Hear the Buzz
This story first appeared on the New Hockey Journal website.
To view the orginial story written by Jim Connelly click here.
By Jim Connelly
A season ago, it took AIC 13 games to earn a victory. Last
week, not only did the Yellow Jackets post a win in game No. 7,
they waited less than 24 hours to earn victory No. 2. For
the first time since the 2005-06 season, AIC earned a two-game
weekend sweep of Canisius - 3-1 and 4-2. The victories came behind
a solid goaltending performance by rookie Dan Ramirez, who is
quickly emerging as a potential No. 1 for Gary Wright's squad.
"We were high on (Ramirez) coming (into the season), but
there's always an element of surprise when a freshman comes in and
starts performing with the aplomb of a veteran," said Wright. "He
has been making the big save with the game on the line and his play
has shown the consistency that is so important for a
goaltender."
AIC certainly looks improved in the one position that has stuck out
like a sore thumb in recent years: defense. There were times when
AIC dominated the Griffs over the weekend - holding them
without a shot in the second period of Friday's game and
outshooting them, 9-2, in the opening period of Saturday's series
finale.
"We had a couple of periods where we controlled play this weekend,
but then Canisius would come back and do the same thing to us,"
said Wright. "Those periods where we greatly limited their shots
were most encouraging and indicate that we are an improved
team."
NEHJ Player of the Week
Bryce Hollweg, Sr., Army The forward posted his first collegiate
hat trick in Saturday's 7-2 win over Bentley. He also added two
assists on the night to register the first five-point game by an
Army player since 2003.
Looking Ahead
Holy Cross at Air Force, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 23 and 24 This
weekend will feature a match-up of the past two postseason league
champions from Atlantic Hockey. Both clubs have started the year
looking solid and each will look to put a stake in the ground as a
dominant club heading towards the holiday break.
Around Atlantic Hockey
Air Force
The Falcons suffered their first-ever home loss to UConn Saturday
night - falling 3-2 in overtime. Prior to that game, Air Force was
9-0-0 all-time in Colorado Springs against the Huskies.
AIC
It was a definite youth movement that led AIC to two wins last
weekend. In addition to Ramirez earning both victories in net,
rookie T.J. Smith notched his first collegiate
goal, while sophomore Mike McMillan paced the
offense with three goals and an assist.
Army
Hollweg's five-point game wasn't the only one recorded by a Black
Knights player last weekend. Owen Meyer, who
recorded a hat trick a weekend ago, also notched five assists this
weekend.
Bentley
Junior Dain Prewitt registered assists in both
games last weekend against Army to extend his point-scoring streak
to six games. ... Bentley will face ECACHL opponent
Dartmouth Saturday. It will be the first-ever meeting of the two
clubs.
Canisius
Sophomore Josh Heidinger buried goals in each of
Canisius' two losses to AIC over the weekend to extend his
goal-scoring streak to six games. That matches Rob
Martin's mark from the 2001-02 season for the longest in
Division 1 history at Canisius.
UConn
Two weeks ago, sophomore Michael Coppola had never
registered a game-winning goal for the Huskies. In the span of
three games, though, he's registered two - both in overtime.
Holy Cross
The Crusaders power play currently is tops in the nation at 29.8
percent (14-for-47). Sophomore Ryan Driscoll
(Dorchester, Mass.) leads the way with four power play tallies.
Mercyhurst
The Lakers got an early Christmas present last weekend when
goaltender Matt Lundin returned to the net after a
nine-game absence. Lundin was injured in the opening game of the
season and was expected to miss up to 12 weeks. Instead, he missed
just more than a month.
RIT
Congratulations are in order for head coach Wayne
Wilson, who reached the 150-win plateau with Saturday's
3-2 overtime win over Mercyhurst. Wilson is 150-71-16 all-time
behind the RIT bench and trails only Eric Hoffberg
(188 career wins) on the all-time win list.
Sacred Heart
The Pioneers, one of the best home ice teams in Atlantic Hockey,
ran into college hockey's home-ice juggernaut last weekend in
Niagara. Sacred Heart's two losses were Niagara's 21st
and 22nd consecutive victories at home dating back to
last season.
