Crusaders Stake Claim On First Place
Weekend Splits The Story For Six Teams
Weekly Release (PDF)

The Crusaders are on a rampage, and their streak of seven unbeaten in league play at 5-0-2 has taken them to the top of the Atlantic Hockey standings. No lead seems to be safe against Holy Cross, as the defending champs have trailed in each of its last four outings only to storm back and take away two points. Holy Cross becomes the third team this season to hold the top spot in the league, displacing a Canisius squad that faltered over the weekend.

On the road Friday at Mercyhurst, the Lakers held three different leads over the Crusaders but could not close the door on the visitors, as Holy Cross netted the last two goals of the game in the final four minutes of the contest. Atlantic Hockey Player of the Week Tyler McGregor knotted the game at four with his second goal of the game, and rookie Matt Werry tallied the game winner seconds later, his first career goal in the 5-4 victory.

Saturday Holy Cross spotted Canisius a two-goal lead and trailed after two periods before scoring three unanswered goals in the third period for a 4-2 win. McGregor continues to lead the Crusaders offensively as of late, picking up three goals and adding an assist through the two road contests.

Holy Cross was the only squad to collect four points over the weekend, as six out of the other seven teams in league competition posted weekend splits in competition. American International snapped a winless skid against Canisius Friday afternoon, scoring the game’s first four goals en route to a 5-2 road win. Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Week Jereme Tendler played an important role for the Yellow Jackets in the win, scoring two goals against the Griffis along with adding an assist at Mercyhurst Saturday. AIC ran into some trouble though the next night against the Lakers, falling behind early before mounting a late comeback that wasn’t enough to overcome Mercyhurst.

Intrastate rivals Connecticut and Qunnipiac renewed the ‘Heroes Hat’ series over the weekend, as the two teams met for the first time this season in a home-home series. Friday night the Huskies got a jump on the Bobcats with a win on the road, but Quinnipiac returned the favor on Saturday at Connecticut, as both games ended in a 4-1 decision. Atlantic Hockey Goaltender of the Week Scott Tomes played a vital role in Friday’s win for the Huskies, making a career-high 48 saves to keep Connecticut within reach of Quinnipiac in the Atlantic Hockey standings.

Bentley kept pace with Connecticut in the Atlantic Hockey standings, as the Falcons won at home Friday evening over Sacred Heart thanks to some last-minute heroics. Scoreless through the first 58 minutes of play, Josh Thompson broke the tie late in the third period, and Jaye Judd added a shorthanded empty-netter for a 2-0 Bentley win. The Pioneers returned the favor Saturday night in Milford, scoring five straight goals and then holding off a late Bentley charge to take the game 6-4 and the season series, 2-1.

Army took to the road over the weekend in the hopes that a series against rival Air Force could give the Black Knights a momentum boost. Friday night the host Falcons scored five straight goals before Army was able to get on the scoreboard late in the third period, handing the Black Knights a 5-2 loss. Saturday proved to be a tighter affair, and although Army jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first period, Air Force knotted the contest at one in the second and tallied the go-ahead goal late in the third, edging out Army 2-1.

The action kicks off early this week in Atlantic Hockey, with a two for Tuesday feature tomorrow night. Canisius hits the road for its only league contest of the week at regional rival Mercyhurst, while Sacred Heart travels across Connecticut to face the Huskies. Canisius won the last time it was in Erie, 4-3 on December 10, followed by tying the Lakers 2-2 the next night at home. While it is the last meeting between the Griffs and the Lakers this season, it’s the first matchup between the Pioneers and Huskies.

It is a busy week for Pioneer fans. After Tuesday’s contest on the road, the weekend features a home-home series between Sacred Heart and Army, beginning Friday night in Connecticut. The two games will feature the league’s top offense in the form of Sacred Heart - averaging 3.64 goals per game in league play - and the league’s top defense at Army - allowing only 2.33 goals in conference games.

Bentley and American International face off in a home-home series also this coming weekend, with the Yellow Jackets hosting the front end of the series on Friday. The final league game of the weekend has Holy Cross at Quinnipiac on Saturday, as the Friday night game at Holy Cross has been moved to February 12 at the FleetCenter, one of two league contests that will be featured that Saturday.

In non-conference action, Connecticut heads to Yale Saturday evening, while Canisius will host the US Under-18 Team for a two-game set beginning Friday in exhibition play.