MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The RMU men's hockey team is set to face North Dakota in a two-game non-conference series this weekend at Ralph Engelstad Arena. Game one is scheduled for Friday, November 22, at 8:00 PM ET, with the second game taking place on Saturday, November 23, at 7:00 PM ET. Fans can catch the action live on Midco Sports/NCHC.tv or tune into the Fighting Hawks Radio Network.
 
RMU LATELY
RMU (4-3-2, 1-3-1 #AHA) enters the series looking to rebound after a challenging weekend at Sacred Heart, where they dropped both games. Despite strong starts in each matchup, the Colonials were unable to hold off the Pioneers in the final periods. In Friday's 4-2 loss, Michael Felsing and Patrick Johnson found the net, with Johnson continuing his recent surge, recording his fifth point in four games. Saturday's 6-3 defeat featured contributions from George Krotiris, who netted his first goal of the season on the power play while Walter Zacher put in his seventh of the season. Tanner Klimpke tallied both a goal and an assist. Klimpke's performance marked his sixth career multipoint game. Junior defenseman Greg Japchen also made his season debut at Sacred Heart, registering his first assist with the team in Saturday's contest.
 
AHA TOP PERFORMERS

• Offensively, RMU leads Atlantic Hockey America in scoring, averaging 3.44 goals per game.
• Sophomore forward Walter Zacher ranks second in the league with seven goals, including a hat trick earlier this season. He is currently riding a three-game point streak (3g, 1a).
• Captain Michael Craig has been a key playmaker, with seven assists placing him among the AHA's top four.
• Freshman goaltender Croix Kochendorfer has also made a strong impact, boasting a 2.27 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage, both among the top three in the league.

 
ALL-TIME VS. NORTH DAKOTA
This series marks just the second time RMU has faced North Dakota, with the first meeting occurring in 2011. The Colonials will aim to secure their first-ever win against the Fighting Hawks.
 
SCOUTING NORTH DAKOTA
North Dakota (5-6-0, 2-2-0 #NCHC) has begun their season with nine of their 11 games against ranked opponents. The Fighting Hawks last week were swept for the first time this season, dropping two close results to No. 1 Denver. Offensively, Dylan James leads the team with five goals, while Owen McLaughlin and Jake Livanavage each have seven assists. Defensively, Caleb MacDonald anchors the blue line with a team-high 23 blocked shots. Between the pipes, graduate goaltender T.J. Semptimphelter has been the primary starter, recording five wins this season.
 
UP NEXT
Following this series, RMU will return home for conference action, hosting AIC on November 29-30 at Clearview Arena. Both games are set for a 5:00 PM puck drop.