# 2024–25 Robert Morris Colonials men's ice hockey season

The 2024–25 Robert Morris Colonials men's ice hockey season was the 19th season of play for the program and the 1st in Atlantic Hockey America. The Colonials represented Robert Morris University in the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, played their home games at the Clearview Arena and were coached by Derek Schooley in his 19th season.

## Season

In its second season back from oblivion, Robert Morris was looking to build back up into a conference contender. Early on, the team looked to suffer a key injury when Dylan Meilun wend down during exhibition play. Coach Schooley settled on Croix Kochendorfer as the starter and the freshman netminder helped the team get off to a fast start. With help from a robust offense, RMU strung together a good stretch in the first month of the season. The Colonials stumbled a bid just before Thanksgiving but they picked up the pace afterwards to finish out the first half of their schedule with a winning record. One of the bright spots was the play of Tanner Klimpke which resulted in him being named as the December Player of the Month by the Hockey Commissioner's Association.
Robert Morris returned from the winter break with an opportunity to show that it could compete against upper-echelon teams in the Desert Hockey Classic. Unfortunately, the Colonials had trouble shaking the rust off after the layoff, particularly on the defensive side. RMU allowed 15 goals in the two games and didn't score a single even-strength marker. The lopsided losses appeared to linger afterwards as the exceedingly young team attempted to soldier on. None of the team's three goaltenders were able to play consistently afterwards. On the rare occasions when RMU allowed less then 3 goals, the offense was too inconsistent to capitalize on several chances. This was due in part to Klimpke's absence from the lineup for over a month. When he returned on February 21, the team had fallen down to 10th in the standings and had won just twice in the final seventeen games.
In their playoff game with Air Force, Klimpke did his best to extend the team's season, scoring twice and adding an assist to force overtime. Kochendorfer, too, was instrumental in the game, making 40 saves in regulation to give his team a chance at victory. Despite playing at altitude, the Colonials appeared to get stronger as the game went on. However, after playing a strong period in the first overtime, RMU began to lose ground to the home side and were called for a penalty in the middle of the second overtime. Just a few seconds after the ensuing faceoff, the winning goal was slammed home into the Colonials' net, ending their season.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Mitch Andres | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (signed with Fort Wayne Komets) |
| Matthew Boczar | Forward | United States | Left program (retired) |
| Francis Boisvert | Goaltender | Canada | Graduation (signed with Orlando Solar Bears) |
| Logan Ganie | Forward | Canada | Graduation (retired) |
| Cameron Hebert | Forward | Canada | Graduation (retired) |
| Matt Hutton | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Luke Johnson | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Paul Maust | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Charles Merkley | Forward | United States | Left program (retired) |
| Dominic Schimizzi | Forward | United States | Transferred to Hobart |
| Michael Sochan | Goaltender | United States | Left program (retired) |
| Rylee St. Onge | Defenseman | Canada | Graduation (signed with Rapid City Rush) |
| Cade Townend | Defenseman | Canada | Graduation (signed with Tulsa Oilers) |
| Dallas Tulik | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Chad Veltri | Goaltender | United States | Graduation (signed with Fort Wayne Komets) |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| J. R. Ashmead | Defenseman | Canada | 21 | Calgary, AB |
| Eric DeDobbelaer | Forward | Canada | 24 | Hamilton, ON; transfer from Massachusetts |
| Mitchel Deelstra | Forward | Canada | 25 | Wallace, ON; graduate transfer from Northern Michigan |
| Dominic Elliott | Defenseman | United States | 20 | Allendale, MI |
| Michael Felsing | Forward | United States | 21 | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Connor Gourley | Forward | Canada | 20 | Calgary, AB |
| Greg Japchen | Defenseman | United States | 22 | Doylestown, PA; transfer from Stonehill |
| Patrick Johnson | Forward | United States | 21 | Chesterfield, MO |
| Croix Kochendorfer | Goaltender | United States | 20 | Saint Paul, MN |
| Dylan Meilun | Goaltender | Canada | 22 | Winnipeg, MB; transfer from Stonehill |
| Cody Monds | Forward | Canada | 23 | Brockville, ON; transfer from Clarkson |
| Adam O'Marra | Forward | Canada | 21 | Mississauga, ON |
| Braden Rourke | Forward | United States | 20 | Des Moines, IA |
| Dawson Smith | Goaltender | Canada | 21 | Whitehorse, YT; transfer from Western Michigan |
| Trent Wilson | Forward | Canada | 20 | Tsawwassen, BC |

