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It gets harder every day to revive Robert Morris ’hockey programs. It’s been almost two weeks since the university suddenly eliminated successful men’s and women’s teams.
While supporters and alumni are working to come up with funds to keep them alive – or intend to circumvent their elimination – school administrators seem interested in reconsidering.
Murry Gunty said during an exchange yesterday that the school has not spoken a word to him in recent days and that “they are ignoring everyone” who sought plans to keep the program up.
Gunty is the CEO of Black Bear Sports, which has 27 ice rinks nationwide and has offered to buy the Island Sports Center and pass on the contract independently – or through the Pittsburgh Penguins – as a way to make the teams solvent.
But according to Gunty, those efforts have gotten close to zero.
So players need to be proactive. While RMU has often stated that player grants are paid at the same rate as they would have been if the teams had stayed in place, those who still have goals to play Division I have to go through an incredibly crowded transfer portal.
Men’s defense defender Brendon Michaelian was scheduled to return to Moon Township for his fourth term before the May 26 news of program cuts. Since then, he and many of his teammates have been uneasy about how their future will be best managed.
Do they wait until head coach Derek Schooley or someone else comes along and says, “Give up. Teams won’t come back ”?
Or do they throw as many lines as possible for teams looking for a transfer portal, hoping to get a scholarship for the first bite?
“A lot of guys are on the front lines helping GoFundMe “Michaelian said on Wednesday in the” Breakfast With Benz “podcast.” We make sure we support each other. But at the same time, we have to take care of ourselves as individuals. We don’t want to. But we have to be selfish if something else comes up. “
Michaelian says there is a consensus within the group to avoid disclosing anything publicly until the fate of the RMU program is fully known or until players ’new schools have to make the announcement themselves.
Even beyond that, several players have said the new coaches fully support the decision, and some even support it as a gesture to the Colonials coaches.
Not to mention gratitude for how the same coaches have made it easier for players to accommodate new homes.
Michaelian is one of those who has aroused interest in other schools. According to several discussions with last year’s team members, he will move on the attackers to the colonies of Grant Hebert, Justin Addamo, Santeri Hartikainen and fellow defenders Brian Kramer (Wexford, Pa.) Who are either close to the decision to transfer or have already done so and withhold a public announcement.
The same people say Ferris State, RPI, Maine, Mercyhurst and American International are some of the schools that are likely to be migratory destinations in their places of origin. While Mercyhurst’s involvement may extend to only two future recruitments – TJ Hughes and Jake Beaune – who previously announced their decision to change schools after RMU news.
As Michaelian describes, unity among potentially outgoing players is a sign of solidarity with the program as it continues to raise funds in the hope of last minute salvation – hoping that enough players can be held for as long as possible so that if a solution is found, there is a program worth saving.
In other words, players themselves don’t want to increase the death of their own team by publicly diluting the list until all hope is gone.
“It’s hard not to feel guilty or wrong about talking to these other teams. I feel like I should go back to Moon Township in August. Emotionally, it takes a toll on a lot of guys,” Michaelian said.
Addamo says some players are also waiting to make announcements because they may not want to celebrate a fresh start, while other teammates may not be lucky enough to find a new place to land.
“Some guys may not get as many opportunities as others,” Addamo said. “With just respect, individually, many players choose not to talk about this openly to the public, the move. No update.… It would be weird to put this on someone’s face or report it after something like this just happened.”
Then there’s the question of what happens if players commit somewhere else and suddenly it is announced that RMU will get their team back.
“I’m not sure how it works honestly,” Hebert said. “I’m not sure I can even come back if I sign with another school. I haven’t thought about it or researched it. I’m not sure if it’s even possible.”
Some deadline issues fell short of all the efforts of this team for the women’s team.
The team’s top three players – goalkeeper Raygan Kirk, defender Emily Curlett and striker Lexi Templeman – are all committed to the state of Ohio. This news broke university hockey website and published it Colonial sports network.
Just something else in this news episode, the Colonials players couldn’t control. The feeling they are far too familiar at this point.
Colonial Defender Brendon Michaelian joins me on Wednesday’s “Breakfast With Benz” podcast. He talks about the loss of RMU’s hockey programs, how colonial players handle the fallout, and how coaches help student-athletes find new homes.
Tim Benz is the author of Tribune-Review. You can contact Timi at [email protected] or at Twitter. All Tweets could be resubmitted. All emails must be published unless otherwise noted.
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