Two home-and-home series against a pair of regional rivalries headline the Robert Morris men’s hockey team’s 2017-18 schedule, which was released on Tuesday.
December will see the renewal of the rivalry with Penn State after a one-year hiatus. The Colonials and Nittany Lions will play Dec. 8 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh and a Pegula Ice Arena in State College on Dec. 9.
The Colonials and Nittany Lions have clashed six times since Penn State became a Division I program, with RMU holding a 4-2 advantage and having won two straight games.
The Colonials will welcome Ohio State to the 84 Lumber Arena for the second consecutive season as part of a weekend series that has RMU in Columbus, Ohio on Oct. 27 and the Buckeyes returning the favor on Oct. 28.
Last season, RMU upset then-No. 11 Ohio State at Columbus, 6-2, followed by a come-from-behind 2-2 draw at home the next night.
RMU’s Luke Lynch shoots against Ohio State in 2016. — BRIAN MITCHELL
“We are very excited to continue our rivalry with Ohio State and renew a rivalry with Penn State,” head coach Derek Schooley said in a press release. “I also believe that the Three Rivers Classic has the potential to have one of the strongest fields in all of the college hockey tournaments.”
The 2017 Three Rivers Classic will be played at PPG Paints Arena on Dec. 29 and 30. RMU will host Arizona State, Providence and Lake Superior State as the Colonials attempt to with their third straight Confluence Cup.
In conference play, RMU opens the season on the road at Niagara on Oct. 6. The home opener is two weeks later against Army West Point on Oct. 20. The schedule closes with a home set against the Air Force Academy Feb. 23 and 24.
Here’s the full schedule:
