AIC YELLOW JACKETS (0-2-1, 0-1-0 AHC)
vs.
MERCYHURST LAKERS (1-1-0, 1-0-0 AHC)



Friday, October 28, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, October 29, 7:05 p.m.
Mercyhurst Ice Center, Erie, PA

Live Stats | Video| AIC Roster | MER Roster

LEADERS:

AIC:
Goals:Dominik Florian 2, Janis Jaks 2, Shawn McBride 2
Assists: Bryant Christian 3, Austin Orszulak 2, Ten tied with 1
Points: Bryant Christian 3, Dominik Florian 3, Janis Jaks 3
Blocked Shots: Ryan Polin 5,Nicolas Luka 4, Two tied with 3
Goalkeepers:
Alex Murray: 2 GP, 1 GS, 0-1-0, 5.51 GAA, .824SV% (28/34), 0 ShO
Zackarias Skog: 2 GP, 2 GS, 0-1-1, 3.04GAA, .920SV% (69/75), 0 ShO
PP: 15.4% (2/13) PK: 85.0% (17/20)

MERCYHURST:
Goals: Jonathan Charbonneau 2, Derek Barach 1, Joshua Lammon 1
Assists: Derek Barach 2, Six tied with 1
Points: Derek Barach 3, Jonathan Charbonneau 2, Seven tied with 1
Blocked Shots: Four tied with 3
Goalkeepers:
Brandon Wildung: 2 GP, 2 GS, 1-1-0, 4.50 GAA, .864 SV%, 0 ShO
PP: 0.0% (0/12) PK: 76.5% (13/17)

The American International College ice hockey team takes on Atlantic Hockey Conference rival Mercyhurst in their first weekend set of the year.

LAST TIME OUT: AIC built a 2-1 lead entering the third period, but surrendered five final-frame tallies in a 6-3 loss against Sacred Heart. Sophomore left wing Shawn McBride netted a shorthanded goal in the first frame to give AIC a 1-0 lead, and in the second, after the Pioneers had tied the game, freshman defenseman Janis Jaks snapped a wrister home to put the Jackets back on top. However, the Pioneers took advantage of a mid-third frame power play to draw even, then scored the next three goals as well. Junior right wing Johno May cut the lead to 5-3 with just under a minute to go, but Sacred Heart hit the empty net to seal the win.

Mercyhurst gave back a 2-0 first period lead, but scored the last two tallies in a 4-2 win against Niagara in their Atlantic Hockey opener. Left wing Jonathan Charbonneau scored the opening goal just thirty-three seconds into the contest, then added another at the 6:08 mark. The lead held for the rest of the first and most of the second, but a major penalty for contact to the head by left wing Jack Riley with under a minute to go in the frame set up a Niagara goal by left wing Tanner Lomsnes. Though the Lakers killed the rest of the penalty, Niagara drew even at 5:21 with a goal by center Derek Brown. The home team would pot the game-winning marker just over seven minutes later as center Josh Lammon scored, and fellow center Derek Barach added an insurance goal at 16:29 to close out the scoring.

LAST TIME THEY MET: The Lakers swept the Yellow Jackets in Erie on January 29-30, winning 3-1 on Friday and 5-3 on Saturday. Senior left wing Austin Orszulak had a goal and an assist on the weekend, while sophomore defenseman Ryan Polin contributed two assists and fellow sophomore defenseman Johnny Mueller scored the game-opening goal in the Saturday defeat. Junior goalkeeper Alex Murray made 58 saves on 64 shots in the two setbacks.

THE SON OF A COACH: Three members of the Lakers roster are sons of Atlantic Hockey head coaches. Lakers Head Coach Rick Gotkin's son Brandon Gotkin is a junior forward, as is Jack Riley, son of Army West Point's Brian Riley. Brendan Riley, Jack's brother and Brian's other son, also is a forward at Mercyhurst, and is in his rookie campaign.

WHAT A P.A.L.: The USPHL's P.A.L. Junior Islanders were the home of seven players between the two teams in their junior careers prior to joining the collegiate ranks. Mercyhurst sophomores Chris Makowski and Tommaso Bucci and Lakers freshmen Brendan Riley, Joseph Duszak, and James Anderson played for the team, as did AIC freshmen Billy Vizzo and Justin Ketola.

MILESTONE WATCH FOR MAY: Johno May is closing in on 50 career points. Coming into the weekend, he has collected 16 goals and 33 assists for 49 points; on this young season he has two helpers in three games played.

SPECIAL TEAMS STRUGGLES: The Lakers have only had two games to try to fine-tune their special teams units, but so far they have had difficulties with both their power play, which is 0-for-12 to open the year, and their penalty kill is 13-for-17, a 76.5 percent success rate; combined, their special teams are forty-fourth in the nation. Comparatively, AIC is 2-for-12 on the man-advantage and 17-for-20 on the PK, for a 59.4 percent combined special teams rate ranking third in the country.

UP NEXT: AIC returns home for a home-and-home with the Holy Cross Crusaders; the first game of the series is Thursday, November 3 at the MassMutual Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.