Chris LerchThree things from this weekend’s action in Atlantic Hockey 1. Holy Cross prevents a shutout – The league did a decent job the previous week in a plethora of non-conference games, but this past weekend was a different story. AHA teams went 1-8-2 out of league, with only the Crusaders posting a win. Goaltender Matt … Read more
Penn State goaltender P.J. Musico made 40 saves to lead the Nittany Lions to a 3-2 win over Rochester Institute of Technology in front of a sellout crowd of 10,556 at Rochester’s Blue Cross Arena. Max Gardiner had a goal and an assist, including what proved to be the game-winner on the power play at … Read more
Last Week: 9-6-2 On the Season: 9-7-3 (.553) As usual, I picked a split correctly (American International and Penn State) but in the wrong order. This week features of a host of games against ranked teams. This Week’s Picks: Friday, Oct. 19 No. 19 Colorado College at Air Force – The Tigers lead the … Read more
Last Week: 9-6-2 On the Season: 9-7-3 (.553) As usual, I picked a split correctly (American International and Penn State) but in the wrong order. This week features of a host of games against ranked teams. This Week’s Picks: Friday, Oct. 19 No. 19 Colorado College at Air Force – The Tigers lead the … Read more
Reed Smith’s power-play goal at 3:34 of overtime led the Nazareth Golden Flyers to a 3-2 win over Geneseo in the opening game for each team of the 2012-13 season. Nazareth goaltender Ed Zdolshek made 50 saves in the victory. It was Nazareth’s first game in program history and its first win for coach George … Read more
As mentioned in Monday’s recap of the first full weekend of play for Atlantic Hockey teams, there was marked improvement for the league, going 4-8-2 in non-conference play compared to 1-14 last season (with that one win coming in a non-conference matchup between two AHA teams). All the games were on the road or at … Read more
Three things from last week: 1. It’s getting better. Last year, the opening weekend of the college hockey season saw Atlantic Hockey teams go 1-14 in non-league action, and that single win was in the consolation game of a tournament between two AHA teams. This season opened with a more respectable 4-8-2 record for the … Read more
Three things from last week: 1. It’s getting better. Last year, the opening weekend of the college hockey season saw Atlantic Hockey teams go 1-14 in non-league action, and that single win was in the consolation game of a tournament between two AHA teams. This season opened with a more respectable 4-8-2 record for the … Read more
Last Week: 0-1-1 On the Season: 0-1-1 This Week’s Picks: Thursday, Oct. 11 and Friday Oct. 12 Rochester Institute of Technology at No. 3 Michigan – This is the first meeting between the two teams. Michigan will return the favor with a trip to Rochester next season. Both won preseason exhibitions handily. Michigan is the … Read more
Last Week: 0-1-1 On the Season: 0-1-1 This Week’s Picks: Thursday, Oct. 11 and Friday Oct. 12 Rochester Institute of Technology at No. 3 Michigan – This is the first meeting between the two teams. Michigan will return the favor with a trip to Rochester next season. Both won preseason exhibitions handily. Michigan is the … Read more
The 2012-13 season will be an unprecedented one for Atlantic Hockey, because for the first time in the league’s 10-year history, the same teams will use the same scheduling scheme and postseason plan two years in a row. Things will be different again in two years with the planned departure of Connecticut for Hockey East, … Read more
For the first time in the nine-year history of Atlantic Hockey, the American International Yellow Jackets finished out of the basement last season, coming in 10th. Even though the team recorded the same number of conference wins as the season before, not finishing last was a cause for optimism. “It was a relief after the … Read more
It’s no surprise that Air Force has again been picked to be Atlantic Hockey champions. The Falcons have accomplished that feat five of the six seasons they’ve been in the league. While 10 of the 12 AHA teams have made it to Rochester for the semifinals in those six years, it has almost always been … Read more
Army seemed poised to move up in the standings last season. Teams with 12 seniors on their roster usually get the benefit of the doubt, as you so often see squads with this makeup overachieve. Instead, the Black Knights won their fewest number of games (four) since the 1950-51 season. Army averaged fewer than two … Read more
Last season, Bentley coach Ryan Soderquist walked out of the Atlantic Hockey awards banquet with an armful of trophies including coach of the year, rookie of the year (Alex Grieve), regular season scoring champion (Brett Gensler) and four players on various all-league and all-rookie teams. But Soderquist was there without his team, which fell just … Read more
Canisius treaded water in Atlantic Hockey last season, finishing with a similar record to the 2010-11 team that was loaded with senior talent. Last year saw some new leaders emerge and a more balanced team in general. Twenty-two players return to a team that is expected to finish in the same position in the standings. … Read more
Holy Cross isn’t rebuilding but resetting this season after the loss of eight seniors. “It’s a reset of the culture of the team,” Crusaders coach Paul Pearl said. “We lost a lot of experience and leadership. We’re a very young team.” Holy Cross is coming off its first 20-win season since the magical 2005-06 campaign … Read more
Rick Gotkin is celebrating his 25th year behind the Mercyhurst bench this season, and he’s coming off what might have been one of his best coaching performances. Picked to finish seventh and featuring a huge rookie class and an unproven goalie, the Lakers tied for third in Atlantic Hockey last season, just two points out … Read more
Niagara was one of the top teams in the CHA before moving to Atlantic Hockey two seasons ago and picked up right where it left off. The Purple Eagles finished a point away from the regular season title last season and a an overtime goal away from making the league’s championship game. Niagara is expected … Read more
Rochester Institute of Technology tied for third place last season, its lowest finish since joining Atlantic Hockey in 2006. The Tigers are picked to tie for fourth in the preseason coaches’ poll, their lowest preseason ranking since being picked to finish eighth in that debut season of 2006. But don’t push the panic button yet, … Read more