MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The RMU men's hockey team, under the leadership of head coach Derek Schooley, has announced its leadership group for the 2026-27 season. Patrick Johnson has been named captain of the Colonials, while Jackson Reineke, Dominic Elliott and John Babcock will serve as alternate captains.
 
Johnson, a native of Chesterfield, Mo., brings prior leadership experience, having worn the "C" for two seasons with the Bismarck Bobcats of the NAHL during his junior career.
 
He played a vital role in leading the Colonials to the AHA Semifinal Round this past season, helping guide a team that was predicted to finish ninth in the conference to a third seed in the tournament.
 
Over the course of his RMU career, Johnson has appeared in 74 games, recording eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points. He has been a key contributor on the penalty kill, blocking 43 shots, and has excelled in the faceoff circle, winning 472 draws.
 
"Patrick has earned this. Back-to-back Chris Kushneriuk Award winner for Most Inspirational Player, voted on by his teammates—that tells you everything you need to know about who he is and what he means to this program," said Schooley. "There was never a question. He is our captain."
 
Reineke, a native of Faribault, Minn., enters his redshirt-junior season with the Colonials. He has demonstrated resilience throughout his career, missing his entire sophomore campaign due to injury before returning as a junior to provide key offensive production during RMU's playoff run.
 
In 73 career games, the forward has totaled 20 goals and 27 assists for 47 points. He has also been a strong presence on the power play, scoring nine goals with the man advantage.
 
Elliott, a sophomore defenseman, has been a core piece of the Colonials lineup since arriving on campus. As a freshman, he earned AHA All-Rookie Team honors and followed that with an All-AHA Second Team selection in 2025-26. He has also been named the conference's Defensive Player of the Week three times.
 
Through 75 career games, Elliott has posted 12 goals and 26 assists for 38 points, showcasing offensive upside from the blue line. He ranked third in the nation in blocked shots last season with 84 and has accumulated 126 blocks in his career.
 
Babcock, a freshman defenseman from North Vancouver, B.C., also brings leadership experience, having served as an alternate captain for the Regina Pats in 2024-25. He made an immediate impact in his rookie season at RMU, earning spots on both the AHA All-Rookie Team and All-Tournament Team, while also being named Defensive Player of the Week twice.
 
During his freshman campaign, Babcock appeared in all 40 games, recording four goals and nine assists with a +4 rating. He led the entire NCAA in blocked shots with 123.
 
"Jackson, Dominic and John stepping into these roles—alongside a captain like Patrick—tells me this program is in great hands," said Schooley. "They have earned this through their leadership and play. The leadership doesn't stop there. There are many others in this locker room with the ability to lead and the hunger to step up. We are going to have great leadership."
 
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