Feeling at home in new digs

Click here to read Timothy O'Donnell's story on the College Hockey News website.

Robert Morris is off to its best start in school history. Winning six of the first eight games, the Colonials sit atop the Atlantic Hockey standings in their first season in the league, 6-2 overall, 5-2 in the league.

This is the Colonials first year in Atlantic Hockey after College Hockey America shut down operations. But the early season success in a new league doesn’t surprise Derek Schooley.

“We’ve got an older, veteran team,” Schooley said. “We’re relying on our experience playing in games like these and playing against high levels of competition.”

While the Colonials enter a new league this season, they return most of the team that finished second during the regular season last year.

That experience has proven useful this year. With five seniors and 10 juniors, the Colonials do not lack any experience or leadership.

“You can’t put a price on the experience we have,” Schooley said. “We’ve got a team that’s been through tough hockey games, played in tough buildings.

“Our guys know how to play.”

The Colonials started the season with a bang, beating Ohio State and Air Force within their first four games. The Colonials opened the season with two straight conference wins over American International. Their season has taken off from there.

Just twice this season the Colonials have lost. Both of them have come in overtime. The last, 3-2 at Holy Cross, was a come from behind effort that fell just short. The other was again a 3-2 overtime loss to defending Atlantic Hockey Champion RIT.

But then there are nights when the Colonials don’t play well and still end up with a win.

“You win some games when you’re not playing your ‘A’ game," Schooley said. "Air Force played really well that game."

With the strong veteran presence on this team, there are a few players who stand out from the rest — such as Denny Urban and Brooks Ostergard.

Ostergard currently ranks in the top five in all major statistical categories in Atlantic Hockey. He has a 2.33 goals-against-average (first), .919 save percentage (fourth), and a .750 win percentage (first).

“He’s a quality goaltender,” Schooley said. “He’s had peaks and he’s had valleys, and this year he’s had all peaks.”

Urban, as a defenseman, is tied for the team lead in points, and is third in the conference, with 10. And he's first in the conference in assists with nine.

“He’s a very talented offensive defenseman,” Schooley said. “It doesn’t surprise me that Denny’s up there.”

But the rest of the points leaders are all seniors, which is something Schooley is quick to point out.

“They’ve been playing for four years and we’re seeing the fruits of three years of their hard work and development payoff,” Schooley said.

The success was seen briefly last year when the Colonials swept then No. 1 Miami in January.

“Our team is battle tested,” Schooley. “We’ve played hard and we’ve played in some tough buildings. It just comes back to the experience.”

Schooley sees his team having the perfect recipe for success this season.

“Having a little bit more experience, having a good senior class, having some impact players, having a goalie making all the saves he needs to makes is key to having success,” Schooley said.

And his team is full of confidence right now, but Schooley wants to keep his players in check, as it is a long season.

“We just need to make sure we stay level-headed and grounded and ready to play every game,”
Schooley said.

“It's not cockiness. It's (being) confident in doing what we do well.”

Even with the great start and receiving national attention, Schooley and the rest of the Colonials are keeping it in perspective.

“We’re excited about our start but we also know it’s a long season. We have to be prepared every weekend,” Schooley said.