Though conference play has yet to start, at 4-0-2, Robert Morris Colonials have the best record in College Hockey America after three weekends.
The Colonials aren’t just unbeaten in the standings, either. In each of the first three weeks of the season, a Robert Morris player has taken home a CHA weekly honor.
This week, forward Brittany Howard got the nod for her two goals and two goals in two games against Vermont last weekend. It was the second time already this season Howard has won the award. After Week 2, senior Jessica Dodds was named goaltender of the week. Jaycee Gebhard was named Rookie of the Week after the opener.
COLLECTING VOTES
The Robert Morris women received votes in both major polls this week. The Colonials received four points in the USCHO.com poll, coming in third amongst others receiving votes. In the USA Today coaches poll, they got 11 points and were second amongst others receiving votes. The Colonials were the highest-ranked CHA team in each of the polls that rank the top 10 women’s college hockey teams in the country.
FAMILIAR FACE RETURNS
The Robert Morris men’s hockey team has made an addition to the coaching staff, and it’s a familiar face, as 2012 graduate Brandon Blandina will join the staff as a volunteer assistant.
Blandina was a hard-working forward in his four years with the Colonials, with his best statistical season coming in 2010-11, when he scored four goals and recorded nine assists in 35 games. As a senior in 2011-12, he was an alternate captain.
After graduating, Blandina played two seasons professionally in the ECHL with the Reading Royals and Elmira Jackals. He last played in 2014. Blandina is a native of Centennial, Colorado.
“I’m happy to be able to come in and help the team,” Blandina said in a statement released by the team. “I’m glad to be able to give back to the organization.”
Blandina will assume the position that was vacated by Michael Gershon this season when Gershon moved from volunteer to full-time assistant coach. Gershon replaced Mark Workman as assistant coach. Workman took a scouting position with the NHL expansion team in Las Vegas.
BIG BYE
The Robert Morris men were off last weekend, but their Atlantic Hockey Conference compatriots played, and scored some important non-conference victories. The AHC had the worst non-conference record in 2015-16, but they’ve showed some improvement thus far this year.
Last weekend, Holy Cross beat Providence, Air Force split with Arizona State, Canisius went 1-1 against Anchorage and Alaska, Sacred Heart tied Union and RIT skated to a draw with Connecticut.
There will be more opportunities this coming weekend, as Sacred Heart visits No. 8 Boston University and Holy Cross hosts No. 10 Boston College. The Colonials will be back in conference play with a two-game series at Canisius.
