Robert Morris hockey programs on hold until at least 2022-23 season

The Robert Morris men’s and women’s hockey teams will not have the chance to compete during this upcoming season because fundraising pledges remain below necessary levels to sustain the programs in the long term, the university announced Thursday.

About $1.34 million has been raised, with $754,000 payable in 2021-22, according to the university. That total remains short — by about half, according to the university — of what is needed to fund the programs for one season.

One question I have abt the @rmu release is that the school said shortly after the teams were cut,it'd take roughly $1m to operate both programs. Now they are saying the teams have $754K raised.Yet RMU is saying that's only 1/2 way to the goal. I'm not great at math but...huh?

— Tim Benz (@TimBenzPGH) August 12, 2021

Robert Morris said in a prepared statement that it remains committed to raising money for a return to play for the 2022-23 season.

The university said if $1.4 million in immediate contributions can be raised, with another $1.4 million in pledges secured, that it would reinstate both programs for the 2022-23 season.

“This goal will likely need to be met by Dec. 15, 2021 — the end of the fall semester — but will ultimately depend on the deadline for reinstatement set by each team’s conference,” the university said in a prepared statement.

Those totals would represent enough money to cover the teams’ operating expenses for two seasons, but fundraising would need to continue to ensure the programs’ long-term financial well-being, according to the university.

“We raised a lot of money in a very short period of time, and we’re confident that with that continued effort we can get to where we need to get to,” said Logan Bittle, a former RMU women’s assistant coach and a member of the recently formed Pittsburgh College Hockey Foundation. The foundation was formed by alumni players and other RMU hockey supporters to raise money to revive the programs.

“I’m confident, I think we all are, that we can get there. It’s just a matter of actually getting there. If the last three weeks showed anything, it’s that there’s a ton of support for RMU hockey.”

Robert Morris announced in May that it was cutting the men’s and women’s programs because of financial reasons. The decision came after both teams enjoyed successful seasons. The women’s team won the CHA conference and went to the NCAA tournament. The men won Atlantic Hockey’s regular-season West Division.

Last month, university officials said they would work with the recently formed Pittsburgh hockey foundation to raise funds as a way to keep both programs afloat.

“When we started the foundation, our goal was to get the programs back and reinstated, and we’re going to continue to work with the school to do that,” Bittle said. “It’s good news that they’re continuing to fundraise to bring the programs back.”

The university said it plans to hire coaches for both programs in the coming weeks and “will explore options for playing at an enhanced facility.” The programs had been housed at the RMU Island Sports Center.

“The university’s decision to discontinue the hockey programs was a strategic decision that was carefully considered in light of the economics of the programs and RMU’s financial resources,” RMU President Chris Howard said. “Since the decision was announced, I have been encouraged by the passion and enthusiasm for RMU NCAA Division I hockey from the foundation and the broader community.”

Said Bittle: “My hope, and all of our hope, would be this opens the door, basically giving the firm number that is needed, and we can go out there and actually work to get toward that. I would hope that anyone who has the ability to do so would consider pledging and helping this cause.”