## Roster

As of September 14, 2024.

## Standings

2024–25 Atlantic Hockey America Standingsvte :
| | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record |
| | GP | W | L | T | OW | OL | SW | PTS | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| Holy Cross † | 26 | 19 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 56 | 92 | 47 | 37 | 22 | 13 | 2 | 119 | 85 |
| Sacred Heart | 26 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 53 | 80 | 64 | 37 | 21 | 11 | 5 | 116 | 93 |
| Bentley | 26 | 16 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 51 | 79 | 57 | 36 | 20 | 14 | 2 | 100 | 75 |
| Niagara | 26 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 48 | 90 | 70 | 37 | 18 | 16 | 3 | 124 | 109 |
| Army | 26 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 44 | 84 | 74 | 36 | 16 | 18 | 2 | 102 | 109 |
| Canisius | 26 | 11 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 38 | 84 | 79 | 37 | 12 | 23 | 2 | 98 | 120 |
| Air Force | 26 | 11 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 37 | 59 | 58 | 40 | 16 | 21 | 3 | 86 | 112 |
| American International | 26 | 9 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 31 | 63 | 77 | 38 | 13 | 23 | 2 | 92 | 117 |
| RIT | 26 | 9 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 28 | 65 | 102 | 35 | 10 | 23 | 2 | 82 | 133 |
| Robert Morris | 26 | 7 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 72 | 86 | 35 | 10 | 20 | 5 | 95 | 115 |
| Mercyhurst | 26 | 4 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 59 | 113 | 35 | 4 | 27 | 4 | 77 | 150 |
| Championship: March 22, 2025 † indicates conference regular season champion (DeGregorio Trophy) * indicates conference tournament champion (Riley Trophy) Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll Updated: March 10, 2025 |||||||||||||||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Site | TV | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Exhibition ||||||||||
| October 10 | 7:00 pm | at Bowling Green* | Slater Family Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio (Exhibition) | Midco Sports+ | | L 2–7 | | |
| October 11 | 3:00 pm | vs. Simon Fraser* | USA Hockey Arena • Plymouth, Michigan (Exhibition) | | | W 2–1 | | |
| October 12 | 7:00 pm | at USNTDP* | USA Hockey Arena • Plymouth, Michigan (Exhibition) | | | L 2–3 | | |
| Regular Season ||||||||||
| October 17 | 7:00 pm | at Miami* | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | | Kochendorfer | W 5–1 | 2,526 | 1–0–0 |
| October 19 | 7:00 pm | Miami* | Clearview Arena • Neville Township, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Kochendorfer | W 4–1 | 1,150 | 2–0–0 |
| October 25 | 7:00 pm | Niagara | Clearview Arena • Neville Township, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Kochendorfer | L 3–7 | 751 | 2–1–0 (0–1–0) |
| October 26 | 7:00 pm | at Niagara | Dwyer Arena • Lewiston, New York | FloHockey | Kochendorfer | T 4–4 $^{SOW}$ | 1,176 | 2–1–1 (0–1–1) |
| November 1 | 7:00 pm | Lindenwood* | Clearview Arena • Neville Township, Pennsylvania | FloHockey, SNP | Kochendorfer | W 3–0 | 325 | 3–1–1 |
| November 2 | 7:00 pm | Lindenwood* | Clearview Arena • Neville Township, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Meilun | T 2–2 $^{OT}$ | 587 | 3–1–2 |
| November 4 | 7:00 pm | at Mercyhurst | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Kochendorfer | W 5–2 | 1,122 | 4–1–2 (1–1–1) |
| November 15 | 7:00 pm | at Sacred Heart | Martire Family Arena • Fairfield, Connecticut | FloHockey | Kochendorfer | L 2–4 | 2,199 | 4–2–2 (1–2–1) |
| November 16 | 4:00 pm | at Sacred Heart | Martire Family Arena • Fairfield, Connecticut | FloHockey | Meilun | L 3–6 | 2,746 | 4–3–2 (1–3–1) |
| November 22 | 8:00 pm | at #12 North Dakota* | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota | Midco | Kochendorfer | L 3–4 $^{OT}$ | 11,576 | 4–4–2 |
| November 23 | 7:00 pm | at #12 North Dakota* | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota | Midco | Meilun | L 0–1 | 11,573 | 4–5–2 |
