Here’s some info on the Three Rivers Classic:
The details
Where: Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh.
Monday’s schedule: Western Michigan (6-8-2) vs. No. 17 Colgate (9-6-1), 4:30 p.m. EST; No. 20 Penn State (9-4-2) vs. No. 19 Robert Morris (11-2-3), 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday’s schedule: Third-place game, 4:30 p.m. EST; championship game, 7:30 p.m.
Notes to know
Western Michigan had an up-and-down first half of the season, and part of that has been because it has yet to go into a game with its full lineup available. The Broncos are 3-0-1 in their last four games, but they’ll have a rough job on their hands in Pittsburgh against a well-balanced tournament field.
Colgate has not enjoyed the kind of overwhelming success that many foresaw for it entering the season, as despite a deep and seasoned roster, injuries have taken some of the bite out of the offense. The team slid into the holiday break on a three-game losing skid but hopes to turn things around this week with the return of a healthy and rested Tylor Spink. This half of the twin tandem returned to game action only on Dec. 9, registering the first assist on his brother Tyson’s first-period goal. Defense and goaltending have been streaky, but netminder Charlie Finn’s .922 save percentage is no fluke.
Penn State is in the Three Rivers Classic field for the third consecutive season. The Nittany Lions have an even 2-2 record at the tournament in their program’s history, defeating then-nonconference foe Ohio State in 2012 and Robert Morris last season.
Robert Morris won the inaugural tournament in 2012 and finished fourth last season, right before the Colonials went on their run that culminated in their first Atlantic Hockey championship. The first-round matchup against Penn State is the first meeting of ranked teams in tournament history. Expect to see both Terry Shafer and Dalton Izyk in the net for the Colonials.
Social snippet
Hope you’re spending the holidays with people you love…we are! See you in a few days at the @3RiversClassic. #3RC pic.twitter.com/ThwAwZJLGM
— Robert Morris Hockey (@RMUHockey) December 25, 2014
