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SETTING THE SCENE: This is the opening weekend for the American International College men's ice hockey team as they take on the Union College Dutchmen on Friday, and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Engineers on Saturday.

ABOUT AIC: Head coach #Gary Wright#, now in his 26th season, returns 15 members to this year's squad, as the American International College men's ice hockey team looks to improve on last year's season. This weekend will be the first time in 25 years that coach Wright will not behind the bench for AIC, as he is in the midst of a six week recovery after having surgery on both legs. Assistant coach #Mike Field# returns for his second season behind the bench after serving as a graduate assistant coach last year. In the off season, #Dana Thibault# was added to the coaching staff and will be serving as the teams graduate assistant coach.

“Like most teams, we are filled with hope at the outset of the new season”, said coach Wright. “We have a good group of returnees and expect our newcomers to help out right away. Our players are committed and eager to ascend the ranks of Division I. We want this to be an enjoyable season marked by more wins.”

2008-09 RECAP: AIC went 5-28-2 during the regular season and 5-22-1 in conference play with a team that consisted of eight first year players. The Yellow Jackets played well in the Atlantic Hockey Championship Tournament but came up short, losing in overtime to Holy Cross 1-0 in the first round. Sophomores #Michael Penny# and #Nielsson Arcibal# showed promise in their first season with AIC as both finished in the top five in points on the team. The Yellow Jackets placed 18 member on the AHA All-Academic Team, with senior #Dean Yakura# and junior #Steve McLeod# sharing the Top Scholar Athlete award.

KEY LOSSES: The Yellow Jackets lost eight members of last year's squad - forwards Chad Richardson, David Turco, Andy Gevorkyan, and Denis Budai, defensemen Matt Woodard, Keith Rodger, and Frankie DeAngelis, and netminder Tom Fenton, to graduation. Richardson finished the 2008-09 season fourth on the team in points with 14, including a team best nine goals and five assists. Turco, who only played in 23 games due to injury, finished the season with three goals and eight assists for 11 points. Starting defensemen Woodard and DeAngelis finished the year with eight and ten points, respectfully. Fenton appeared in 17 games between the pipes for AIC, with a team leading 3.60 goals against average and an .886 save percentage.

FORWARDS: The Yellow Jackets return nine players up front - seniors #Chris Campanale#, #Josh Froese#, #Mike McMillan# and Yakura, juniors, McLeod, #Tom Mele# and #Greg Vatrano#, and sophomores Arcibal and Penny. Campanale, who is entering his second season as team captain, led the team in scoring with seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points, while McLeod was second on the team with 16 points including six goals and 10 assists. Penny and Arcibal round out the top scoring returners with 15 and 14 points, respectively. Five newcomers, #Nick Grasso#, #Charles LaChance#, #Richard Leitner#, #Steve Mele# and #Adam Pleskach# add depth and will compete for time at the position.

“Our offensive production was unacceptable last season, so we're looking for our forwards to step up and score big goals,“ said Wright. “We are more skilled and deeper up front, which should bode well for us.”

DEFENSEMEN: Four members of last year's squad return to this year's team - juniors #Tomas Benovic# and #Mike Little#, and sophomores #Rob Blanchette# and #Luciano Primiani#. Primiani led the returning defensemen in scoring with two goals and eight assists for 10 points. Freshmen #Jeff Ceccaci#, #Jason Cohen#, and #Chris Markiewicz# will compete for time on the blue line this season.

Wright added “our defensive corps have been a real strength in recent years and should continue to be this season. We graduated three good defensemen, but have three freshmen who should contribute right away.”

GOALIES: Juniors #Jake Anderson# and #Dan Ramirez# return in net for the Yellow Jackets. Ramirez appeared in 22 games with a 4.07 goals against average and a .872 save percentage. Freshman #Ben Meisner# adds depth between the pipes for the Yellow Jackets.

“An upgrade at this position is critical to our success,“ said Wright. “We are encouraged by the commitment that Dan made over the summer to position himself for a big year. Jake came back in great shape has looked good in the early going, while Ben has lots of potential and will compete for playing time right away.

2009-10 SCHEDULE: AIC open's the season the weekend of October 23 – 24 with non-conference games at Union and Rensselaer. In other non-conference games the Yellow Jackets head to Brown on December 8 and to Quinnipiac on December 12. AIC opens conference play at Sacred Heart October 27, with their home opener on the 30th against Holy Cross. The Yellow Jackets end the regular season with a home-and-home series with Army the weekend of February 26.

ABOUT UNION: The Dutchmen enter tonight's contest with a record of 2-1-1 this season after this past weekends series with St. Cloud State. Union went 0-1-1 over the weekend tying the first game 3-3 and losing the finale 3-1 on Saturday. In Friday's 3-3 tie, the Dutchmen were down 3-1 after the first period but rallied late in the third scoring twice to push the game to overtime. Sophomore Brian Yanovitch, freshman Greg Coburn, and junior Adam Presizniuk each found the back of the net for Union, while junior netminder Corey Milan played well stopping 33 shots. In Saturday's finale, the Huskies were to much for the Dutchmen as they walked away with their first win of the season. Junior Brock Matheson tallied Union's lone goal of the game while freshman Keith Kinkaid made 30 saves in the loss. Junior John Simpson leads the offence for the Dutchmen with two goals and three assists for five points. Yanovitch and Presizniuk are tied in second with four points each, both with two goals and two assists.

LAST TIME THEY MET: Union recorded a 6-0 win over AIC on December 9, 2008. #Tom Fenton#stopped a game-high 42 shots in the loss. Brendan Milnamow scored twice, while Presizniuk, Matheson, Randy Hanagan, and senior Mario Valery-Trabucco each found the back of the net once for the Dutchmen. Milan made 15 saves before being replaces in the third period by senior Rich Sillery, who made four stops of his own in the win.

ABOUT RPI: The Engineers come into this weekend with an overall record of 1-2-1 after going 0-1-1 last weekend at the Brice Alaska Goal Rush. RPI lost to Alaska - Anchorage 3-0 on Friday and the tied Alaska - Fairbanks 1-1 on Saturday. Goaltender Sophomore Allen York made 57 saves over the weekend, including 24 on Friday and 33 on Saturday. Freshman Brandon Pirri tallied RPI's lone goal of the weekend.

LAST TIME THEY MET: The Yellow Jackets played to a 1-1 tie against the Engineers on November 23, 2007. At the time RPI was ranked #16 nationally, the tie was ever against a nationally ranked team for AIC.

NEXT UP: The Yellow Jackets head to Sacred Heart on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.