ROBINSON, Pa.– On Tuesday afternoon, supporters of college hockey in Pittsburgh gathered at the All-Star Sports and Grill in Robinson for a #SaveRMUHockey rally. The event was spearheaded by the Pittsburgh College Hockey Foundation. All-Star Sports Grill donated 10% of the tab to the Hockey is the Goal movement.

With the Penguins’ first game of the season on in the background, guests were served food and drinks by some unique bartenders named Derek Schooley, Brianne McLaughlin, and Tim Benz.

First celebrity bartender of the night at All Star Sports Bar and Grill! The voice of the Colonials @TimBenzPGH is behind the bar! Come over now and have Tim serve you a drink for the @penguins game! pic.twitter.com/H6Y4A6Vwpc

— Colonial Hockey Foundation (@ColonialHF) October 12, 2021

McLaughlin joked about her bartending skills during the event.

“I worked for Jailhouse for two weeks and then got fired, but I am having fun and that is all that matters.”

RMU hockey merchandise and 50/50 raffles were also available with RMU jerseys, pucks, and photos being auctioned off. Merchandise from former NHL’er and inspiration for the beloved hockey movie Slapshot Dave Hanson was also auctioned off. Once again, all of the proceeds went towards the Hockey is the Goal Campaign.

“This is our first event so far and it has been good. There is a decent amount of people here and then we have the Golf Outing on Friday as well as the hockey game in November,” McLaughlin said. “It is a pretty good start the way we are trying to do things.”

In May of 2021, both division one hockey teams were by Robert Morris University and significant efforts have been made to try and halt this from becoming a permanent reality. On Tuesday, it was announced that Barstool Sports will match any donation the campaign receives. The campaign currently only has eight-percent of its donation goal of $1.4 million dollars met.

RMU hockey has continuously been one of the most successful programs on campus with several awards and accolades to show for it. Just this week, women’s hockey alumni Brittany Howard was named to the PWHPA’s All-Star Team, and Kirsten Welsh being named as an official in the AHL. McLaughlin noted the continued public presence of alumni.

“It feels like every month there are some alumni doing something great and I think it is a testament of what we have built so far and it is motivation to keep going forwards.

PCHF will also hold another fundraising event this weekend as they will host a Golf Outing on Friday the 15th. The event will take place at the Moon Golf Club and spots are still open for teams. Tickets are $70 per person and include breakfast and lunch. Check-in is at 8:00 am with a shotgun start at 9 am. Next month, PCHF will also host a celebrity hockey game at the UMPC Lemieux Sports Complex on November 7th.

With time winding down to the December 16th deadline for fundraising for RMU Hockey’s return, time is of the essence for all to donate and help this campaign.