This Week in Atlantic Hockey: After sweeping conference favorite AIC, Canisius moving forward ‘changing our lineup a fair amount, looking for some chemistry’

For a league where sweeps have historically been hard to come by and splits are the norm, so far this season it’s been feast or famine in conference series in Atlantic Hockey. There have been 15 conference series so far, with nine ending in sweeps. Another three series saw one team take five of six … Read more

This Week in Atlantic Hockey: Sacred Heart hoping ‘incredible feat’ of three goals in 21 seconds against Mercyhurst is springboard for more victories

I had the chance recently to talk to Pierre-Luc O’Brien, who starred for Sacred Heart from 2004 to 2008. O’Brien was a three-time Atlantic Hockey all-star as well as a Hobey Baker finalist. He holds the school’s record for career points (156). When asked about his favorite college hockey memory, O’Brien related the “Miracle at … Read more

This Week in Atlantic Hockey: No power outage for RIT as Tigers’ man advantage clicking during early part of ’22-23 schedule

Rochester Institute of Technology has opened the 2022-23 season 6-2-0, its best start in four years. While there are several reasons for the strong start, one number sticks out. The Tiger power play is clicking at 33.3 percent, tied for third nationally and double the 16.2 percent rate for RIT last season. And while Wayne … Read more

This Week in Atlantic Hockey: Even after picking up sweep over Lindenwood, AIC team still ‘a work in progress’

It was mostly splitsville in Atlantic Hockey last week, with both conference series (Rochester Institute of Technology at Air Force and Sacred Heart at Niagara) ending in splits. In each case, the home team won the first game, with the visitors coming back the next day to get their three points. Mercyhurst and Clarkson also … Read more

This Week in Atlantic Hockey: Niagara combining timely scoring, goaltending into early-season success to start ’22-23

Heading into this season and every season for the past decade, hope springs eternal for Atlantic Hockey to get more than its playoff champion into the NCAA tournament. That will require a team to have a strong enough record to not need the automatic qualifier awarded to the playoff champion. It also requires a strong, … Read more

Atlantic Hockey 2022-23 Season Preview: Complacency not an issue for any teams as conference finds itself focused on new season

It’s difficult to predict what will happen in a college hockey season, but coaches and journalists try, issuing preseason polls and predictions at this time of year. It’s a difficult and usually futile effort, especially when it comes to Atlantic Hockey. Air Force coach Frank Serratore should know. His Falcons were picked ninth in last … Read more

American International takes top spot in ’22-23 Atlantic Hockey preseason coaches poll; Canisius’ Barczewski, Sacred Heart’s Shea, RIT’s Wilkie preseason co-players of year

Four-time defending regular-season champion American International is the winner of the 2022-23 Atlantic Hockey preseason coaches poll, which was released Tuesday. The Yellow Jackets garnered eight of nine possible first-place votes in balloting among AHA head coaches (coaches could not vote for their own teams) for 88 points to outdistance second-place Sacred Heart, which received … Read more

Bentley names St. Lawrence assistant Murphy associate head coach, Tufts assistant Gentzler director of hockey operations

Ben Murphy has returned to the Bentley coaching staff as associate head coach, while Gudge Gentzler has been hired for the new director of hockey operations position. Murphy was previously an assistant coach at Bentley from the 2009 to 2019. He was an assistant coach at St. Lawrence for the last three seasons. Murphy played … Read more

Sacred Heart assistant coach Durocher named director of hockey operations at Colorado College

Ryan Durocher has been named the director of hockey operations at Colorado College. Durocher comes to Colorado Springs after serving as an assistant coach at Sacred Heart during the 2021-22 season. “I am excited that Ryan will be joining our staff,” Tigers head coach Kris Mayotte said in a statement. “We are fortunate to have … Read more

Army West Point hires former Albertus Magnus assistant Riley as Black Knights’ director of hockey operations

Army West Point has announced the addition of Jack Riley to the hockey staff as the director of hockey operations ahead of the 2022-23 season. Riley, a Hobey Baker nominee and Atlantic Hockey all-conference selection during his playing career at Mercyhurst, joins the Black Knights after most recently serving as an assistant coach at Albertus … Read more

Williams assistant, former Potsdam goalie Skidmore named to Niagara staff ahead of 2022-23 season

Niagara has announced the addition of Nate Skidmore to the Purple Eagles’ staff for the 2022-23 season. Last season, Skidmore was the assistant coach at Williams. “We are excited to welcome Nate to our uncommon family,” said Niagara coach Jason Lammers in a statement. “He has a tremendous drive to be on the road recruiting … Read more

Air Force names Colorado Springs product, former UMass Lowell captain Holmstrom director of hockey operations

Colorado Springs native Josh Holmstrom has been named the director of hockey operations at Air Force. Holmstrom comes to the academy after serving as the head coach of the EHL’s Walpole Express. “We are very excited to have Josh Holmstrom joining our staff,” Falcons head coach Frank Serratore said in a statement. “Josh is a … Read more

Army West Point director of hockey operations Horn named new video coordinator for AHL’s Condors

The AHL’s Bakersfield Condors announced Wednesday that Kris Horn is the team’s new video coordinator. Horn joins the Condors from Army West Point where he had been the director of hockey operations since 2018. He was previously an assistant coach at Brockport (2016-18), a volunteer assistant coach at Union (2015-16), and an assistant coach at … Read more

Former men’s hockey goalie DeMichiel, prolific women’s hockey scorer Park, USCHO.com’s own Trefzger part of RIT athletics hall of fame ’22 class

RIT has announced the five newest individuals selected for induction into the school’s sports hall of fame. The class of 2022 includes former Tigers goalie Jared DeMichiel, former women’s hockey standout Alysia Park, and USCHO.com’s own Ed Trefzger, for distinguished service. Induction ceremonies will take place on Saturday, October 15, in Rochester N.Y. at the … Read more