Goals in sight as Malone, community rally for Robert Morris hockey

When people come together for the better good, it can be a pretty magical thing. Pittsburghers need look no further than the forces behind the Pittsburgh College Hockey Foundation and the others working to restore the hockey programs at Robert Morris ahead of Wednesday's deadline to see what can happen when people come together for the greater good.

The foundation, led by two-time Olympic hockey silver medalist Brianne McLaughlin and her husband, Logan Bittle, have spearheaded the fundraising efforts to reinstate the programs and recently enlisted in some help from some familiar faces around Pittsburgh.

"I get pretty emotional, to be honest," former Penguins and western Pennsylvania native Ryan Malone said in an interview with DK Pittsburgh Sports. "We have these guys in Neil Walker, Brett Keisel and Shaun Suisham, plus you throw in Colby Armstrong, all coming together for this. They're taking the time out of their busy schedules and their family time and to see that it means so much to them, it's incredible and humbling."

Coming together has made this entire process special for those involved, including Malone, and it's also exactly what's been needed as the deadline looms. The university set a total of $1.4 million in cash, plus an additional $1.4 million in pledges, as the goal to get and the foundation, through pledges and contributions to the Give Campus site as well as other avenues, has raised $2.5 million. Of that total, $1.5 million consists of cash, while the other $1 million and change represents pledges for future contributions. 

"It gets you in the mindset that the second period is over and it's time for the third and it's time to rally," Malone said."Now, we need to rally and win the third period. Even $10 helps. Getting any type of support, no matter how big or small, is incredible."

There's still time left to raise the $300,000 needed to reach their goal, but no matter what, Malone, the foundation and all involved are going down swinging, especially with the guys mentioned above.

"We love the game," Malone said. "We love this city. That's why we stayed in Pittsburgh, we all want to give back and help guys give back and fall in love with the game just like we all have."

The support the hockey community has given the foundation and the cause has come from far and wide, with ESPN's John Buccigross helping to spread the word among his social media following. Having the support of a college hockey aficionado such as Buccigross is great for the cause; it also shows how tight the hockey community is.

"The community support has been incredible," Malone said. "The hockey community has come together and proven they support college hockey and support Robert Morris hockey."

Malone would know a thing or two about hockey in Pittsburgh, having been the first Pittsburgh-born player to be drafted by and to play for the Penguins. Malone, the son of former Penguins forward Greg Malone, grew up at the Civic Arena, often spending time with the families of Eddie Johnson, Bob Johnson and Craig Patrick. 

Back then, the hockey culture in Pittsburgh was drastically different, as this was just as the Penguins were beginning to have success in the 1980s and 1990s.

"Growing up here, I can see how much this game has grown, first-hand from back when I grew up," Malone said. "There were only three rinks, including the Civic Arena. Now, to see where this game is at in Pittsburgh, it's awesome."

The hockey market has expanded all over the region, with rinks everywhere from the city to Neville Island, home of Robert Morris hockey, to the airport to Castle Shannon, and even all the way to Altoona. That expanded market has afforded many more opportunities for kids chasing dreams.

"When I was growing up, we didn't even know college hockey was an option. We just thought those opportunities ended at a certain point," Malone said. "Now, with opportunities to play college hockey in Pittsburgh and those programs having success, it's so big for those players who were just like me, looking for opportunities to use to get to the NHL."

Without Division 1 hockey at Robert Morris, those opportunities disappear not only for those in the area, but people from elsewhere who come to the university. That's a major reason reinstatement of the hockey programs is big for both the university and the city. Having that pool of talent helps to keep players in their hometowns, but also helps those programs improve each season. That's something Malone witnessed when he attended St. Cloud State.

"Being in Minnesota, you could see how important it was for them to pick kids from their area. They rarely ever went outside of Minnesota and you could see why. With Robert Morris in Pittsburgh, it makes it so much easier for our teams and programs to recruit this area and keep those players in the area in front of their friends and families."

Now, Malone and Co. are here to send a message and make sure that players in this area don't have to go elsewhere to pursue their dreams of playing professional hockey. 

"We're here to come back and make some noise to show this matters, that Robert Morris' programs matter to the students, the players and Pittsburgh," Malone said. "With this, we're trying to help those players impacted by this and provide future opportunities to those players. If we can make this happen, Robert Morris can come back even stronger than what it was before they were cut."

While the clock in the third period of this fundraising game is winding down, the impact it's had on the community, those involved and the city can't be overstated, although work still can and must be done to make it all come to fruition.

"It means a lot to me to be able to come back and help out the city of Pittsburgh and the game of hockey," Malone said. "Every NHL player wants, and would love, to give back to their hometown. Lucky enough for me, It's my turn this time."

Should he and the others be able to accomplish this goal and beat the clock, it will go down in hockey history as one of the best saves yet.