MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The RMU men's hockey team will finish its 2024 slate with a two-game conference series at Canisius. The first game is scheduled for Saturday, December 14, at 1:00 PM, followed by the series finale on Sunday, December 15, at 4:00 PM. Both games will take place in Buffalo, N.Y., and stream live on FloHockey.
RMU LATELY
RMU (6-7-2, 3-5-2 #AHA) comes into the series after splitting a two-game set at RIT. In the opener, the Colonials delivered a 7-3 victory, their first win against the Tigers since 2021. Sophomore forward
Tanner Klimpke led the charge with a career-high four points (1g, 3a) and added two more points (1g, 1a) in the second game, earning AHA Forward of the Week honors. Eleven Colonials tallied points in the win, including a three-point effort from
Walter Zacher (2g, 1a). Freshman goaltender
Croix Kochendorfer earned the victory with 28 saves.
The series finale saw RMU fall 4-3 in overtime despite a multipoint performance from Klimpke (1g, 1a) and contributions from forwards
Cameron Garvey (1g, 1a) and
Michael Felsing (2a). Kochendorfer made 23 saves in the close contest.
CAPTAIN CRAIG
Sophomore defenseman
Michael Craig continues to anchor the Colonials both offensively and defensively. Averaging a point per game, his 15 points (3g, 12a) rank seventh in the conference, and his 12 assists are fourth-best. Craig's strong play extends beyond scoring, as he ranks third on the team with a +6 rating and has blocked 18 shots. He logs significant minutes on both special teams' units.
TOP LINE TAKES CHARGE
The top line of Klimpke, Garvey, and Zacher has been the heartbeat of RMU's offense, combining for 38 points in 15 games. Zacher's nine goals are second-most in the conference, while Klimpke and Zacher rank in the top seven in points across the AHA. Garvey's balanced play has added key scoring depth with four goals and six assists.
ALL-TIME AGAINST CANISIUS
RMU holds a 22-14-4 all-time record against Canisius, dating back to the Colonials' inaugural season. When playing the Golden Griffins, RMU averages 3.78 goals per game. At home, RMU is 12-5-1 against Canisius, while on the road in Buffalo, the Colonials have an 8-9-3 record.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GRIFFINS
Canisius (5-9-2, 5-3-2 #AHA) enters the series after a loss and a shootout victory over Sacred Heart. Forward Matteo Giampa leads the team in goals (6), assists (10), and points (16). Defensively, Jack Budd has a team-high 31 blocked shots. Between the pipes, sophomore Ethan Robertson has earned four wins in 11 starts, including one shutout, while posting a .914 save percentage.
UP NEXT
Following the series at Canisius, RMU will take a three-week break before returning to action in the ASU Desert Classic. The Colonials will face tournament host Arizona State on Friday, January 3, at 9:00 PM ET, followed by a matchup with either UMass or Cornell on Saturday, January 4, at 5:30 PM ET.
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