The AIC Yellow Jackets have shown steady improvement in recent seasons, but haven’t been able to escape the Atlantic Hockey basement. The problem for AIC is that everybody’s getting better. “The league has really been surging in terms of the emphasis schools are putting on their programs,” said coach Gary Wright, in his 25th season … Read more
Things are headed in the right direction for AIC, but not fast enough for coach Gary Wright. The team got off to a horrendous 2-14 start before finishing the season 6-11-1 and taking points in all but two of its last eight league series. The Yellow Jackets won a first-round playoff game at Canisius before … Read more
American International coach Gary Wright is pragmatic. He assumed his team would be picked to finish last in the Atlantic Hockey preseason coaches’ poll — after all, the Yellow Jackets finished at the bottom of the standings last season. WRIGHT But Wright says that things are looking up in Springfield. “We’re obviously worried about where … Read more
Atlantic Hockey will host its league championship at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester for the next three seasons, and may look to extend the relationship beyond that. Commissioner Bob DeGregorio says the move to an off-campus site for the Atlantic Hockey tournament will help the league raise its level of play. (photo: Ed Trefzger) … Read more
AIC head coach Gary Wright is a hard-working man. Not only does he coach hockey for the Yellow Jackets, he’s also the school’s golf coach. So when the Atlantic Hockey coaches’ poll picked his Yellow Jackets to finish last this season, he was a bit humbled. “I’m just glad I don’t coach three sports,” said … Read more
AIC has named Joe Exter, a former goaltender at Merrimack who has spent the past two seasons in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, an assistant hockey coach. Exter replaces Bobby Ferraris, who recently was named an assistant coach at Mercyhurst after two seasons at AIC. “We are excited about having Joe on our staff,” said head … Read more
Mercyhurst Director of Athletics Pete Russo announced the hiring of Bobby Ferraris as assistant men’s ice hockey coach. Ferraris joins head coach Rick Gotkin’s staff effective immediately. Ferraris has extensive coaching experience and, most recently, served as assistant coach at American International College (AIC) for the last two years. During his stay with the Yellow … Read more
Just score more goals. That’s what American International coach Gary Wright wants his team to accomplish this season. A year ago, the AIC offense scored what Wright called an “anemic” 2.04 goals per game in league play, which easily ranked dead last. Combine that with a league-worst 4.04 goals against per game and there’s no … Read more
There has to be a point at which things get frustrating. Despite constantly improving from year to year, it seems American International and head coach Gary Wright can’t make a move up the standings. The Yellow Jackets have, over the past three seasons, added solid players at all positions. Unfortunately for AIC, though, the skill … Read more
The MAAC Hockey League is no more, though the nine member schools will continue to compete together.
It seems that whatever question you ask American International coach Gary Wright these days, you get the game answer. What aspect of AIC’s game most needs improvement? “Goal-scoring.” What will it take to get out of the nine through 11 spots and make the playoffs? “Goal-scoring.” Can AIC be effective from the beginning of the … Read more
A solid defense and good team discipline will buoy AIC’s hopes in 2001-02, assisted by one more year of experience from MAAC all-rookie teamers Guillaume Caron and Trent Ulmer.
How much is goaltending a factor in deciding championships? If it were up to AIC coach Gary Wright, a major factor indeed. That is the one area where his Yellow Jackets will be strong this year. With returning seniors Chance Thede and Ben Brady, AIC will have the most experienced goaltending tandem in the MAAC. … Read more