The RMU Colonials Men's ACHA D1 Hockey Team kicked off their season in spectacular fashion with a dominant weekend sweep against Canisius on September 22nd and September 23rd.
Friday night's clash ended with a thrilling 3-2 victory, highlighted by exceptional goaltending and an impressive team-wide performance. The goals that fueled this victory were scored by graduate student George Makricostas, sophomore Hunter Hodgson, and sophomore Michael Hurst. The game was an intense physical battle, with both teams accumulating a total of 20 penalties. The Colonials set the tone early on, securing a 2-0 lead in the first period with Canisius tying it up later in the game. Canisius' efforts were not enough though as Hurst came through on the power play late in the third.
The home opener weekend concluded with an exciting win on Saturday where the Colonials found themselves trailing on and off throughout the contest. However, their resilience shone through as they swiftly responded to every goal conceded. Sophomore Alejandro Apud, junior Nate Issac, sophomore Garrett Walker, and sophomore Michael Hurst all contributed to the scoreboard which led to ultimately securing the win. Hurst's goal during the shootout marked his second consecutive game winning goal for the squad.
Both games featured stellar goaltending from junior Reno Patrick and the freshman Patrick Colburn, assuring fans that the team remains in capable hands in the goaltending department despite the departure of Rutherford and Mackey. This successful start to the season underscores the squad's determination and sets a promising tone as they gear up to face Syracuse at home September 29th and 30th.
The RMU Colonials are off to an excellent start, as the excitement for the rest of the season builds. Make sure to tune into @rmucampusrec on YouTube for live streams of the games this weekend!