Robert Morris Colonials women's ice hockey

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Robert Morris Colonials women's ice hockey
Hockey current event.svg Current season
RMU Colonials logo.svg
University Robert Morris University
Conference AHA
Head coachLogan Bittle
1 season, 15191
Arena Clearview Arena
Neville Township, Pennsylvania
ColorsBlue, white, and red [1]
     
NCAA tournament appearances
2017, 2021
Conference tournament champions
CHA: 2012, 2017, 2021

Robert Morris Colonials women's ice hockey is a college ice hockey program representing Robert Morris University in NCAA Division I as a member of the Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) conference.

Contents

The program was suspended, along with the men's team, after an announcement by the university on May 26, 2021. On December 17, 2021, it was announced both programs would be reinstated for the 2023–24 season. [2] Shortly after that season, the Atlantic Hockey Association and College Hockey America, respectively home to the Colonials men's and women's teams, merged to form Atlantic Hockey America. [3]

History

March 31, 2004: Robert Morris University announced that an NCAA Division I women's ice hockey team would compete, in the College Hockey America (CHA) Conference, starting with the 2005–06 season.

Kevin McGonagle was named the first head coach, but following a 1–7–0 start he was dismissed[2]. Assistant coach Jody Katz[1] was named the interim head coach for the rest of the season, and men's assistant coach Nate Handrahan was named new head coach for the 2006–07 campaign.

Nate Handrahan was head coach for five years from the 2006–07 through the 2010–11 seasons. He successfully built a stable program, bringing talented players into the program who would excel after his tenure. and amassed a 52–111–14 record, before taking the head coaching job of the Ohio State women's hockey program.

Paul Colontino was named head coach for the 2011–12 season, and remains in the position. He made the Colonials a competitive team, finishing with more wins than losses in 5 of 6 years. In his first year, Colontino led the Colonials to their first CHA Tournament championship. As the CHA had not automatic berth in the NCAA tournament at the time, their CHA win ended their season.

The most successful season for the Colonials was the 2016–17 season. Their 24–5–6 record (15–3–2 in the CHA) earned them their first year-ending ranking, 8th, in both the USCHO and USA Today polls. They won the CHA regular season championship for the first time, and took the Tournament Championship as well, to earn their first entry to the NCAA national championship. They were defeated by top ranked Wisconsin 0–7 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Colonials forward Jaycee Gebhard scored 44 points on the season, making her the highest scoring first year player in the country for the season. [4] Brittany Howard became the first Colonial player to be named CHA Player of the Year. [4]

The Colonials went on to finish at the top of the CHA standings in 2017-18 and 2018–19, marking three years in a row that they won the regular season championship. They went to four straight championship games, ending the season as conference runner up in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Over the course of four seasons (2016–20), the Colonials posted an overall record of 62-22-12 (.777 points percentage), including the program's first ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2017. [5] The program qualified for the 2021 NCAA National Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey Tournament, ranked as the #8 seed. [6]

On February 3, 2022 Logan Bittle was named the head coach for the program's return in the 2023-2024 season [7]

