Robert Morris’ season ended with a 5-1 loss to Air Force in the Atlantic Hockey tournament final on Saturday, but the college hockey season will continue for five players with local ties.
Ohio State’s Matt Miller and Luke Stork and Penn State’s Matt Erlichman, Matt Mendelson and Adam Pilewicz will all move on to the NCAA Tournament, and the five local players will all play their first- and second-round games close to home, as both teams are in the Midwest Regional being played at PPL Center in Allentown, Pa.
No. 1 seed Ohio State will take on No. 4 Princeton at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. That game will be broadcast on ESPNU. At 7 p.m., Penn State will face Denver on ESPN3. The winners of those games will play each other on Sun at 6:30 p.m. on ESPNU with a trip to the Frozen Four on the line.
Matt Miller against Robert Morris in 2016. — ALAN SAUNDERS
Stork, a senior forward from Upper St. Clair, finished the season with seven assists in 38 games. An alternate captain for the Buckeyes, he has 17 career goals since moving to Columbus after playing locally with Upper St. Clair, the Pittsburgh Hornets and the Youngstown Phantoms.
Miller, a sophomore defenseman from East Palestine, Ohio, played high school hockey with Moon and also skated with the Hornets and Phantoms. The big blue liner has seven goals and 11 assists in 34 games this year.
Matt Erlichman against Robert Morris at PPG Paints Arena in December. — BRIAN MITCHELL
For the Lions, senior goaltender Matt Erlichman (Bedford, Pa. / Ligonier Valley / Hornets / Three Rivers Vengeance) has served as a third-string backup to sophomore Peyton Jones. Freshman defenseman Adam Pilewicz (Sewickley, Pa. / Quaker Valley, Pittsburgh Viper Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, Johnstown Tomahawks) has played two games this season, while junior forward Matt Mendelson (Upper St. Clair / Hornets / Penguins Elite) hasn’t dressed yet this year.
