Michigan
5-0-0
Robert Morris
0-1-0
Michigan Rallies to Take Care of Business in Win Over RMU
10/16/2025 10:40:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Adam Valentini scored his first two goals for U-M, including the game-tying and game-winning tallies.
» T.J. Hughes recorded his 49th career goal and blocked three shots while winning 14 of 20 faceoffs.
» Defenseman Ben Robertson chipped in a pair of assists and registered three shots on goal.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A rare weeknight non-conference contest came down to the third period for the No. 4-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team on Thursday night (Oct. 16) inside Yost Ice Arena, as the Wolverines used dominant puck possession and timely offense to edge visiting Robert Morris, 4-2.
Michigan (5-0-0) carried the play early and seemed able to control the puck at will. As pressure mounted and shots on goal piled up, U-M drew three penalties to create additional opportunities. The Wolverines' power-play unit spent significant time in the offensive zone but could not find the back of the net.
Robert Morris (0-1-0) failed to record its first shot on goal until the final 30 seconds of the opening period, when a Michigan penalty created a brief stretch of 4-on-4 play before intermission.
A second power-play opportunity for the Colonials arose 1:58 into the middle frame. They failed to score with the extra skater but converted shortly after play returned to even strength, taking a 1-0 lead at 4:01 on a crisp wrist shot from the left circle.
The Wolverines continued to press, but several near misses kept them off the scoreboard. U-M led 16-6 in shots on goal at the first media timeout of the second period yet still trailed 1-0.
Shortly thereafter, Michigan broke through when Jayden Perron redirected Ben Robertson's point shot through traffic at 12:25 to even the score. Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen picked up the secondary assist on Perron's first tally as a Wolverine.
Robert Morris responded quickly, reclaiming the lead just over a minute later at 13:40 on a shot that deflected its way to the back of the net.
Freshman forward Adam Valentini, the third-youngest player in college hockey, tied it again at 15:57 with his first collegiate goal. Valentini won a battle along the boards, spun toward the slot and slipped a low shot through the goalie's five-hole to make it 2-2.
Michigan returned to form after killing off a carryover penalty to start the third period. The Wolverines took their first lead at 7:50 when Michael Hage drove hard to the net on an odd-man rush, creating a rebound opportunity that Valentini buried for his second of the night. Robertson earned the second assist for moving the puck up the ice to Hage.
Looking for insurance late, Michigan turned to its captain as Robert Morris pulled its goalie. T.J. Hughes sealed the victory with an empty-net goal at 19:36, assisted by freshmen Cole McKinney and Asher Barnett.
The Wolverines poured onto the ice to celebrate a 4-2 victory with goaltender Jack Ivankovic, who made 14 saves to improve to 5-0. Michigan held a 39-16 edge in shots on goal and won 35 of 63 faceoffs. Both teams finished 0-for-3 on the power play.
The teams will meet again Friday night (Oct. 17) at Yost Ice Arena to wrap up the non-conference series. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be streamed live on B1G+.
