has been the broadcaster for the RMU men's and women's lacrosse teams since 2014. He also fills in for other sports when needed. During his career, he's provided in-game updates, feature stories and post-game interviews for Fox Sports and ESPN since 2000, covering all local sports in the Pittsburgh area. Over the summer, von Dehn lives in Alaska as the play-by-play announcer for the Alaska Goldpanners in the Alaskan Baseball League. It is one of the most historic summer-league baseball organizations with over 240 MLB players spending parts of their career there.
"Both programs have been so successful," said von Dehn. "This is especially great for the alums to see their legacy continue to grow. It's a thrill to be back with Bob. This is one of my favorite jobs in the world. I'm ecstatic for Head Coach
Logan Bittle to be back, as he's one of the most highly respected coaches by his past and present players."
On color, Colonials women's hockey welcomes back a former coach and player of the sport, Bob Kennedy. In his playing days from 1986-1992, Kennedy played for several minor-league hockey teams, including the Baltimore Skipjacks in the AHL and the Johnstown Chiefs, Nashville Knights and Cincinnati Cyclones in the ECHL. Kennedy has coached a few high school and travel hockey teams in the area from 1994 to 2020, with stints as the bench boss at West Allegheny, Bethel Park, Pine-Richland and Central Catholic High School. More recently he was an Assistant Coach for the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 16U squad, and for a U13 team in the South Hills Amateur Hockey Association.
"There's nothing more exciting than college hockey," said Kennedy. "Seeing all the action and being around the University is special. I'm excited to be back in that environment and to see all my old acquaintances."
RMU will open the home portion of its 2023-23 campaign with a doubleheader at Clearview Arena Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, at the RMU Island Sports Center on Neville Island. The women will host Saint Anselm, while the men will welcome Bowling Green. Season tickets for the 2023-24 season are on sale now and
can be purchased by using the following link. There are a limited number of season tickets available, so make sure to purchase yours today.
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