The two transferred after Robert Morris announced in May 2021 it was cutting its men’s and women’s Division I hockey programs.
Guerra hit the NCAA transfer portal for Holy Cross, and Hernandez left for Canisius. However, the demise of Robert Morris hockey was brief; the university has resumed men’s and women’s hockey this season.
Guerra is also the tie that binds the three to Baez. Besides playing together as kids, Baez and Guerra were teammates with Lone Star of the North American Hockey League from 2018-20.
“He’s one of my best friends,” said Baez, whose late father, Pete, was Puerto Rican. “A real good player.”
Guerra said he was the one who wooed Baez to play junior hockey in Texas. The Tampa native responded by leading the NAHL in goals (32) in 2019-20 and was seventh in points (58) in 53 games.
The Florida friends said they’re looking forward to the opening of the AHA season on Saturday to see who’ll end up with team and personal bragging rights.
“Every time I play Joe, we’ll talk, we’ll have dinner before the game or something like that,” Guerra said. “And then as soon as the game starts, we go at it just like we would against anybody else on those teams.
“We’re obviously extremely close, best friends,” Guerra said. “But once we get on the ice, we’re trying to win, we’re trying to help our team.”
