SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts In a rematch of the Atlantic Hockey Championship game from nine months ago that was no less intense for being a regular season game, the American International College ice hockey team emerged victorious, 3-1, in a conference matchup with Niagara University on Friday, December 13.

FAST FACTS:
SCORE:AIC 3, Niagara 1
RECORDS:AIC rises to 8-8-0 and 8-4-0-0 in the AHC; Niagara drops to 4-9-2 overall and 4-5-2-1 in the AHC
LOCATION:MassMutual Center, Springfield, Massachusetts

STATS:
Niagara:
Ludwig Stenlund: One goal
Brian Wilson: Loss (4-5-1), 39 saves

AIC:
Tobias Fladeby: One goal
Chris Dodero: One goal
Luka Maver: One goal
Blake Christensen: One assist
Brennan Kapcheck: One assist
Martin Mellberg: One assist
Zackarias Skog: Win (8-6-0), 18 saves

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The first period was the Brian Wilson showcase, as Niagara's goalie was incredible in denying AIC on many opportunities. The Yellow Jackets had six bids on one power play alone in the early going, but he kept the home side off the board despite a 16-1 shot advantage for AIC.
• In the second, the Yellow Jackets finally broke through. On the team's fourth power play of the game, senior Blake Christensen fed the puck to the goal line for his classmate, Martin Mellberg. Mellberg spun the puck around from the left side to his backhand for a pass to junior Tobias Fladeby, and the native of Asker, Norway lit the lamp with his ninth of the year at 2:02.
• Niagara finally came alive after the goal, and needed just under five minutes to tie the game, scoring a very similar tally as reigning AHC Rookie of the Year Ludwig Stenlund blasted home a one-timer from the right dot at 6:53.
• Down the stretch of the second period, Wilson and senior Zackarias Skog traded impressive saves, with both goalkeepers facing at least 10 shots in the period and turning aside all but one.
• In the third, AIC broke through again, as junior Brennan Kapcheck found a seam in the Niagara defense to send junior Chris Dodero in front with possession; he eluded a poke check attempt by Wilson and wrapped the puck behind the net. From below the goal line, he pushed the puck around the right post and fired it off of the leg of a defender and into the net at 7:34 for his second of the year.
• Niagara pushed, but Skog would not be beaten again, and the defense of AIC blocked five of the eight attempts the Purple Eagles managed after the go-ahead goal; the visitors pulled Wilson for a sixth attacker late, but redshirt sophomore Luka Maver hit the empty net at 19:37 to seal the game with his fourth of the year.

EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM:

• AIC has played five of its home games at 1:05 p.m. and is 5-0-0 in those games.
• The Yellow Jackets have outscored their opposition 21-5 in those games.

NEXT UP:

• The first half ends with another matinee for the Yellow Jackets and Purple Eagles on Saturday, December 14 at 1:05 p.m. at the MassMutual Center.
• Tickets are available at aic.edu/hockeytickets.

STAY CONNECTED:

• For more updates about the AIC ice hockey team, follow@AIC_HockeyonTwitterandInstagram, and likeAmerican International College Ice HockeyonFacebook. For updates on all AIC Yellow Jackets teams, follow@AICAthleticsonTwitterandInstagram, and likeAIC Yellow JacketsonFacebook.