Men's Hockey | 3/26/2024 1:00:00 PM
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Five graduates of the RMU men's hockey program officially signed ECHL contracts. Defensemen
Cade Townend and
Mitch Andres, goaltenders
Chad Veltri and
Francis Boisvert along with forward
Rylee St. Onge all signed professional contracts with an ECHL organization.
From Carleton Place, Ontario, blue liner
Cade Townend signed with the Tulsa Oilers. The Oilers are the ECHL affiliate to the NHL's Anaheim Ducks and AHL's San Diego Gulls.
Over his collegiate career, Townend gathered 18 goals, 34 assists and 52 points in 165 career games. His games played total ranks third all-time in Atlantic Hockey conference history. Across his final season of college hockey, he led RMU defensemen in points, posting four goals and 10 assists.
A native of Brainerd, Minn.,
Mitch Andres signed with the Fort Wayne Komets. The Komets are the ECHL affiliate to the NHL's Edmonton Oilers and AHL's Bakersfield Condors.
Andres appeared in 116 games over his five years of college hockey, producing one goal and 10 assists. In the 2023-24 campaign, he eclipsed 100 career blocks. His 84 blocked shots this past season currently ranks second in the AHA.
From Pittsburgh, Pa., Veltri also signed his first professional contract with the Fort Wayne Komets.
Playing his final year of college hockey in his hometown, Veltri climbed the record books in AHA history. He finished the season as the all-time leader in games played (130) and ranks second in career saves with 3,611. Veltri's 49 career wins place fifth in conference history. Over his postseason career, Veltri's 15 AHA playoff game appearances are tied fourth and his 485 saves are second in the AHA postseason record books.
Throughout the 2023-24 campaign, Veltri registered 1,054 saves and posted eight performances with 40+ saves. He gathered eight wins and one shutout in his graduate season.
From Blainville, Quebec, netminder
Francis Boisvert signed with the Orlando Solar Bears. The Solar Bears are the ECHL affiliate to the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning and AHL's Syracuse Crunch.
In net for the Colonials, Boisvert appeared in 13 games in the 2023-24 campaign, owning a 3-4-0 record and one shutout. Boisvert registered 50 saves in his shutout at AIC (1/26), becoming the fourth goalie in AHA history to earn a clean sheet with 50+ saves. Between the pipes, Boisvert held a .926 save percentage for RMU and was named Goaltender of the Week by the conference on one occasion.
At forward, RMU's captain
Rylee St. Onge entered professional hockey, signing a contract with the Rapid City Rush. The Rush are the ECHL affiliate to NHL's Calgary Flames.
Across his collegiate career, St. Onge dressed for 143 games in the NCAA. From St. Catharines, Ontario, St. Onge recorded 43 goals, 36 assists and 79 points. In the Colonials playoff win over Bentley (3/2), he scored one goal and one assist in a 4-3 overtime victory. This past season, he finished second on the team in goals (11) and reached 20 points in a season for the second time in his career.
Head coach
Derek Schooley completed his 18
th season at the helm of RMU men's hockey. The Colonials returned to the ice as members of the Atlantic Hockey conference, earning the only win as the away team in the First Round of the 2024 AHA Playoff Tournament.
Under Schooley's leadership since 2004, the program has developed more than 80 student-athletes to play hockey professionally.
Follow The Colonials: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn | RMU Athletics Gameday App
