Robert Morris adds NAHL defenseman, local product Love, who will be eligible Dec. 15

Corpus Christi IceRays defenseman Tyler Love played for Team NAHL at the 2019 Sirius Ice Hockey World Cup in Sochi, Russia (photo: NAHL).

Robert Morris announced Wednesday that Moon Township, Pa., native Tyler Love will enroll at RMU for the spring semester and join the team this month.

Love, a 19-year-old defenseman, will be first eligible to play for the Colonials on Sunday, Dec. 15, for the second game of a two-game series against Army West Point at the RMU Island Sports Center.

“We are excited to add a local player that grew up around Robert Morris hockey,” said RMU coach Derek Schooley in a statement. “He has tremendous upside that will help our team immediately.

“(Love) is a good defender that makes good first passes. He is currently a captain and will fit in well with the Colonial hockey family.”

Love was in the midst of his second full season of junior hockey with the NAHL’s Corpus Christi IceRays and had posted 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in 87 NAHL regular-season games and also competed in two Robertson Cup tournaments.

Prior to that, Love played with the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite AAA organization, and is also an alumnus of the Arctic Foxes Hockey Association, which is based at the Island Sports Center, where he started his playing days in the in-house league.

“It’s very special to me to have the opportunity to play Division I hockey for RMU in my hometown,” Love added. “I have so many great memories of playing in their home rink for most of my youth hockey. I have always been a fan of RMU hockey and I’m excited for a top-notch education as well.”

First-year RMU assistant Ryan Cruthers was Corpus Christi’s head coach last season.