MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – RMU opened Atlantic Hockey America play on a high note, earning a 4-2 victory over Niagara in its home opener Friday night at Clearview Arena. The Colonials move to 1-3-1 overall and 1-0-0 in conference play to start the 2025-26 campaign.
 
FIRST PERIOD
The Colonials wasted no time setting the tone. Just three minutes in, freshman Bruce McDonald wrapped around the net and found John Babcock at the point, whose shot was redirected by Jackson Reineke for his third goal of the season.
 
Neither team would add to the scoreboard through the rest of the frame, with RMU outshooting the Purple Eagles 11-8 after 20 minutes.
 
SECOND PERIOD
Niagara pulled even four minutes into the second period as Marshall Finnie scored to make it 1-1.
 
RMU answered late in the frame. With five minutes remaining, Cameron Garvey followed up his own rebound with a diving effort to restore the Colonial lead. Dario Beljo and Ryan Taylor assisted on the go-ahead goal.
 
The Purple Eagles outshot RMU 9-7 in the period but were held scoreless on two power-play opportunities.
 
THIRD PERIOD
Halfway through the final frame, Niagara once again tied things up when Declan McDonnell scored on the power play.
 
The Colonials responded quickly. Tanner Klimpke buried his first goal of the season off assists from Gabriel Lunn and Garvey to give RMU a 3-2 edge.
 
With a minute to play, Niagara pulled its goalie for the extra attacker, but Klimpke struck again with an empty-net goal — assisted by Trent Wilson — to secure the 4-2 victory.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• RMU outshot Niagara, 30-29, with Klimpke leading the team with five shots on goal.
• Special teams: Niagara went 1-for-3 on the power play, while RMU finished 0-for-1.
• The Colonials registered 18 blocks compared to Niagara's 15. John Babcock led the way with four, moving his season total to 14 — tops on the team.
• In the faceoff circle, McDonald won a team-high nine draws, and Wilson posted a 77.8% win rate.
• Lunn and Beljo each tallied their first assists of the season.

 
MULTIPOINT EFFORTS
Captains Klimpke and Garvey combined for four points in the win. Klimpke notched his 12th career multipoint effort and third, two-goal game, while Garvey's goal and assist marked his eighth career multipoint performance.
 
FIRST CAREER WIN
Freshman goaltender Charlie Schenkel earned his first career victory in net. The Toronto native stopped 27 of 29 shots for a .931 save percentage and now has 129 saves on the season.
 
UP NEXT
The Colonials will complete their home-and-home series with Niagara on Saturday, November 1. Puck drop is set for 6:00 PM.
 
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