Robert Morris announces web portal for hockey fundraising efforts

Robert Morris has introduced a website where supporters of the university’s men’s and women’s hockey programs can make financial pledges to keep the teams from folding.

The goal for the fundraising effort, dubbed “Hockey is the Goal,” is to raise $1.4 million in contributions and $1.4 million in pledges by the end of the fall semester — Dec. 15, 2021 — in order to reinstate the programs for the 2022-23 season.

“We’re encouraged by the outpouring of support from fans, donors, alumni and the hockey community the last few weeks,” RMU athletic director Chris King said in a press release. “We’re confident that collectively we can create a path forward for the eventual return of our NCAA Division I men’s and women’s hockey programs. I would personally like to express my gratitude to all of the individuals who have supported the Pittsburgh College Hockey Foundation and RMU in pursuit of reinstating both teams.”

The university said the goal of the campaign is to raise enough money to cover the operating expenses for both programs for two seasons and to ensure their financial stability in the long term. The school said stock gifts, corporate matches and other forms of gifts would be welcomed by the campaign.

Robert Morris announced in May that the hockey grams would be shut down. In July, after threat of a lawsuit, the school said it would work with the Pittsburgh College Hockey Foundation to try to raise money to restore the programs. Last week, RMU announced the teams would return to the ice no sooner than 2022-23.

Some players and ex-players have expressed skepticism that the programs will be reinstated even if the financial goals are met by the deadline.