MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The RMU men's hockey team drops the puck on the 2025-26 campaign this week with a road test, heading to Ann Arbor for a two-game non-conference series at nationally ranked Michigan. The series opens Thursday, October 16 at 7:00 PM, followed by the finale Friday, October 17 at 7:00 PM. Both contests will be played at Yost Ice Arena and stream live on Big Ten Plus.
COLONIAL LEADERS RETURN
The Colonials enter the new season bolstered by the largest junior class in the NCAA — a group of 11 that includes all three of the team's captains:
Tanner Klimpke,
Cameron Garvey, and
Michael Craig.
Klimpke has been one of RMU's top offensive producers over the past two seasons, compiling 25 goals and 24 assists for 49 points. Garvey has also been a steady contributor up front, recording 18 goals and 18 assists for 36 points, including the overtime game-winner at Bentley in the 2024 AHA First Round. On the back end, Craig has anchored the defense since arriving in Moon Township, missing just one game in two seasons while registering five goals and 29 assists for 34 points.
On the younger side, defenseman
Dominic Elliott returns after earning AHA All-Rookie Team honors last season, totaling six goals, 13 assists, and 19 points. Pittsburgh native
Michael Felsing also looks to build on a strong freshman campaign that saw him post seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points.
Between the pipes, sophomore
Croix Kochendorfer returns after serving as the primary starter a year ago, collecting seven wins with a .906 save percentage. He's joined this season by freshman
Charlie Schenkel — a Toronto native who attended the Pittsburgh Penguins' 2024 NHL Development Camp — and
Lucas Massie, a transfer from Union College.
NEW FACES IN THE MIX
RMU strengthened its roster with five transfers, adding both skill and experience.
Dario Beljo arrives from AIC after producing 13 goals and 13 assists for 26 points in 46 games, while senior
Ryan Taylor joins following three years at Clarkson where he totaled 44 points.
Defensively,
Rasmus Larsson, a 2023 New York Rangers draft pick, brings an elite pedigree to the Colonials' blue line.
Max Wattvil, a transfer from Merrimack, adds further depth after appearing in 35 games across his first two collegiate seasons.
The Colonials also welcomed six freshmen to the program: forwards
Julian Beaumont,
Bruce McDonald,
Zeke Nicholson,
Luca Primerano, defenseman
John Babcock, and goaltender
Charlie Schenkel.
ALL-TIME VS. MICHIGAN
This marks just the second all-time meeting between RMU and Michigan. The previous series came in 2015, when the teams split in Ann Arbor — Michigan took the opener 5-3 before RMU responded with a 4-0 shutout win over the then-No. 10 Wolverines.
SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES
Michigan (4-0-0) enters the weekend unbeaten and ranked No. 3/4 nationally. The Wolverines opened the year with dominant sweeps over Mercyhurst (11-1, 7-0) and No. 7 Providence (5-1, 3-1).
Sophomore forward Will Horcoff leads the team with five goals, including three on the power play, while fellow sophomore Michael Hage tops the roster in points and assists (4-5—9). Defenseman Asher Barnett holds a team-best +7 rating, and Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen leads the team with seven blocked shots.
In goal, freshman Jack Ivankovic has started all four games, posting a perfect 4-0-0 record with one shutout, a .958 save percentage, and a 0.75 goals-against average.
Last season, Michigan finished 18-15-3 overall and 12-10-2 in Big Ten play. The Wolverines' season ended in the Big Ten Quarterfinals against No. 15 Penn State, who later advanced to the Frozen Four.
COMMON OPPONENTS
Both RMU and Michigan will face Mercyhurst and Notre Dame this season.
UP NEXT
RMU continues its early-season road swing next week with another non-conference test, traveling to Notre Dame for a two-game series. The opener is set for Friday, October 24 at 7:00 PM, followed by the finale Saturday, October 25 at 6:00 PM.
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