MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The RMU men's hockey team opens Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) play this weekend with a home-and-home series against Niagara. The Colonials' home opener is set for Friday, October 31 at 7:00 PM at Clearview Arena, followed by the series finale in Niagara Falls, N.Y. on Saturday, November 1 at 6:00 PM. Both games will stream live on FloHockey, with Tim Benz and Mike Prisuta on the call Friday night.
 
RMU LATELY
RMU (0-3-1, 0-0-0 AHA) enters the weekend after a competitive road series at Notre Dame. The Colonials dropped the opener, 6-3, before earning a 2-2 tie in the finale — highlighted by a shootout winner from captain Cameron Garvey. Freshman center Bruce McDonald paced RMU offensively with three assists across the series, while junior forward George Krotiris added a goal and an assist. In the second game, rookie goaltender Charlie Schenkel turned aside 23 shots, including five in overtime, to help RMU secure the draw.
 
Through four games, McDonald leads the Colonials in assists (4) and points (4), with junior Jackson Reineke owning a team-best two goals. On the back end, Greg Japchen leads the team with a +1 rating, while freshman John Babcock has posted a team-high 10 blocked shots.
 
HOME OPENER HISTORY
As the program celebrates its 20th season, RMU boasts a 12-6-1 all-time record in home openers. Last year, the Colonials downed Miami (Ohio), 4-1, in their first game back at Clearview Arena. Garvey led the way with three assists, while captain Tanner Klimpke collected two helpers. Michael Craig netted his first career goal, and goaltender Croix Kochendorfer recorded his first career assist.
 
ALL-TIME VS. NIAGARA
RMU and Niagara share one of the program's longest-standing rivalries. The Colonials have met the Purple Eagles 82 times, the most of any opponent in team history, and hold an all-time mark of 32-39-11.
 
Last season, RMU went 1-2-1 against Niagara, with two of those contests requiring overtime and one ending in a shootout victory for the Colonials.
 
Several RMU veterans have found consistent success against Niagara in recent years. Craig has produced two goals and four assists over the last two seasons, while Michael Felsing has one goal and three assists. Garvey has scored three goals in that span, Krotiris has added two goals and an assist, and Gabriel Lunn has contributed one goal and two assists.
 
SCOUTING THE PURPLE EAGLES
Niagara (3-2-0, 0-0-0 AHA) opened the year with three straight wins against St. Lawrence and Bowling Green before being swept on the road by Union.
 
Freshman forward Maxim Muranov leads the Purple Eagles in goals (4) and points (5), while senior defenseman Mitchell Becker has posted a team-best four assists. Graduate blueliner Lane Brockhoff carries a +5 rating, and junior Ross Roloson leads the team with 13 blocked shots. On special teams, Marshall Finnie and Declan McDonnell each have two power-play goals.
 
Between the pipes, sophomore Deivs Rolovs has started four games, going 3-1-0 with a 1.76 goals-against average, a .946 save percentage, and one shutout. As a team, Niagara is averaging 2.8 goals per game while allowing 2.6, and their special teams are operating at a 21.1% power-play and 83.3% penalty-kill efficiency.
 
UP NEXT
RMU returns to non-conference action next weekend, hosting LIU for a two-game set at Clearview Arena. The series opens on Friday, November 7 at 7:00 PM, with the finale on Saturday, November 8 at 7:00 PM.
 
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