Who The Hell is Robert Morris?

He didn't make cigarettes. At the beginning of 07/08 Robert Morris University paid a visit to the Sullivan Arena to play in our annual tournament. Prior to the games at the coaches luncheon RMU coach Derek Schooley explained that often his school's name was confused with Philip Morris ... the evil cigarette people.

The Seawolves didn't play RMU in that tournament. UAA defeated the now defunct Wayne State and tied Boston University. RMU on the other hand beat both Wayne State and BU and is duly commemorated on the Wells Fargo Sports Center wall with their logo alongside all the other teams to have won the tournament.. I remember cheering "Let's Go Bob; Way To Go Bob; Hit em again Bob" much to the amusement of Mr. Suze and to the bemusement of a small contingent of travelling BU fans. I love an underdog.

Being buried in the least of all the college hockey conferences doesn't get a team a lot of press. Unless of course you're spurned by the CCHA for membership. Robert Morris Uninvesity is located in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. Moon Township? Sweet name for a town. Moon is a suburb of the best city in PA and probably one of the better cities in the U.S. Pittsburgh has it all. Great sports teams, great nightlife and loads of recreational activities.

RMU's nickname is the Colonials. It's an homage to Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation and U.S. Constitution signator Robert Morris who was THE money man behind the U.S. revolution and one of two of Pennsylvania's original Senators. Robert's dad coincidentally was in the Pennsylvania tobacco industry. Does that mean tobacco money helped fund the Revolutionary War? I guess it does. Don't ever try to tell me that cigarettes did no good for anybody.

As to what Seawolves fans can expect to see on the ice this weekend ... RMU is a youngish team. Only six skaters are upperclassmen. There are 8 freshman in the lineup and 13 sophomores. So while I'd call them young, they also have a fair amount of experience. They've played two exhibition games. Three returning players to watch would be #21 Nathan Longpre, #24 Dave Cowan and #44 Denny Urban. Freshman Andrew Blazek looks to have the most potential amongst the rookies.

Coach Derek Schooley has already determined that his #1 goaltender will be Brooks Ostergard who finished last season at .917 with a 2.57gaa. Many of their players come from EJHL backgrounds, a few come through the NAHL and of course they find whatever players they can from the various Canadian junior leagues. Nobody really jumps out at me except to note that former Wayne State player Brock Meadows transferred when WSU went out of the hockey business. I remember Meadows as the best player on a bad Wayne State team.

With only 4 teams in the CHA, Robert Morris should probably contend for that leagues last conference championship. Then again, Bemidji, UAH and Niagara will also be contenders.

Dave Hanson, famed as one of the Hanson Bros in Slapshot runs RMU's sports center.

Prediction: UAA 4 - Bobby Mo U 2