{"id":47881,"date":"2013-01-03T05:30:37","date_gmt":"2013-01-03T11:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.uscho.com\/?p=47881"},"modified":"2013-01-03T09:37:44","modified_gmt":"2013-01-03T15:37:44","slug":"divine-levine-keeps-the-turnstiles-clicking-for-robert-morris","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wwwproxy.uscho.com\/2013\/01\/03\/divine-levine-keeps-the-turnstiles-clicking-for-robert-morris\/","title":{"rendered":"Divine Levine keeps the turnstiles clicking for Robert Morris"},"content":{"rendered":"
In a conversation I had with Air Force coach Frank Serratore before the start of the season, he was discussing players in the league that he thought were poised for greatness.<\/p>\n
“Watch out for [Robert Morris goaltender] Eric Levine,” Serratore said. “He’s waited his turn but this is going to be his year. He’s going to be in the top three goalies in the league.”<\/p>\n
That prediction has come true, and with emphasis last weekend. The senior goaltender stopped all 99 shots he faced, shutting out Penn State 6-0 and No. 5 Miami 1-0 in the inaugural Three Rivers Classic at Consol Energy Center in downtown Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n
The Colonials won the tournament and moved into 19th in this week’s USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll<\/a>. RMU is in 11th place in the PairWise Rankings<\/a>.<\/p>\n Levine, which rhymes with “divine,” has certainly played that way, posting a 1.81 goals against average and a .954 save percentage. Thanks to the pair of shutouts last weekend, the Wheeling, Ill., native holds the career shutout record at RMU with four.<\/p>\n “I think that had to be one of the best goaltending performances that we’ve had in our history,” RMU coach Derek Schooley said after Saturday’s championship game.<\/p>\n The attendance for the tournament also was something to cheer about. Friday’s game between Robert Morris and Penn State drew 11,663, easily shattering the old record of 6,957 to see an RMU “home” game. The old record was also for a game played at Consol against Rochester Institute of Technology on the same date in 2010.<\/p>\n Friday’s championship game between Robert Morris and Miami drew 10,797. Expect the same next season when the tournament will feature Robert Morris, Penn State, Bowling Green and Boston College.<\/p>\n The Colonials play most of their home games in 84 Lumber Arena at the Island Sports Center in on Neville Island, about 13 miles away from the Consol. The rink is listed as seating 1,200 but as many as 1,600 have been crammed in, as recently as last month.<\/p>\n Based on last weekend, those tickets are going to be even harder to come by.<\/p>\n From the home office in Haverhill, Mass.:<\/p>\n Atlantic Hockey player and goaltender of the week: Levine wins both awards thanks to a historic weekend, posting back-to-back shutouts to lead his team to the championship of the Three Rivers Classic. He made 99 saves on 99 shots against Penn State (48 saves) and Miami (51 saves).<\/p>\n Atlantic Hockey co-rookies of the week: Gladiuk wins the award for the third time this season. He scored Bentley’s second goal in a 3-2 loss at Massachusetts-Lowell. It was his 10th goal of the season, second on the team.<\/p>\n Denham picked a great time to score his first collegiate goal: He was the lone scorer in a 1-0 win over No. 5 Miami in the title game of the Three Rivers Classic.<\/p>\n For the first time, three Atlantic teams are in the top 20. Monday’s USCHO.com Division I Men’s poll<\/a> has Niagara (10-3-4) at No. 18, Robert Morris (9-4-2) at No. 19 and Holy Cross (10-4-2) at No. 20. The Crusaders enter the poll after a 5-4 win over No. 15 Yale.<\/p>\nPlayers of the week<\/h4>\n
\nEric Levine, Robert Morris<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nAndrew Gladiuk, Bentley
\nBrandon Denham, Robert Morris<\/strong><\/p>\nNational recognition<\/h4>\n