PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) - It was a decision that was a surprise even to those associated with the program, Robert Morris University is dropping men’s and women’s hockey.
It’s a cost saving move by the university explained this way ‘part of a series of strategic initiatives intended to position the university to be amongst the most agile and professionally focused schools in the nation as it prepares for its upcoming 100th anniversary’.
They added the decision is based on scholarship and operating costs necessary to maintain and improve the current facility. RMU believes this move ‘aligns our athletic offerings more closely with other similar nationally-ranked universities of our size’. It was not a move driven by COVID-19, rather part of a bigger decision.
“We are saddened for the student-athletes who will be unable to continue in their sport at Robert Morris University and are committed to assisting them during this difficult time,” said RMU President Chris Howard in a statement. “However, this is the best course of action to leverage our strategic assets and position us for future growth.”
The decision is effective immediately affecting seven staff positions and 55 student-athletes. In a release, the school says it has no plans to discontinue other Division 1 sports, the number currently at 15.
RMU will honor all hockey scholarships for the rest of their term and assist those wanting to transfer. None of those players would have to sit out a year if they transfer, that was a rule before COVID.
“All these strategic initiatives, and everything we have accomplished over the past year, put us in a position of strength as we enter our second hundred years,” said Howard.
The Colonials’ men’s hockey program is one of the better recognized in college hockey. The team appeared in the 2014 NCAA Tournament, winning their conference that year.
They were also conference regular season champions in 2014-15 and 2015-16.
The woman’s program appeared in the 2017 and 2021 NCAA Tournament and won conference championships in 2012, 2017 and 2021.
Robert Morris has hosted the Frozen Four twice, in 2013 and just this past April at PPG Paints Arena.