Chris LerchLook for picks in this space every Friday and check back to see how I did on Monday. Last season, I picked just under two out of three (.641) results correctly. Think you can do better? Email me your picks at ahawriter@uscho.com. and I’ll feature a sampling each week. This Week’s Picks Friday October 15 … Read more
Atlantic Hockey grew to 12 teams this season, which pretty much everyone agrees is a good thing. Niagara and Robert Morris have a new home, and the presence of two more quality teams with good track records of success can only help the league as it continues to raise its image. On the other hand, … Read more
Last season, Atlantic Hockey teams struggled out of the gate in non-conference matchups, going 1-9 on opening weekend, with Canisius getting the sole win. Turn the calendar ahead and it was more of the same. AHA teams were 1-9-3 to open the 2010-2011 season with the Golden Griffins again getting the only victory, a 5-3 … Read more
Last season, Atlantic Hockey teams struggled out of the gate in non-conference matchups, going 1-9 on opening weekend, with Canisius getting the sole win. Turn the calendar ahead and it was more of the same. AHA teams were 1-9-3 to open the 2010-2011 season with the Golden Griffins again getting the only victory, a 5-3 … Read more
“Bigger and Better” would be the way to describe the 2010-11 Atlantic Hockey season. The league has expanded from 10 teams to 12, welcoming Niagara and Robert Morris. Senior forward Chris Kushneriuk and Robert Morris hope to make a big splash in the program’s first season in Atlantic Hockey (photo: Robert Morris Athletics). The last … Read more
Injuries and spotty goaltending led to a disappointing 2009-10 season for the Bentley Falcons, who finished in eighth place and were defeated by Connecticut in the first round of the Atlantic Hockey playoffs. But a new season brings a fresh start for Ryan Soderquist’s team. “We’re pretty optimistic heading into the fall,” he said. “I … Read more
Needless to say, it’s going to be tough for Rochester Institute of Technology to top last year. The Tigers won their first Atlantic Hockey playoff title and became the first AHA team to reach the Frozen Four by virtue of winning the NCAA East Regional with upset victories over Denver and New Hampshire. But this … Read more
In 2009-10, Canisius enjoyed its best season under sixth-year coach Dave Smith, finishing fourth in Atlantic Hockey and advancing to the playoff semifinals for the first time since 2004. Several Golden Griffins also won individual accolades, including senior Cory Conacher, the reigning player of the year in the AHA. Conacher put up 53 points last … Read more
At the beginning of last season, the Sacred Heart Pioneers were coming off a disappointing 11-23-4 season and didn’t have a head coach. But C.J. Marottolo put the pieces together quickly and led his team to a 21-win season and a spot in the Atlantic Hockey championship game. “The group of seniors we had last … Read more
The Mercyhurst Lakers are again picked to finish near the top of the Atlantic Hockey standings, which doesn’t come as a shock to coach Rick Gotkin. “We always seem to be in the hunt and I think that’s the result of the success and commitment of our program,” he said. So it was unusual to … Read more
The good news for Army coach Brian Riley is that he has 24 players back from last year’s squad. The bad news is that none of them is named Owen Meyer or Eric Sefchik. Those two, along with now-senior Cody Omilusik, saw tons of ice time and racked up almost 50 percent of the Black … Read more
At the beginning of last season, Air Force coach Frank Serratore was asked whether he was going to start other goalies instead of relying solely on then-senior Andrew Volkening, who had played almost every minute of every game over the past two seasons. After all, life without his workhorse goaltender would begin the next year. … Read more
Niagara’s admission to Atlantic Hockey was seen as one of necessity rather than desire. The school was criticized in the media for “taking a step back” because the move meant fewer scholarships. But according to coach Dave Burkholder, it also meant less of something else. “Travel,” he said. “Besides the other advantages, we’ll be traveling … Read more
Last season was a difficult one for Connecticut. The Huskies endured injury and personnel problems en route to a 7-27-3 season. Freshman goaltender Jeff Larson was forced into a starting role early in the season thanks to an injury to Brad McInnis, and he won just two games before quitting school in December. Coach Bruce … Read more
Last year, Holy Cross put up almost identical numbers as the year before (12-19-6 in 2009-10; 13-20-5 in 2008-09). Treading water isn’t what coach Paul Pearl has in mind. “We had a star-crossed kind of season,” Pearl said. “Guys were pretty banged up.” Twenty-two returning players, a strong recruiting class and some momentum from last … Read more
The Robert Morris Colonials are an unknown commodity heading into their first season in Atlantic Hockey. But an impressive, experienced lineup has made them a favorite to finish near the top of the standings. Robert Morris was picked to finish fourth in the coach’s preseason poll, and got two first-place votes. Are they the team … Read more
American International won only five games during the 2008-09 season, but played some of its best hockey late in that season. Coach Gary Wright hoped that the strong finish would bode well for his 2009-10 squad. But AIC again won only five games last season, albeit with another strong finish. Hope springs eternal. “We felt … Read more
Rochester Institute of Technology pulled away from Wilfred Laurier and posted a 3-1 exhibition win to kick off its season. The Tigers outshot Wilfred Laurier 31-11 over the second and third periods, holding a 44-21 advantage in the game, but Golden Hawks goaltender Ryan Daniels kept his team in the contest. “It was exactly what … Read more
Defending champion and national semifinalist Rochester Institute of Technology has been picked to repeat as champions in the Atlantic Hockey coaches poll, announced Tuesday at the league’s media day, held at Blue Cross Arena, site of the 2011 league championships. Mercyhurst, which finished fourth last season, was picked to finish second and Air Force third. … Read more
A look at this Boston College senior class’ success in the postseason, and other notes. Chris Lerch reports.