October 31, 2008

Freshman Michael Penny is part of the foundation for the AIC hockey team

Click here to read Dick Baker's story on The Republican website.

here are two reasons freshman Michael Penny sticks out on the American International College hockey team. First there's his size at 6 feet 3 inches and 195 pounds, and then there's his natural ability.

While the Yellow Jackets are off to a sluggish 0-4 start against some quality opposition, there's an optimistic feeling about the future because of what is regarded as an excellent recruiting class.

"We're pretty excited about our freshmen class," AIC coach Gary Wright said. "We got some guys out of the USHL (United States Hockey League), which is a very strong league."

Penny, though, is from Calgary, Alberta, where he played his junior hockey for the Olds Grizzlys of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

"The fact that he's centering our first line shows that we expect him to give us instant help - and he already has," Wright said. "That's a big position to be in - centering a first line as a freshman. It's only four games in, but we've seen some real positive signs from him."

Penny is the Yellow Jackets' biggest player, and he's already one of the best. He plays both ways, and is strong on the puck crossing into the zone.

Wright is also excited about freshman Nielsson Arcibal, a Vista, Calif., native who played last year for the Des Moines Buccaneers in the USHL.

Both Penny and Arcibal scored in a 5-2 loss to defending Atlantic Hockey champion Air Force last Friday night at the Olympia in West Springfield.

"Arcibal's a very dynamic player with great speed who takes the puck to the net very effectively," Wright said. "He's from California, and it's funny that about 15 years ago it was a big novelty if you saw a California guy. But that state is producing a lot of college hockey players now."

The Yellow Jackets opened the season with 4-1 losses to host Nebraska-Omaha and Quinnipiac, at the Mutual of Omaha Stampede. They returned home to lose twice to Air Force with last Saturday night's game a 3-1 defeat. But it wasn't any disgrace losing twice to the Falcons, who are 6-0. Last year, they not only won the league championship, but nearly upset Miami in the first round of the NCAA tournament before falling 3-2.

A good test will come this weekend when the Yellow Jackets host Canisius Friday night at 7:05, and again Saturday afternoon at 4:05. These are games that can be won, but still the Yellow Jackets will have to show they can finish off their chances after scoring a total of only five goals over the first four games.

Looking good on defense is sophomore Mike Little from Enfield. Little, who previously played for the Springfield Junior Pics, was teamed on defense last week with another excellent prospect - freshman Pat Beckwith.

After the Canisius series, AIC has a home and home set with Army.