MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – In a high-scoring affair, the Colonials outpaced Canisius, 6-4, to complete the weekend sweep over the Golden Griffins. With the win, RMU improves to 9-16-3 overall and 9-9-2 in Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) play, jumping Canisius in the conference standings.
 
FIRST PERIOD
The opening 20 minutes were eventful, featuring five total goals. Canisius struck quickly as Hunter Price opened the scoring just 23 seconds in and added his second of the night at the 10-minute mark to give the Golden Griffins an early 2-0 edge.
 
RMU responded late in the frame, breaking through at the 16:24 mark off the rush. Luke van Why chipped the puck ahead to Patrick Johnson, who found Connor Gourley in space for a one-timer from the right circle.
 
Just over a minute later, Dominic Elliott buried a shot to even the game at 2-2, with Bruce McDonald and George Krotiris each picking up an assist.
 
Canisius regained the lead briefly, however, as Walter Zach scored with 19 seconds later to send the Golden Griffins into the intermission up 3-2. RMU held a 13-10 edge in shots through the opening period.
 
SECOND PERIOD
The back-and-forth scoring continued in the middle frame. Trent Wilson tied the game early in the period, ripping home his third goal of the season off a crisp passing play from Jackson Reineke and Julian Beaumont.
 
Late in the period, the Colonials took their first lead of the night. Off another strong passing sequence, Bruce McDonald finished a feed from Braden Rourke, with Krotiris earning the secondary assist.
 
Canisius answered just a minute later as Kash Rasmussen found the back of the net to knot the game at 4-4 heading into the second intermission.
 
In the final seconds of the period, Krotiris nearly put RMU back on top, but his shot rang off the crossbar. Canisius outshot RMU 17-6 in the frame.
 
THIRD PERIOD
RMU wasted little time reclaiming the lead in the final period. Just 41 seconds in, Michael Felsing dumped the puck behind the Canisius net, and off a fortuitous bounce, Wilson was there to bury his second goal of the game. John Babcock earned the secondary assist on the eventual game-winner.
 
With Canisius pressing late and the goalie pulled, RMU's defense rose to the occasion, blocking six shots in the final minute of play.
 
After Tanner Klimpke blocked a shot in the defensive zone, the Colonials transitioned quickly the other way. Klimpke made an unselfish play to set up Cameron Garvey for the empty-net goal, sealing the 6-4 victory.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Canisius outshot RMU 39-29. McDonald led the Colonials with five shots on goal.
• Eleven Colonials finished with a positive plus/minus, while Rourke led the team at +2.
• RMU won 35 of 56 faceoffs (62.5%), with Wilson and Garvey each winning a team-high 12 draws.
• Defensively, RMU blocked 20 shots. Elliott and Babcock each recorded five blocks.
• Canisius finished 0-for-1 on the power play, while RMU went 0-for-2.
• In net, Lucas Massie earned his fourth win of the season, making 35 saves.
• 14 Colonials recorded at least one point, the most in a game this season. RMU's 12 assists also marked a season high.

 
SECOND-HALF SEASON BREAKOUT
After scoring the game-winning goal in Friday's contest, Dominic Elliott found the scoresheet again on Saturday. Over his last 10 games, the sophomore has produced three goals, seven assists, and 10 points. In his career, Elliott has now totaled 11 goals, 22 assists, and 33 points.
 
POINT STREAK
Fourth-line center Patrick Johnson continues to be a key contributor on the penalty kill while providing timely offense. Johnson is riding a three-game point streak, recording one goal and two assists during that span.
 
MULTI-POINT EFFORTS
Sophomore Trent Wilson recorded his second career two-goal game and third multi-point performance. His third-period goal stood as the game-winner, marking his second of the season.
 
Freshman Bruce McDonald tallied a goal and an assist for his third multi-point effort of the year. The Ottawa, Ontario native now owns three goals, 10 assists, and 13 points in his collegiate debut season.
 
Junior Jackson Reineke posted two assists, earning his fifth multi-point game of the season and 11th of his career. Reineke now has eight goals and seven assists for 15 points this year.
 
Junior George Krotiris also recorded a pair of assists, marking his first multi-point game of the season and fifth of his career. He now has three goals and six assists on the campaign.
 
A LOOK AT THE AHA STANDINGS
With the sweep, RMU jumps Canisius in the AHA standings and now sits tied for fourth place with Sacred Heart at 33 conference points. The Pioneers hold a game in hand, while Air Force trails RMU with 30 points.
 
UP NEXT
RMU continues conference play with a home-and-home series against Niagara. The series opener is scheduled for Friday, February 16 at 6:00 PM in Niagara Falls, N.Y. The series finale returns to Clearview Arena on Saturday, February 17 at 7:00 PM. Both games will stream live on FloHockey, with Saturday's contest also airing on SportsNet Pittsburgh.
 
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