Robert Morris Hockey Programs Reinstated

The Colonials are back—or rather, will be.

Robert Morris University announced over the weekend that its men's and women's NCAA Division I ice hockey programs, which had been cut over the summer, will both return for the 2023-24 season after a successful fundraising effort.

Derek Schooley, who had served as the men's hockey head coach at RMU since the program's inception in 2004-05, will remain in that position as the Colonials return to the ice. The women's team is searching for a new head coach after Paul Colontino left in August, after the RMU program had been dropped.

Both the men's and women's teams are expected to apply for reinstatement to their respective conferences, Atlantic Hockey and College Hockey America, in the future.

Robert Morris Drops Varsity Hockey Programs

 

The plug has been abruptly pulled on both the Robert Morris University men's and women's hockey programs.

The university announced on Wednesday that both programs were being discontinued immediately as part of a "series of strategic initiatives."

RMU began play in NCAA Division I men's hockey in 2004-05, and skated all 17 of its seasons under head coach Derek Schooley (Western Michigan). Under his tutelage the Colonials won 275 games, and claimed three Atlantic Hockey regular-season crowns, including this season. They also made the NCAA tournament in 2014 after winning the league playoff title that year, but fell to Minnesota in the first round.

The RMU women's team got started in 2005-06 and played in the NCAA tournament this past season after winning the College Hockey America conference, although the Colonials fell in the first round of the NCAAs to eventual national runner-up Northeastern. RMU also qualified for the national tournament in 2017, and altogether won a combined six CHA regular-season and postseason championships, while recording a total of 240 victories all-time, under four different head coaches.

RMU becomes the first men's Division I hockey program to be discontinued since Wayne State did so in 2008, although Alabama-Huntsville and Alaska Anchorage are both on hiatus for the 2021-22 campaign and may not return. The Colonials are the first women's Division I hockey outfit to fold since North Dakota dropped its women's program in 2017.

RMU, which is located in Moon Township, Pa. outside Pittsburgh, is expected to retain control of the Colonials home ice of Clearview Arena in Neville Island, Pa., and is also expected to retain its three ACHA men's club teams.