ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan scored late to pull ahead and defeat RMU, 4-2, in Thursday night's season opener. The Colonials begin the 2025-26 campaign with a 0-1-0 record.
 
FIRST PERIOD
RMU faced early adversity, going shorthanded three times in the opening frame. The penalty kill unit held strong, successfully turning away all three Wolverine power plays.
 
Despite spending much of the period on the kill, the Colonials limited damage but were outshot 13-1 through the first 20 minutes.
 
SECOND PERIOD
Early in the middle frame, RMU earned its first power play of the night and made the most of the momentum swing.
 
As Michigan attempted to clear the zone, captain Tanner Klimpke kept the puck in at the blue line and found Michael Felsing on the left side, who ripped home RMU's first goal of the season just after time expired on the man advantage.
 
Michigan responded with a goal at 7:35 of the second to even the score, but the Colonials quickly answered back.
 
Off the rush, Braden Rourke fed Patrick Johnson cutting toward the net, and Luca Primerano finished the play with a chop-in for his first collegiate goal, restoring RMU's lead.
 
The Wolverines struck again with four minutes left in the period, sending the teams to intermission tied, 2-2.
 
THIRD PERIOD
In the final frame, Adam Valentini scored his second of the game to give Michigan its first lead of the night.
 
RMU pulled its goalie late in search of the equalizer, but Michigan sealed the win with an empty-net goal to make it 4-2.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Michigan outshot RMU, 39-16. Trent Wilson led the Colonials with three shots on goal.
• RMU's fourth line of Luca Primerano, Patrick Johnson, Braden Rourke, and defenseman Michael Craig each posted a team-best +1 rating.
• Freshman Bruce McDonald went 10-for-16 (62.5%) in the faceoff circle.
• Defensively, Dominic Elliott and Bruce McDonald each blocked a team-high three shots.
• Both teams finished 0-for-3 on the power play.
• Freshman goaltender Charlie Schenkel made 35 saves in his collegiate debut.

 
COLONIAL FIRSTS
RMU freshmen Luca Primerano, Bruce McDonald, John Babcock, and Charlie Schenkel all made their collegiate debuts, with Primerano recording his first career goal.
 
Transfers Dario Beljo, Ryan Taylor, Rasmus Larsson, and Max Wattvil also made their first appearances in an RMU sweater.
 
UP NEXT
RMU wraps up its opening series against Michigan on Friday, October 17. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM at Yost Ice Arena.
 
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