A pair of Robert Morris alumni have received promotions to the AHL this week, a local product has been named to the NCAA Division III team of the week and the Robert Morris men’s and women’s teams are closing on their stretch runs.
Robert Morris 2018 graduate Brady Ferguson got the call to the AHL on Saturday, joining the Toronto Maple Leafs’ top farm team, the Toronto Marlies, for the second time in his career. Ferguson had four assists in five games with the Marlies on an amateur try-out at the end of the 2018 season. He’s played in four games without a point for the Marlies this season. He had 19 goals and 20 assists in 35 games with the Newfoundland Growl of the ECHL.
? Joining Ferguson in the AHL was the man whose RMU all-time scoring record he broke, 2016 Colonials alum Zac Lynch.
On Wednesday, Lynch (Shaler, Pittsburgh Hornets) signed a PTO with the Hartford Wolf Pack, the top minor-league team of the New York Rangers. Lynch had spent the entire 2018-19 with the Wheeling Nailers in the ECHL, where he had 15 goals and 37 assists in 53 games — leading the Nailers in points and assists.
Lynch played eight AHL games with the Utica Comets in 2017-18, 21 with the Springfield Thunderbirds in 2016-17 and seven with the Portland Pirates after his collegiate career ended in 2016. He has five goals and eight assists in 36 career AHL games.
? Former Pittsburgh Penguins Elite and Chartiers Valley forward Annie Katonka has been named to the D3hockey.com NCAA Division III team of the week.
Katonka, who is a sophomore at Plattsburgh State, was awarded for the second time this season. She had three goals and two assists as the Cardinals swept Buffalo State to finish a perfect 16-0 in league play on the season.
In 25 games, Katonka has 26 goals and 17 assists, leading the Cardinals in goals and points.
Katonka and the Cardinals will skate in the 2019 NEWHL Tournament, starting by hosting Oswego State in the semifinals on Saturday.
? Johnstown Tomahawks forward Carson Briere has committed to Arizona State. Briere, a Haddonfield, N.J., native, leads the Tomahawks with 34 goals and is second on the team with 73 points. The Tomahawks visit Maryland for a two-game series Friday and Saturday night at 7:45 p.m.
? The Robert Morris women will host rival Mercyhurst for a two-game series. The Colonials are three points ahead of the Lakers for first place in the CHA, and five point ahead of third-place Syracuse. The top two seeds get byes into the semifinals of the CHA Tournament.
A three-point weekend from the Colonials would clinch a first-round bye. A four-point sweep would clinch the conference regular-season title. Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m. on Friday and 3:05 p.m. on Saturday.
? The Robert Morris men will visit RIT for a two-game series, with puck drop at 7:05 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night. The Colonials are two points behind eighth-place Army for the right to host a home game in the AHC first round.