Year by year

Won ChampionshipLost ChampionshipConference ChampionsLeague Leader
YearCoachWLTConferenceConf. WConf. LConf. TFinishConference TournamentNCAA Tournament
2024–25Logan Bittle8243CHA21626th CHALost Quarterfinals vs. Syracuse (2–3 2OT)Did not qualify
2023–24Logan Bittle15191CHA11813rd CHALost Semifinals vs. Mercyhurst (5–0, 2–5, 1–6)Did not qualify
2022–23Program was suspended by the university
2021–22
2020–21 Paul Colontino1681CHA11713rd CHAWon Quarterfinals vs. RIT (4-0)
Won Semifinals vs. Mercyhurst (3-2 OT)
Won Championship vs. Syracuse (1-0)
2nd Appearance
Lost Quarterfinal vs. Northeastern (1-5)
2019–20 Paul Colontino20124CHA13522nd CHAWon Semifinals vs. Penn State (2–1)
Lost Championship vs. Mercyhurst (1–2 OT)
Did not qualify
2018–19 Paul Colontino16146CHA13431st CHAWon Semifinals vs. Syracuse (5–2)
Lost Championship vs. Syracuse (2–6)
Did not qualify
2017–18 Paul Colontino2184CHA14331st CHAWon Semifinals vs. Penn State (7–2)
Lost Championship vs. Mercyhurst (3–5)
Did not qualify
2016–17 Paul Colontino2456CHA15321st CHAWon Semifinals vs. Lindenwood (2–1)
Won Championship vs. Syracuse (2–0)
1st Appearance
Lost Quarterfinal vs. Wisconsin (0-7)
2015–16 Paul Colontino17165CHA7944th CHAWon Quarterfinals vs. Lindenwood (3–4, 3–1, 5–1)
Lost Semifinals vs. Mercyhurst (2–4)
Did not qualify
2014–15 Paul Colontino11195CHA8844th CHALost Quarterfinals vs. RIT (1–3, 0–1)Did not qualify
2013–14 Paul Colontino2483CHA13522nd CHALost Semifinals vs. RIT (1–4)Did not qualify
2012–13 Paul Colontino15153CHA91014th CHAWon Quarterfinals vs. Lindenwood (2–1 3OT, 2–0)
Lost Semifinals vs. Mercyhurst (1–2)
Did not qualify
2011–12 Paul Colontino1994CHA6332nd CHAWon Semifinals vs. Niagara (3–2)
Won Championship vs. Mercyhurst (3–2)
Did not qualify
2010–11 Nate Handrahan6217CHA2954th CHAWon Quarterfinals vs. Wayne State (4–2)
Lost Semifinals vs. Mercyhurst (1–3)
Did not qualify
2009–10 Nate Handrahan11241CHA31215th CHAWon Quarterfinals vs. Wayne State (3–1)
Lost Semifinals vs. Mercyhurst (1–7)
Did not qualify
2008–09 Nate Handrahan12203CHA5923rd CHALost Semifinals vs. Wayne State (3–4)Did not qualify
2007–08Nate Handrahan12221CHA21004th CHALost Semifinals vs. Mercyhurst (0–4)Did not qualify
2006–07Nate Handrahan11222CHA11104th CHALost Semifinals vs. Marcyhurst (2–5)Did not qualify
2005–06Kevin McGonagle5242CHA1914th CHALost Semifinals vs. Mercyhurst (0–9)Did not qualify
2004–05Jody Katz4172

[8]

Awards and honors

Colonials in professional hockey

= CWHL All-Star= NWHL/PHF All-Star= Clarkson Cup Champion= Isobel Cup Champion
PlayerPositionTeam(s)League(s)Years Clarkson Cup Isobel Cup
Michaela BoyleForwardBuffalo BeautsPHF1
Delayne BrianGoaltender Calgary Inferno CWHL61 (2016) Playoff MVP
Anjelica DiffendalForwardBuffalo BeautsPHF2
Megan Eady Melbourne Ice
SDE
AWIHL
SDHL
Anissa GambleForward Toronto Furies CWHL1
Jaycee Gebhard ForwardBrynäs IFSDHL1
Brittany HowardForwardToronto Six
Toronto Furies
Dream Gap Tour
PHF
CWHL
PWHPA
Brianne McLaughlin Goaltender Buffalo Beauts NWHL1 (2017)

International

Olympians

PlayerPositionNationalityEventResult
Brianne McLaughlin [14] GoaltenderFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States 2010 Winter OlympicsSilver
Brianne McLaughlin [14] GoaltenderFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States 2014 Winter OlympicsSilver

See also

References

  1. "RMU Brand Style Guide" (PDF). 15 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  2. "Robert Morris announces reinstatement of men's, women's college hockey teams for 2023-24 season". USCHO.com. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  3. "Atlantic Hockey and College Hockey America Join to Form Atlantic Hockey America" (Press release). Atlantic Hockey America. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Saunders, Alan (2 March 2017). "Colonials sweep CHA year-end awards". Pittsburgh Hockey Digest. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  5. "Colonials Drop Puck On 16th Season Against Lindenwood". rmucolonials.com. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  6. "2021 NC Women's Ice Hockey Championship Official Bracket". ncaa.com. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  7. "Bittle Tabbed RMU Women's Hockey Head Coach".
  8. "Robert Morris Colonials Women's Hockey: Year-By-Year". USCHO.com. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  9. "'Dominant' Brittany Howard's work fuels Robert Morris women's hockey". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  10. Press Release (15 March 2018). "Four Women's Hockey East Players Named CCM/AHCA All-Americans". Hockey East. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  11. Matt Popchock (1 March 2018). "Colonials Clean Up at CHA Awards: Five Players from No. 9 RMU Hailed by Conference". RMU Colonials. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  12. Candace Horgan (21 March 2012). "Colontino named Women's Coach of the Year". College Hockey | USCHO.com. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  13. "Templeman earns First Team Honors from CHA". rmucolonials.com. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  14. 1 2 Dave McMahon (18 December 2009). "Vancouver women's hockey team announced". USA Hockey. Archived from the original on 4 March 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2010.