This Week in Atlantic Hockey: Handing out mid-term grades to all 10 conference teams at 2022 holiday break

With the first half of the Atlantic Hockey season in the books, let’s hand out some mid-term grades: Air Force (6-10-2, 2-7-1 AHA) Atlantic Hockey Standings: Ninth Points Per Game: 0.70 (Ninth) PairWise Ranking: 55 The Lowdown: The Falcons have some quality wins, including over Colorado College and RIT. But they’ve dropped five in a … 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

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

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

Atlantic Hockey announces changes to postseason tournament, top eight teams qualify

Entering its 20th anniversary season, Atlantic Hockey has announced changes to its postseason. The battle for the Jack Riley Memorial Trophy will play out on AHA campuses over three weekends in March with a new format that will culminate in a single-game championship weekend. The 2023 postseason will open with best-of-three quarterfinal series March 3-5 … Read more

Atlantic Hockey, College Hockey America commissioner DeGregorio stepping down at conclusion of ’22-23 season

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Atlantic Hockey and College Hockey America commissioner Robert DeGregorio has announced he will retire from both positions following the 2022-23 season. DeGregorio officially notified Atlantic Hockey and College Hockey America leadership of his intention to step down during both leagues’ annual meetings prior to the American Hockey Coaches Association convention in Naples, Fla., last week. … Read more

AIC takes home five honors from Atlantic Hockey, including Theodore as top player, Galambos best ‘D,’ Kucharski goalie champ, for 2021-22 season

Atlantic Hockey announced Thursday its 2021-22 regular-season awards. Honorees this year include five from Atlantic Hockey regular-season champion AIC – Forward Chris Theodore (player of the year), defenseman Zak Galambos (best defenseman), forward Jake Stella (best defensive forward), goaltender Jake Kucharski (goaltending champion) and head coach Eric Lang (coach of the year). They are joined … Read more

Atlantic Hockey announces all-conference teams, all-rookie team for 2021-22 season

Atlantic Hockey announced Wednesday its 2021-22 all-Atlantic Hockey teams and the all-rookie team. Regular-season champion AIC led all teams in selections with five players chosen. Air Force, Army West Point, Canisius, RIT and Sacred Heart each had three players chosen while Bentley, Holy Cross, Mercyhurst and Niagara each had one representative. First Team Chris Theodore, … Read more

This Week in Atlantic Hockey: With conference playoffs down to eight teams, battle for NCAA tournament autobid heating up this weekend

The opening round of the Atlantic Hockey tournament consisted of a pair of sweeps, one by the favorites and one by an underdog. At Mercyhurst, the story was Lakers goaltender Kyle McClellan who stopped 74 of 76 Holy Cross shots he faced in a pair of 2-1 wins. At Niagara, Bentley got a pair of … Read more

This Week in Atlantic Hockey: Previewing the opening round of AHA conference tournament

When the dust settled on the 2021-22 Atlantic Hockey regular season, we were left with the following seedings for the upcoming AHA tournament: 1. American International 2. Canisius 3. Army West Point 4. Rochester Institute of Technology 5. Sacred Heart 6. Air Force 7. Mercyhurst 8. Niagara 9. Bentley 10. Holy Cross Army West Point … Read more

This Week in Atlantic Hockey: Conference standings still in state of flux with last regular-season weekend on tap

With one weekend left in the regular season in Atlantic Hockey, it’s down to the wire with eight of the 10 playoffs spots still to be determined. The top six teams in the standings will get a first-round bye. The top four will host quarterfinal series beginning March 11. Seeds seven through 10 will pair … Read more

Sacred Heart-RIT, AIC-UConn men’s hockey games rescheduled; Yale-Merrimack New Year’s Day game canceled

Three Atlantic Hockey teams have rescheduled a pair of previously postponed games for Tuesday, Jan. 11. The first game of the postponed Atlantic Hockey series between RIT and Sacred Heart has been rescheduled for 4 p.m. ET and will be played at RIT’s Gene Polisseni Center. Sacred Heart will skate as the home team in … Read more

Atlantic Hockey ‘will present a great hockey atmosphere’ with 2022 championship tournament at Utica’s Adirondack Bank Center

Atlantic Hockey and the city of Utica, N.Y., announced Thursday that it will hold its 2022 Atlantic Hockey championship tournament March 18-19, 2022 at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. The facility is a 3,915 -seat multi-purpose arena and is the home arena of the AHL’s Utica Comets, Utica College men’s and … Read more

This Week in Atlantic Hockey: With 13 of first 15 games away from home, Sacred Heart squad proving to be early-season road warriors

Sacred Heart opened the 2021-22 season with five straight road games before the Pioneers played their first homestand of the season Oct. 29-30 at Webster Bank Arena, a split with Niagara. Then it was back on the road for C.J. Marottolo’s team, which won’t play another home game until 2022 – January 1 to be … Read more

This Week in Atlantic Hockey: American International benefiting from tough early schedule at start of ’21-22 season

When discussing American International, his opponent last weekend, Rochester Institute of Technology coach Wayne Wilson referred to the Yellow Jackets as “battle tested.” AIC is just nine games into the 2021-22 campaign but has already squared off with No. 12 Providence, No. 9 Massachusetts (twice), No. 5 Quinnipiac (twice) as well as series against Army … Read more

This Week in Atlantic Hockey: RIT seeing marked improvement early in 2021-22 season, but ‘still evolving’

At 4-2-2, Rochester Institute of Technology is off to a strong start. The only Atlantic Hockey team currently over .500 overall, the Tigers sit atop the Atlantic Hockey standings, three points ahead of Mercyhurst. RIT took five of six points from the Lakers at home last weekend. While head coach Wayne Wilson isn’t completely satisfied … Read more