60 Days. 60 Teams. 600 Words (or Less): Robert Morris

Robert Morris

2018-19 Record: 16-22-2 (11-15-2, T-8th in Atlantic Hockey)
Head Coach: Derek Schooley, 16th Year
Top returning scorer: Luke Lynch (10G-11A)
Top returning goaltender: Dyllan Lubbesmeyer (Jr.)

It speaks to the recent success of the Robert Morris program that the Colonials enter 2019-20 on its longest streak since joining Atlantic Hockey in 2010-11 finishing below .500: Two seasons.

In fact, those two seasons have been the only two sub-.500 years. An annual staple of Atlantic Hockey's top tier, Robert Morris dropped as the conference has undergone a makeover with schools such as American International and Bentley jumping up last season. (How topsy-turvy has AHA been? This is the 12th college hockey preview and I've already discussed four of the conference's top five 2017-18 teams based upon 2018-19 records.) Despite a 2-11-1 January and February, the Colonials came within two games of an NCAA Tournament berth. RMU made it all the way to Buffalo for the Atlantic Hockey semifinals before losing to AIC in OT.

What's New: There's a contagious case of grad transfer fever around the Greater Pittsburgh area. 

Longtime starter Francis Marotte left the Colonials for North Country pastures, transferring to a Clarkson team needing a starting-caliber goaltender for his final season. In his place will reportedly be another grad transfer, former Ferris State goaltender Justin Kapelmaster. 

Kapelmaster, whose 2018-19 season ended up being hampered by injuries, has been part of a goalie platoon each of his three seasons with the Bulldogs. He will be replacing a goaltender who played almost every meaningful minute for RMU over the last two years and was in net for two Atlantic Hockey championship games. Robert Morris as an option also has junior Dyllan Lubbesmeyer, who stopped 26 of 28 shots in limited action during his career.

After an eight-year run, the Three Rivers Classic will not be played in 2019-20. The tournament brought to Pittsburgh a plethora of brand name college hockey schools. (St. Cloud State, Union, and Brown were the final Three Rivers Classic participants.) In its place, Robert Morris' non-conference schedule sees RMU host Michigan Tech on Neville Island along with a single game at PPG Paints Arena against Penn State.

Closing Thoughts: The Colonials turn the page to 2019-20 with much of its core intact. There seems to be a plan in place to replace those not returning (Marotte and graduated leading scorer Alex Tonge). Kappelmaster has shown ability at times throughout his college career to steal a game. Getting Luke Lynch closer to the 17 goal scorer he was as a sophomore would go a long way to snapping the sub-.500 streak.

RMU, stats-wise, had a year to expect from a team dropping from 18 to 16 wins. Fewer goals scored, more given up, power-play down, starting goaltender's number slightly down, etc. It's been five seasons since the Colonials made its lone NCAA Tournament appearance yet Robert Morris has the best record (104-73-18) among Atlantic Hockey teams over that time, along with a pair of AHA regular-season titles.

In a conference in the midst of upheaval, Robert Morris remains competitive in Atlantic Hockey. Whether or not that's enough to stay in the conversation and get above .500 for the first time in three seasons will be something to watch. 

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