MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The RMU men's hockey team returns home to Clearview Arena to open a six-game homestand, beginning with a two-game Atlantic Hockey America series against Holy Cross. Puck drop for the opener is set for Friday, January 23 at 7:00 PM, followed by the series finale on Saturday, January 24 at 7:00 PM. Both games will stream live on SportsNet Pittsburgh and FloHockey with Tim Benz and Mike Prisuta on the call.
 
RMU LATELY
RMU (5-15-2, 5-8-1 AHA) enters the weekend after earning four of six points in a road series at Army. The Colonials dropped the opener, 3-2, in overtime before rebounding with a 3-0 shutout victory in game two, backed by Lucas Massie's first career shutout.
 
Offensively, sophomore forward Braden Rourke led RMU over the weekend with three assists. Sophomore defenseman Dominic Elliott added a goal and an assist, while McKay Hayes recorded two assists in the series.
 
Through 22 games, junior captain Tanner Klimpke leads the Colonials in both goals (8) and points (14), while freshman forward Bruce McDonald has dished out a team-high eight assists. Junior forward Jackson Reineke has been effective on special teams, tallying three power-play goals. In goal, freshman Charlie Schenkel has made 18 starts this season, earning four wins with a .894 save percentage.
 
BLOCKING MACHINE
Freshman defenseman John Babcock has been a force in the defensive zone, blocking five or more shots in each of RMU's last five games. He totaled a career-high nine blocks in the series opener at Army and has now recorded 60 blocked shots on the season, the most by any player in the AHA.
 
ALL-TIME VS. HOLY CROSS
RMU has enjoyed success against Holy Cross since 2010, owning a 20-11-4 all-time record in the series. The Colonials have recorded four shutouts against the Crusaders and average 2.89 goals per game in the matchup.
 
Last season, the teams met in Worcester, Mass., where RMU fell 4-1 in the opener before responding with a 2-2 tie and a 1-0 shootout victory in the finale.
 
Individually, Klimpke averages a point per game against Holy Cross, registering three goals and one assist. Hayes and Trent Wilson have also contributed offensively, each recording two assists vs. the Crusaders.
 
SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS
Holy Cross (11-9-2, 9-3-2 AHA) enters the weekend after splitting a road series at Air Force, earning a 3-2 overtime win before falling 5-2 in the finale. The Crusaders currently sit third in the Atlantic Hockey America standings with 29 conference points.
 
Junior forward Jack Stockfish leads the team with 12 assists and 20 points. Sophomore forward Noah Eyre and junior defenseman Will Ellas each have 12 assists, while senior forward Jack Seymour owns a team-best +17 rating. Sophomore defenseman Owaln Johnston has been strong defensively, totaling 33 blocked shots.
 
In goal, Holy Cross has utilized a three-goalie rotation featuring Danick Leroux, Connor MacKenzie and Louden Hogg. Leroux owns a .902 save percentage with five wins, while MacKenzie has also recorded five victories. Leroux and Hogg have each posted one shutout this season.
 
As a team, the Crusaders average 3.3 goals per game while allowing 3.1. Their power play operates at 13.2 percent, while the penalty kill sits at 79.8 percent efficiency. Holy Cross also holds an edge in the faceoff circle, winning 52.6 percent of draws.
 
UP NEXT
RMU will continue its homestand next weekend with a series against top-seeded Bentley. The teams will meet on Friday, January 30 at 7:00 PM and Saturday, January 31 at 7:00 PM, with both games streaming live on FloHockey.
 
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