MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The RMU men's hockey team opens postseason play this weekend as the Colonials host Air Force in a best-of-three Atlantic Hockey America Quarterfinal Round series March 6-8 at Clearview Arena.
 
Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM on Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7. If a decisive third game is necessary, it will begin at 5:00 PM on Sunday. All three contests will stream live on FloHockey with commentary from Tim Benz and Mike Prisuta.
 
LAST TIME OUT
RMU enters the postseason riding momentum after sweeping rival Mercyhurst Lakers in a regular-season-ending home-and-home series.
 
At Clearview Arena, the Colonials secured a 5-3 victory behind a balanced offensive attack, receiving goals from five different players. Luke van Why, John Babcock, Julian Beaumont, Patrick Johnson and Trent Wilson each recorded a goal and an assist.
 
The following night in Erie, RMU completed the sweep with a 4-1 win. Babcock, Jackson Reineke, George Krotiris and Cameron Garvey found the back of the net, while Garvey added an assist for a two-point performance. Tanner Klimpke dished out two helpers in the finale. Between the pipes, freshman Charlie Schenkel earned both victories to close the regular season on a high note.
 
REGULAR SEASON IN REVIEW
RMU (13-18-3, 13-11-2 AHA) surged during the second half of the 2025-26 campaign to secure the No. 3 seed in the AHA Tournament. After opening conference play 4-8-1 through its first 13 games, the Colonials responded with a 9-3-1 run to finish the regular season. During that stretch, RMU's defensive identity became its backbone, holding opponents to one goal or fewer in six of those nine victories.
 
Junior captain Tanner Klimpke paced the team offensively, leading the Colonials in goals (12), assists (14), points (26) and game-winning goals (3). His 12 tallies are tied for the fifth-most in Atlantic Hockey America. Jackson Reineke provided a boost on the man advantage with a team-high six power-play goals, while Cameron Garvey added two shorthanded markers.
 
On the defensive end, John Babcock has been one of the premier shot blockers in the country, leading the AHA with 97 blocked shots. In net, Charlie Schenkel finished the regular season with eight wins, one shutout and a .905 save percentage.
 
PLAYOFF HISTORY
This weekend marks a postseason rematch between RMU and Air Force. Last season, the Falcons eliminated the Colonials in a dramatic 4-3 double-overtime decision in the First Round.
 
Two years ago, RMU earned a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory over Bentley Falcons in the First Round, with Garvey scoring the game-winning goal with just 10 seconds remaining in the extra session. The Colonials then fell to nationally ranked RIT in the Quarterfinals.
 
Klimpke has been a proven postseason performer, averaging over a point per game in four career playoff contests with four goals and one assist.
 
Under head coach Derek Schooley, RMU captured the AHA Playoff Championship in 2014 and claimed Regular Season Titles in 2015, 2016 and 2021.
 
ALL-TIME VS. AIR FORCE
RMU holds an 18-26-5 record all-time against the Falcons. The teams split a series earlier this season in Colorado. Air Force claimed a 4-1 decision in the opener before the Colonials responded with a 6-3 victory in the finale — a milestone win that marked the 300th career victory for both the program and Schooley.
 
In that series, Garvey totaled one goal and two assists, while Michael Craig and Reineke each recorded two assists. Senior Ryan Taylor contributed a goal and an assist in the victory.
 
SCOUTING THE FALCONS
Air Force (17-13-4, 13-10-3 AHA) enters the postseason as the No. 6 seed after sweeping top-seeded Bentley Falcons on the final weekend of the regular season.
 
Offensively, senior defenseman Chris Hedden and sophomore forward Sam Stitz lead the team with 32 points apiece and share the team lead with 11 goals. Will Dawson has also tallied 11 goals, while Nick Sajevic paces the Falcons with 23 assists. Hedden anchors the defensive unit with 55 blocked shots. In goal, junior Dominik Wasik has appeared in 31 games, compiling 16 wins, four shutouts and a .911 save percentage.
 
As a team, Air Force averages 3.0 goals per game while allowing 3.0. The Falcons' power play is operating at 13.1%, while their penalty-kill stands at 80.7%. They have also been strong in the faceoff circle, winning 51.6% of their draws.
 
PLAYOFF OUTLOOK
Elsewhere in the bracket, No. 10 Mercyhurst and No. 8 Niagara advanced out of the First Round. Top-seeded Bentley will host Mercyhurst, No. 2 Sacred Heart welcomes Niagara, and No. 4 Holy Cross hosts No. 5 RIT in Quarterfinal action.
 
The semifinal round, scheduled for March 13-15, will also be contested as a best-of-three series. The highest remaining seed will host the lowest remaining seed, while the second-highest remaining seed will host the third-highest remaining seed.
 
With a series victory over Air Force, the Colonials could potentially host another round at Clearview Arena — or head back on the road — depending on results across the league.
 
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