MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The RMU men's hockey team returns to action following the holiday break with a home-and-home Atlantic Hockey America series against conference rival Sacred Heart. The matchup opens on the road in Fairfield, Conn. on Tuesday, December 30 at 4:00 PM, before shifting to Moon Township as the Colonials host the Pioneers on Saturday, January 3 at 4:00 PM inside Clearview Arena.
 
Both games will stream live on FloHockey, while Saturday's contest will also air on SportsNet Pittsburgh with Tim Benz on play-by-play and Mike Prisuta serving as analyst.
 
LAST TIME OUT
RMU last took the ice three weeks ago, splitting a two-game series at Air Force. The Falcons claimed the opener by a 4-1 margin, but the Colonials responded emphatically in the finale with a 6-3 victory. That win marked a milestone moment for the program, as it represented the 300th victory in RMU men's hockey history, all under the direction of head coach Derek Schooley.
 
Offensively, Jackson Reineke led the way during the series with two goals. Captain Cameron Garvey added one goal and two assists, while Ryan Taylor continued his strong campaign with a goal and an assist. Captain Michael Craig chipped in two helpers, and defenseman John Babcock netted the first goal of his collegiate career in game two. Between the pipes, freshman Charlie Schenkel was sharp in Saturday's win, stopping 32 shots.
 
AT THE HALFWAY POINT
Through 16 games this season, Taylor leads the Colonials in scoring with four goals and seven assists for 11 points. Reineke paces the team in goals with six, while freshman Bruce McDonald has emerged as a key playmaker, leading RMU with eight assists. Defensively, Babcock has been a steady presence, blocking a team-high 30 shots.
 
RMU enters the week with a 4-10-2 overall record and a 4-3-1 mark in AHA play, currently sitting seventh in the conference standings. However, the Colonials have played the fewest league games to date, with just eight conference contests completed. All other AHA programs have played between nine and 13 games, and a sweep this week could propel RMU as high as fourth in the standings.
 
POINT STREAK
Craig has closed out the 2025 calendar year on a strong note, carrying a four-game point streak into the matchup with Sacred Heart. Over that stretch, the senior captain has totaled two goals and three assists. On the season, Craig owns three goals and five assists for eight points, while his career totals now stand at eight goals, 32 assists, and 40 points.
 
ALL-TIME VS. SACRED HEART
Historically, RMU has found success against Sacred Heart, owning a 23-9-1 all-time record in the series. However, momentum has swung in recent years, as the Pioneers have won the last eight meetings between the two programs. Last season, Tanner Klimpke recorded one goal and one assist against SHU, while George Krotiris, Michael Felsing, and Patrick Johnson also found the back of the net during the series.
 
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
Sacred Heart enters the week with a 7-7-2 overall record and a 4-4-2 mark in conference play, currently positioned sixth in the AHA standings—just ahead of the Colonials. Like RMU, the Pioneers will be returning to action for the first time in three weeks after earning two of six points in a series against Army.
 
Senior forward Felix Trudeau has been the driving force offensively for SHU, leading the team with 15 goals and 18 points through 16 games. Fellow senior Marcus Joughin tops the Pioneers in assists with 10. On the blue line, sophomore Aiden VanRooyan has blocked a team-high 42 shots. In goal, sophomore Ajeet Gundarah has served as the primary netminder, starting 12 games and posting six wins, one shutout, and a .918 save percentage.
 
As a team, Sacred Heart averages 2.6 goals per game while allowing 2.5. The Pioneers' power play operates at a 15.9% clip, while their penalty kill sits at 83.9%. In the faceoff circle, SHU holds a 45.3% win percentage.
 
UP NEXT
Following the home-and-home series, RMU will hit the road for a conference matchup at RIT. The series opens on Friday, January 9 at 7:00 PM, with the finale scheduled for Saturday, January 10 at 5:00 PM.
 
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