| November 29 | 5:00 pm | American International | Clearview Arena • Neville Township, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Meilun | W 4–1 | 652 | 5–5–2 (2–3–1) |
| November 30 | 5:00 pm | American International | Clearview Arena • Neville Township, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Meilun | L 2–4 | 787 | 5–6–2 (2–4–1) |
| December 6 | 7:05 pm | at RIT | Gene Polisseni Center • Henrietta, New York | FloHockey | Kochendorfer | W 7–3 | 2,888 | 6–6–2 (3–4–1) |
| December 7 | 5:05 pm | at RIT | Gene Polisseni Center • Henrietta, New York | FloHockey | Kochendorfer | L 3–4 | 2,613 | 6–7–2 (3–5–1) |
| December 14 | 1:00 pm | at Canisius | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | FloHockey | Meilun | W 5–2 | 992 | 7–7–2 (4–5–1) |
| December 15 | 4:00 pm | at Canisius | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | FloHockey | Meilun | W 5–2 | 528 | 8–7–2 (5–5–1) |
| Desert Hockey Classic ||||||||||
| January 3 | 9:00 pm | at #19 Arizona State* | Mullett Arena • Tempe, Arizona (Desert Hockey Classic Semifinal) | | Meilun | L 3–7 | 4,182 | 8–8–2 |
| January 4 | 5:30 pm | vs. Massachusetts* | Mullett Arena • Tempe, Arizona (Desert Hockey Classic Consolation Game) | | Kochendorfer | L 0–8 | 1,298 | 8–9–2 |
| January 10 | 7:00 pm | at Holy Cross | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Meilun | L 1–4 | 640 | 8–10–2 (5–6–1) |
| January 11 | 6:00 pm | at Holy Cross | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Meilun | T 2–2 $^{SOW}$ | 680 | 8–10–3 (5–6–2) |
| January 17 | 7:00 pm | RIT | Clearview Arena • Neville Township, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Kochendorfer | W 6–1 | 903 | 9–10–3 (6–6–2) |
| January 18 | 7:00 pm | RIT | Clearview Arena • Neville Township, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Kochendorfer | L 2–3 | 785 | 9–11–3 (6–7–2) |
| January 24 | 7:00 pm | Army | Clearview Arena • Neville Township, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Smith | L 3–6 | 673 | 9–12–3 (6–8–2) |
| January 25 | 7:00 pm | Army | Clearview Arena • Neville Township, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Kochendorfer | L 0–2 | 925 | 9–13–3 (6–9–2) |
| January 14 | 7:00 pm | Canisius | Clearview Arena • Neville Township, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Kochendorfer | L 2–4 | 532 | 9–14–3 (6–10–2) |
| January 31 | 7:00 pm | Mercyhurst | Clearview Arena • Neville Township, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Kochendorfer | L 2–4 | 787 | 9–15–3 (6–11–2) |
| February 1 | 7:00 pm | Mercyhurst | Clearview Arena • Neville Township, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Meilun | T 3–3 $^{SOL}$ | 786 | 9–15–4 (6–11–3) |
| February 7 | 7:00 pm | at Bentley | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Smith | L 0–1 | 1,467 | 9–16–4 (6–12–3) |
| February 8 | 6:00 pm | at Bentley | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Meilun | L 0–6 | 1,210 | 9–17–4 (6–13–3) |
| February 14 | 6:00 pm | at Niagara | Dwyer Arena • Lewiston, New York | FloHockey | Kochendorfer | W 4–3 | 994 | 10–17–4 (7–13–3) |
| February 15 | 7:00 pm | Niagara | Clearview Arena • Neville Township, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Kochendorfer | L 1–2 | 510 | 10–18–4 (7–14–3) |
| February 21 | 7:00 pm | Air Force | Clearview Arena • Neville Township, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Kochendorfer | L 2–4 | 687 | 10–19–4 (7–15–3) |
| February 22 | 7:00 pm | Air Force | Clearview Arena • Neville Township, Pennsylvania | FloHockey, SNP | Kochendorfer | T 3–3 $^{SOL}$ | 721 | 10–19–5 (7–15–4) |
| Atlantic Hockey America Tournament ||||||||||
| March 1 | 7:00 pm | at Air Force* | Cadet Ice Arena • Air Force Academy, Colorado (AHA First Round) | FloHockey | Kochendorfer | L 3–4 $^{2OT}$ | 1,355 | 10–20–5 |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. Source: ||||||||||

