Forceful Performance
This story first appeared on the New England Hockey Journal
website. To access the story written by Jim Connelly click here.
By Jim Connelly
It may have taken Air Force more than a month, but the defending
tournament champion Falcons finally put together back-to-back wins
in the same weekend.
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The Falcons used, 6-3, and, 4-2, wins over upstart AIC to earn
their first weekend sweep in league play. The four points
catapulted Air Force over sister military academy Army into first
place. Army, just a point behind, also has a game in hand on the
Falcons.
One thing to note is the improved offensive production for Air
Force. After a 10-game stretch that saw the Falcons score three
goals or less in nine of the 10 games, the club has tallied four or
more goals in three straight games, earning two wins and a tie.
It's no coincidence that this offensive improvement coincides with
the strong play of Eric Ehn, a Hobey Baker finalist a season ago.
Ehn is currently riding a seven-game point scoring streak during
which he's potted five goals and nine assists for 14 points.
NEHJ Player of the Week
Brent Olsen, Jr., Air Force The second-leading scorer for the
Falcons, Olsen potted a career-best three goals on the weekend in
the Falcons' two-game sweep of AIC. Olsen already has 13 points
this season after scoring just 13 points in his freshman and
sophomore years combined.
Around Atlantic Hockey
Air Force
Military men are known for discipline, so it should be no shock
that Air Force's top four scorers have combined for just one minor
penalty all season.
AIC
The Yellow Jackets' power play may have struggled a bit this
season, but three goals in last weekend's two-game set against Air
Force may have the Yellow Jackets heading in the right direction.
AIC entered last weekend with just two power-play tallies all
season.
Army
The Black Knights are poised to do some travel in the coming weeks.
After Friday's 4-2 win at Tate Rink, Army will play seven straight
games on the road. The Black Knights won't return to home until
Jan. 18, a span of 49 days without a home tilt.
Bentley
The Falcons will have a chance to pick up their first win ever
against a Hockey East opponent when they travel to UMass-Lowell
Saturday afternoon. The Falcons are 0-2-0 all-time against Lowell
and the last game played between the two was in the 2004-05 season.
Canisius
The Griffs packed in the home crowd on Friday night, as 1,168 fans
watched Canisius knock off rival Mercyhurst. The crowd was the
second largest to watch a Griffs game at Buffalo State Sports
Arena.
UConn
Offensive woes continued for the Huskies, as they managed just four
goals in a two-game series against Holy Cross. Currently, just one
Husky player, junior defenseman Sean Erickson, has
cracked double digits in scoring.
Holy Cross
The Crusaders currently boast the leading power play in the nation,
converting at an impressive 31.2 percent on the season. Four times,
including Saturday night at UConn, Holy Cross has potted three
power-play goals in the same game.
Mercyhurst
Head coach Rick Gotkin became the 43rd coach in college
hockey history to reach the 350-win plateau with a 5-2 victory over
Canisius on Saturday night. Gotkin currently ranks 19th
among active coaches on the all-time wins list.
RIT
If anyone thinks Army going 48 days without a home game is tough,
RIT has it topped. The Tigers are in the midst of a 10-game, 54-day
span between home games. RIT's next home game is Jan. 18 against
Bentley.
Sacred Heart
Sophomore Nick Johnson (Windsor, Conn.) is
currently riding a career-best nine game point scoring streak.
Ironically, in that span, Johnson has registered just one
multiple-point game when he potted a goal and as assist against
Army on Saturday night.
