SETTING THE SCENE: The American International College Yellow Jackets embark on a five-game road trip starting with the 7th ranked University of Massachusetts Lowell River Hawks at the Tsongas Center Tuesday at 7 p.m.

ABOUT AIC: The Yellow Jackets (3-7-0, 3-4-0 AHA) slid at home after a 3-0-0 start to the conference schedule, dropping each game of their four-game home stand. Junior co-captain Alexander MacMillan (Calgary, Alb.) leads the Yellow Jackets with six goals and five assists, averaging four points-per-game. Freshman David Norris (Calgary, Alb.) ranks fourth in Atlantic Hockey with 10 assists. American International has spread out the scoring this season. Senior Jon Puskar (Canton, Mich.) has five goals, senior captain Blake Peake (Lethbridge, Alb.) has tallied four, while 10 other Yellow Jackets have lit the lamp. Splitting time in goal for the most part has been a pair of freshman netminders, Ty Reichenbach (Billings, Mont.) and Hunter Leisner (Garland, Texas). Each has seen similar results. Reichenbach is 2-3-0 with a .889 save percentage, while allowing 4.41 goals-per-game. Leisner boasts a .880 saves percentage and a 4.01 goals-against-average.

LAST TIME OUT: The Yellow Jackets dropped a 6-1 decision to Atlantic Hockey foe Mercyhurst Saturday. Senior goalkeeper Ryan Kerpan (Saskatoon, Sask.) was beaten early, 32 seconds into the game, but settled in nicely, making 47 saves as the Lakers stormed the hive. Junior Brandon Fagerheim was not about to close the homestand on a shutout, striking at the 3:37 mark, assisted by Puskar and Norris' team-leading 10th assist in his freshman campaign.

ABOUT UMASS-LOWELL: The No. 7 ranked River Hawks are on a five-game win streak including their most recent weekend sweep of fellow ranked Notre Dame. On Friday's opening game, Lowell's Stephen Buco scored the games lone goal, capitalizing on a power play opportunity in the first period. Connor Hellebuyck made 40 saves in the shutout. Hellebyuck boasts a 1.57 goal-against-average, only allowing 14 goals over nine games played, including two shutouts. Adam Chapie leads the team with 10 points, six goals and four assists. Jospeph Pendenza is not far behind with five goals and four assists. Both have struck for three power play goals, while Chapie has also notched three game-winners.

ABOUT THE SERIES: This marks the first regular season meeting between AIC and Umass-Lowell in the programs history. In the 1989-90 season the two met for an exhibition game.

BUSY BEES: The Yellow Jackets are in the middle of a very dense schedule with eight games in 18 days, starting last week with Army. Through the eight games AIC will play three games against the formidable Hockey East; UMass-Lowell, Tuesday, Dec. 3 and a weekend series at the Alfond against the University of Maine Friday and Saturday Dec. 13-14. Thrown in the middle, an important weekend at Rochester Insitute of Technology with Atlantic Hockey standings hanging in the balance.

NEXT UP: AIC returns to action Friday, December 6 at RIT. Puck drops at 7:05 p.m. The two return to the ice Saturday for another 7:05 p.m. start.