BROOKS, AB (November 20, 2019) ? The Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) are thrilled to announce that 1999-born forward Randy Hernández (Miami, FL) has committed to attend and play for Robert Morris University, beginning in the 2020-21 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) hockey season.
The 6?1?, 188lb forward has been one of the top offensive producers in the AJHL this season. He?s registered 43 points (17 goals, 26 assists) in 26 games, ranking 2nd in the AJHL in points and 6th in the league in goals. He was named the October AJHL Player of the Month, scoring 10 goals and 13 assists during the month. He also was named the AJHL Player of the Week twice this season (Oct 7 to 13 and Oct 28 to Nov 3).
?We are extremely happy for Randy and his family,? said Bandits head coach and general manager Ryan Papaioannou.
?We feel his game has grown significantly over the last year in Brooks and he?s been a huge part of our success. He?s been a pleasure to have around the dressing room and is very well liked by his teammates. This is an opportunity he couldn?t pass up and will set him up well for the future.?
Located in Moon, Pennsylvania, the RMU Colonials play in the NCAA?s Division I Atlantic Hockey Conference under 16th year head coach Derek Schooley. During a seven-season span (2012-19), the Colonials have averaged 20 wins per season, winning back-to-back regular season titles in 2014-15 and 2015-16.
Hernández, 20, is in his second year with the Bandits. He registered 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 29 games during the 2018-19 season, and 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists) in 8 AJHL playoff games. He recorded 2 assists in the league final, helping the Bandits win their 5th AJHL Championship.
He added 4 assists in 6 games at the 2019 National Junior A Championship, as the Bandits went undefeated at the tournament to win their second National title.
He joined Brooks midway through the 2018-19 season after starting the year with the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League (USHL). He spent the year prior with the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL. Before then, he spent the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons with the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP).
Hernández is the 10th player on the current Bandits roster committed to an NCAA Division I institution, joining:
- Tyler Bates (Colorado College)
- Corson Ceulemans (University of Wisconsin)
- Tim Rego (College of the Holy Cross)
- Phip Waugh (University of Vermont)
- David Paluch (University of Vermont)
- James McIsaac (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)
- Taylor Makar (University of Massachusetts)
- Greg Japchen (University of Nebraska-Omaha)
- Pierce Charleson (Michigan State University)
The Bandits are home for two games this weekend. They host the Okotoks Oilers on Friday (Nov 22) and Calgary Canucks on Saturday (Nov 23), both at 7:00 PM. Tickets are available online at tickets.brooksbandits.ca.