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| Walter Zacher | C | 35 | 15 | 9 | 24 | 21 |
| Michael Craig | D | 35 | 5 | 19 | 24 | 6 |
| Tanner Klimpke | F | 26 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 6 |
| Michael Felsing | F | 34 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 2 |
| Cameron Garvey | C | 34 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 6 |
| Dominic Elliott | D | 35 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 18 |
| Trent Wilson | F | 35 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 18 |
| Mitchel Deelstra | C/LW | 35 | 12 | 5 | 17 | 34 |
| Luke van Why | D | 31 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 12 |
| George Krotiris | W | 32 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 20 |
| McKay Hayes | C | 33 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 11 |
| Cody Monds | RW | 33 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 2 |
| Patrick Johnson | F | 34 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 24 |
| Gavin Gulash | F | 33 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 33 |
| Greg Japchen | D | 25 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 10 |
| Gabriel Lunn | D | 29 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
| Trevor LeDonne | D | 23 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 22 |
| Braden Rourke | RW | 30 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 36 |
| Thomas Haynes | D | 13 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| J. R. Ashmead | D | 33 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 |
| Connor Gourley | F | 23 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 20 |
| Thomas Gangl | D | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Adam O'Marra | C | 13 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Croix Kochendorfer | G | 23 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Lee Chiang | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Eric DeDobbelaer | C/RW | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dawson Smith | G | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Dylan Meilun | G | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | | | 95 | 163 | 258 | 339 |

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut Outs | SV % | GAA |
| Dawson Smith | 5 | 130:55 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 59 | 0 | .908 | 2.75 |
| Croix Kochendorfer | 23 | 1341:45 | 7 | 12 | 3 | 65 | 637 | 1 | .906 | 2.91 |
| Dylan Meilun | 12 | 676:48 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 38 | 309 | 0 | .890 | 3.37 |
| Empty Net | - | 17:40 | - | - | - | 4 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 35 | 2167:08 | 10 | 20 | 5 | 114 | 1005 | 1 | .898 | 3.16 |

## Rankings

| Poll | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 (Final) |
| USCHO.com | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | – | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | | | |
| USA Hockey | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | – | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | | | |
Note: Neither USCHO nor USA Hockey released a poll in week 12.