Players excited for Mellon game
Matthew Shoemaker
Issue date: 11/19/08 Section: Sports
On Friday, Nov. 14 a hockey team played at Mellon Arena that wasn't the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was the Robert Morris Colonials.
The RMU hockey team took on the Ohio State Buckeyes at the College Hockey Showcase. Ohio State was also the team that they played last year. Last year, the Colonials came from behind to end the game in a 5-5 tie.
Playing at Mellon Arena has been a great experience for the players and the coaches.
"This is my third time playing at Mellon Arena, but no matter how many times you play there it is always very exciting and special," said senior forward Jason Towsley. "Being the only time in the year we play there it usually stands out when remembering the year. The whole day is always different, makes you feel like you are in the show for a day."
Towsley is one of the senior leaders on the team. He has one goal and two assists so far this season. However, more important than his scoring is his leadership. He is one of only four seniors on the 30-man roster for RMU and one of those four seniors, Matt Krug, is a transfer student from Wayne State, so it's only his first year at RMU.
Senior leadership is an important piece of the puzzle for RMU. Oftentimes younger players can be intimidated by playing on such a large stage like Mellon Arena, especially with all of the changes that this team has had to endure in the past year.
"We lost a lot of players since last season and we are a different team, we play a different style than the previous years. When going into weekends you can't really change much about how your team plays, you need to focus on yourself and what makes your team successful," said junior defenseman Dave Cowan.
Cowan is one of the players that brings a style of physical play to the ice for the Colonials. He doesn't have any points this season but he is tied for first on the team in penalty minutes which shows how aggressive he plays and the energy that he brings. That balance is something that will be needed to hang with a team as good as Ohio State.
The RMU hockey team took on the Ohio State Buckeyes at the College Hockey Showcase. Ohio State was also the team that they played last year. Last year, the Colonials came from behind to end the game in a 5-5 tie.
Playing at Mellon Arena has been a great experience for the players and the coaches.
"This is my third time playing at Mellon Arena, but no matter how many times you play there it is always very exciting and special," said senior forward Jason Towsley. "Being the only time in the year we play there it usually stands out when remembering the year. The whole day is always different, makes you feel like you are in the show for a day."
Towsley is one of the senior leaders on the team. He has one goal and two assists so far this season. However, more important than his scoring is his leadership. He is one of only four seniors on the 30-man roster for RMU and one of those four seniors, Matt Krug, is a transfer student from Wayne State, so it's only his first year at RMU.
Senior leadership is an important piece of the puzzle for RMU. Oftentimes younger players can be intimidated by playing on such a large stage like Mellon Arena, especially with all of the changes that this team has had to endure in the past year.
"We lost a lot of players since last season and we are a different team, we play a different style than the previous years. When going into weekends you can't really change much about how your team plays, you need to focus on yourself and what makes your team successful," said junior defenseman Dave Cowan.
Cowan is one of the players that brings a style of physical play to the ice for the Colonials. He doesn't have any points this season but he is tied for first on the team in penalty minutes which shows how aggressive he plays and the energy that he brings. That balance is something that will be needed to hang with a team as good as Ohio State.
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