ALTOONA, Pa. -- The sound of skates slashing through the ice filled Clearview Federal Arena as the Robert Morris hockey programs held their first practices after being reinstated.
Both the men's and women's program had been largely successful since their inception in 2004-05, with both programs taking trips to the NCAA Tournament and conference championships prior to former Robert Morris president Chris Howard briefly eliminating the programs in 2021 before they were reestablished.
Now, men's head coach Derek Schooley and women's head coach Logan Bittle are joining forces to relaunch the proud programs one step at a time.
The initial steps included getting the university to reinstate the programs and raise the appropriate funds to make sure the programs were both financially sustainable for the foreseeable future. Fundraising efforts remain ongoing, but with Schooley and Bittle in the fold as coaches, rosters could start to be filled and practices could be had.
"Currently, we have six men and six women on campus and we are practicing together," Bittle told DK Pittsburgh Sports. "We are uniting as one team, and the current student athletes understand the hard work it will take to relaunch our program."
A full roster for each program will be a work in progress leading up to the 2023-24 season which will be the next time the Colonials play in a game. For now though, it's practicing with the players they do have on campus and working to continue a successful relaunch of the programs.
"The return of the teams and being on the ice has been a very special and historic moment!" Bittle said. "Our first practices have been great and those involved are very aware of the history they are making, reviving our successful programs."
Bittle is no stranger to building a program having been a member of the inaugural team for the men's program in 2004-05.
"Being a member of starting a program is a special feeling," Bittle said. "Now, being a coach, I have that same feeling of pride I had as a player. It takes someone special to put the work into starting a program, and I'm sure all of our athletes will have that same pride."
Schooley has been at Robert Morris since being hired to start the men's program in 2003 and was Bittle's coach. Both have seen their relationship evolve since Bittle began his coaching career as an assistant with the Colonials' women's program in 2011.
"Derek has been here since day one of RMU hockey," Bittle said. "We are very close and are working together to make RMU hockey as a whole as strong as possible upon our return. RMU hokcey wouldn't be where it is without Derek and without his work and support of both teams, we wouldn't be where we are today."
It's not just been Bittle and Schooley who've done it all in relaunching the program and allowing the teams to get back on the ice. It's been a full team effort from both the university, the student-athletes as well as the hockey community. That community came together in a big way to help raise the funds and support of the program to get to this point and while there's still plenty of work that needs to be step, this is another step in the right direction for each program.
"Working to restore the programs took a community effort that we are all so thankful for," Bittle said. We have so much support from our administration and donors. We are all excited to get our teams back to competing for championships."
