SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College ice hockey team cruised pastMercyhurst University, 3-1, in an afternoon Atlantic Hockey Conference showdown on Friday, December 8.

FAST FACTS:
Final score: AIC 3, Mercyhurst 1
Records: AIC improves to 6-10-2 and 5-7-2 in Atlantic Hockey, while Mercyhurstfalls to 6-7-2 and 3-4-2 in league play.
Location: MassMutual Center


STATS LEADERS:
AIC:
Joel Kocur (one goal)
Blake Christensen (one goal)
Jared Pike (one goal, one assist)

Mercyhurst:
Brandon Wildung (29 saves)
Joshua Lammon (one goal)


HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Just 29 seconds into the game, AIC was able to get on the board off sophomore center Joel Kocur's third goal of the year - the earliest goal AIC has scored this year.
• Near the end of the first period, at the 17:47 mark, sophomore forward Blake Christensen converted on a power-play opportunityto give AIC a 2-0 lead headed into the first intermission.
• The Yellow Jackets ended the first period with a 10-5 advantage in shots on goal, andthe second period with a11-4 advantage.
• Mercyhurst got on the board halfway through the third period to cut the score in half, 2-1, off a goal from Joshua Lammon.
• AIC added an insurance goal - sophomore forward Jared Pike's third empty-netter of the year - with 1.8 seconds remaining to secure the 3-1 victory.

BUZZWORTHY:

• Pike is one of just three players in the nation with three empty-net goals this season, and is also responsible for all of AIC's empty-netters this year.
• Mercyhurst was only able to record just 14 shots on goal in the game - the fewest AIC has allowed an opponent this year.
• With his goal in the first period, Christensen now has seven points in his last seven games.
• Christensen and Pike join sophomore defenseman Janis Jaks and junior center Shawn McBride for the team lead in goals with five.

COACH'S CORNER:

• "Very proud of the effort and the compete in our guys' willingness to defend the right way for 60 minutes," said AIC ice hockey head coach Eric Lang. "I thought we created enough offense, but more importantly, I thought we took what was given to us and managed the hockey game right to the finish."

PLAYERS' CORNER:

• "It was great for us," Kocur said of the quick start to the game. "Every time you start, you want to have a good shift, you want to create energy for the team, whether it be a block, a hit - it just happened to be a goal."

NEXT UP:

• AIC and Mercyhurst conclude the weekend series on Saturday, December 9, at 2 p.m.

STAY CONNECTED:

• For more updates about the AIC ice hockey team, follow @AIC_Hockey on Twitter and Instagram, and like AIC Hockey on Facebook. For updates on all AIC Yellow Jackets teams, follow @AICAthletics on Twitter and Instagram, and like AIC Yellow Jackets on Facebook.