Race For First Intensifies as Two Teams Sweep
FleetCenter Doubleheader Only Days Away
Weekly Release (PDF)

A new week, and a new leader is atop the Atlantic Hockey standings. The question is, for how long? While Canisius claimed first place in the Atlantic Hockey standings for the third time this season after a weekend sweep on the road at American International, the Golden Griffins have to be feeling the pressure from the three teams directly below them, each within four points or less of first place. Canisius will sit idle this weekend and watch as the rest of the league competes against each other in the drive for position before the postseason.

Looking to avoid the mistakes of the last time these two teams met back in January, Canisius came out and rolled past American International Friday evening with a 6-0 score, putting 45 shots on net during the contest. The Griffs completed the sweep on Saturday afternoon, 3-1, putting them back into first place for the first time since mid-January. Atlantic Hockey Goaltender of the Week Bryan Worosz only needed to make 45 saves for Canisius over the weekend, collecting his second shutout of the season on Friday with a 23-save performance.

A little further south down Interstate 91 in Connecticut was a battle between fourth place Mercyhurst and fifth place Quinnipiac, as the potential for either team to gain four points would spell trouble for the victim. Mercyhurst looked to have the advantage early on Friday night with two separate leads, however Atlantic Hockey Player of the Week Ben Nelson of Quinnipiac tied the contest twice to keep the Bobcats close. Quinnipiac took the lead in the third, only this time to witness Mercyhurst tie the contest at three. Craig Falite provided the game-winner in the waning minutes of the third, and the 4-3 decision stood. The next night the Bobcats reeled off five straight goals before the Lakers could muster any offense in the third period. Quinnipiac came away with the win in the end, 7-2, completing the weekend sweep and vaulting the Bobcats into third place.

Nelson is arguably the hottest skater in Atlantic Hockey at the moment, as the rookie earned Player of the Week honors for the second straight week. Riding a five game scoring streak, Nelson has eleven of his 14 points this season during the past five games, scoring a career high on Saturday night with a hat trick and two assists for five points against the Lakers.

The only other league series on the docket this past weekend was a home-and-home between Connecticut and Sacred Heart. While the Pioneers are trying to keep pace with the rest of the members in the top four, the Huskies are just trying to keep pace - and one step ahead of Bentley, as the Falcons and Huskies entered the weekend tied for sixth. Friday night the two teams traded power-play goals in the first before UConn had a slim 3-2 advantage after two periods. Sacred Heart quickly knotted the contest at three early in the third period, but it would take Alexandre Parent’s overtime marker to decide the winner, a 4-3 win for the Pioneers.

The Huskies extracted some revenge the next night at home, outscoring the Pioneers 5-1 with three of the five markers coming on the power-play. Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Week Mike Neilon helped UConn salvage the split, collecting three helpers on the weekend.

Although Holy Cross was idle in league play this weekend, it didn’t prevent the Crusaders from hitting the road for a pair of games against ECACHL foes Union and Rensselaer. Holy Cross kept pace with the host Dutchmen Friday evening through two periods, but Union pulled away in the end by a 4-2 score. On Saturday a four-goal second period proved to be too much for the Crusaders to handle, as they dropped an 8-4 decision to Rensselaer.

Army renewed a long-standing international rivalry Saturday night in front of a national televised audience, taking on the Royal Military College from neighboring Canada. The Black Knights put the opportunity to good use, winning their third straight over RMC by a 6-1 score, as four different skaters picked up a goal and an assist in the exhibition win.

An exciting week of league action kicks off Tuesday evening, as all but Canisius will compete in Atlantic Hockey play before the end of the week. Two games are featured tomorrow due to a need to make up the games after a winter storm hit New England back in January. Sacred Heart will look to complete the series sweep on the season at Army, while American International will travel to Bentley.

Friday features four contests before Saturday’s meeting of four teams at one of the finest facilities in New England, the FleetCenter in Boston. The weekend kicks off as American International meets Quinnipiac for the first time this season Friday evening. Connecticut will head to Bentley, Sacred Heart continues a three-game stretch this week at Holy Cross, and Army heads out to Mercyhurst for the first of two games.

Saturday’s first game at the FleetCenter could be a preview of things to come in the Atlantic Hockey Championship Tournament. While both Holy Cross and Quinnipiac will have played other teams Friday evening, Saturday’s meeting has more than just points on the line. The two teams have split in each of their previous meetings this season, and the Bobcats hold a game in hand on Holy Cross. A win for either team would give the victor a leg-up on the victim. The late game at the FleetCenter will have the feel of a home game for local resident Bentley, even if the Falcons will be the visitors on the scoreboard. The Falcons will clash with Connecticut Saturday evening for the final meeting between the two teams this season.

Sacred Heart will complete a full week of play on Saturday afternoon, when the Pioneers host American International.