Niagara and Robert Morris have announced that the regular-season finale between the two teams will be played outdoors on Sunday, Feb. 26, at 7:05 p.m. at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.
The outdoor game will be the first college hockey game played at Heinz Field and third hockey game played at the venue, following the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic and the 2017 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers, which will take place Saturday, Feb. 25.
The Niagara-RMU game is open to the entire community, with the game being free to attend for the general public.
“We are tremendously excited for the opportunity to play at Heinz Field,” said Niagara coach Dave Burkholder in a statement. “The exhilaration of an outdoor hockey game is hard to match. Playing in an NFL stadium is a highlight that our players, staff, and fans will remember for years to come.”
The Heinz Field games marks the second time in program history that Niagara will play at an outdoor venue. The Purple Eagles played RIT at Rochester’s Frontier Field as a part of the Greater Rochester Arena Honda Dealers Frozen Frontier on Dec. 14, 2013, a game that finished in a 2-2 tie.
The outdoor game also marks the second time in Colonials history the team will play outdoors. The first outdoor game for RMU was played in Toledo, Ohio, at Fifth Third Field, home of the Detroit Tigers’ top affiliate, the Toledo Mud Hens, on Jan. 3, 2015.
“Our players and staff are thrilled to be playing at Heinz Field,” Robert Morris coach Derek Schooley said in a statement. “This is another event that Robert Morris men’s hockey is proud to be associated with and have a tremendous amount of gratitude to the Penguins, Steelers, NHL and Niagara University for making this a reality.”
Located on Pittsburgh’s North Shore, Heinz Field has served as the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers since the stadium opened in 2001.
