MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The RMU men's hockey team continues its six-game homestand with a pivotal Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) series against top-seeded Bentley this weekend at Clearview Arena. The Colonials and Falcons will face off Friday, January 30, and Saturday, January 31, with puck drop set for 7:00 PM both nights. Both games will stream live on FloHockey, with commentary provided by Tim Benz and Mike Prisuta.
 
RMU LATELY
RMU (7-15-2, 7-8-1 AHA) enters the weekend playing its best hockey of the season, riding a three-game win streak and earning 10 of a possible 12 points over its last four contests.
 
The Colonials opened the homestand with a sweep of Holy Cross, winning 5-2 in the series opener before securing a 1-0 shutout victory in Saturday's finale. In game one, RMU received balanced scoring as five different players found the back of the net for the second time this season. Jackson Reineke led the way with a goal and an assist, while Dominic Elliott, Cameron Garvey, and Michael Felsing each recorded two assists.
 
Saturday's defensive battle was decided by Tanner Klimpke's game-winning goal, with assists credited to Garvey and Elliott. Between the pipes, Lucas Massie continued his strong play, stopping 57 of 59 shots over the two games. The sophomore goaltender posted a .966 save percentage and a 1.00 goals-against average on the weekend, highlighted by a 33-save shutout in the series finale—his second shutout of the season.
 
AROUND THE AHA
Klimpke has emerged as one of the conference's top scoring threats, reaching double-digit goals for the season and ranking among the AHA's top five goal scorers. The junior captain has now recorded double-digit goals in all three of his collegiate seasons and owns 33 goals, 28 assists, and 61 points in 83 career games.
 
On the defensive side, freshman defenseman John Babcock leads all of Atlantic Hockey America in blocked shots with 69. The North Vancouver, B.C., native has been especially impactful as of late, recording 39 blocks over his last seven games.
 
At the faceoff dot, center Trent Wilson ranks eighth in the conference with a 54.2 win percentage, while Garvey also sits in the top 10 at 53.4 percent.
 
ALL-TIME VS. BENTLEY
RMU holds a narrow 21-19-4 edge in the all-time series against Bentley, including a 14-9-3 mark at home. Seven meetings between the two programs have gone to overtime, and the Colonials have recorded three shutouts against the Falcons.
 
The teams met in the postseason during the first round of the 2023-24 AHA Playoffs, when RMU defeated Bentley 4-3 in overtime on the road. Garvey delivered the game-winner with just 10 seconds remaining in the extra period. Garvey owns three career goals against Bentley, while Klimpke has added a goal and an assist and George Krotiris has contributed two assists against the Falcons.
 
SCOUTING THE FALCONS
Bentley (13-7-4, 11-2-3 AHA) enters the weekend atop the Atlantic Hockey America standings. The Falcons were riding a three-game conference win streak before earning two of six possible points in a series at Sacred Heart.
 
Offensively, forwards Michael Mesic and Jake Black lead the team with 10 goals apiece, while Mesic also paces Bentley with 14 assists and 24 points. On the blue line, junior defenseman Colton Cameron has blocked 30 shots this season.
 
In goal, Lukas Swedin has served as the primary starter, appearing in 14 games and earning eight wins while posting a .927 save percentage.
 
As a team, Bentley is averaging 3.0 goals per game while allowing 2.4. The Falcons' power play is converting at a 21.7 percent clip, while the penalty kill stands at 84.1 percent. Bentley has also won 50.7 percent of its faceoffs this season.
 
UP NEXT
RMU will close its six-game homestand next weekend with a two-game series against Canisius. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM on Friday, February 6, and Saturday, February 7, with both games streaming live on SportsNet Pittsburgh and FloHockey.
 
Follow The Colonials: Facebook | X | Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn | RMU Athletics Gameday App