SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts Another lock-down effort in net, this time from redshirt freshman Jake Kucharski, coupled with clutch play from the top line, helped the American International College ice hockey team finish a weekend sweep of Bentley University in Atlantic Hockey Conference action, with the Yellow Jackets winning 3-1 on Saturday, December 19.

FAST FACTS:
SCORE: AIC 3, Bentley 1
RECORDS: AIC rises to 5-0-0 overall and 5-0-0-0 in the AHC; the Falcons fall to 1-5-0 overall with a 1-3-2-0 AHC mark.
LOCATION: MassMutual Center, Springfield, Massachusetts

STATS:
Bentley:
Luke Santerno: One goal
Jakov Novak: One assist
Brendan Hamblet: One assist
Fraser Kirk: Loss (0-1-0), 25 saves on 27 shots in 58:07

AIC:
Tobias Fladeby: Two goals, one assist
Brennan Kapcheck: Two assists
Elijiah Barriga: One goal
Chris Theodore: One assist
Justin Cole: One assist
Jake Kucharski: Win (1-0-0), 24 saves in 59:49

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Yellow Jackets made quick work of the game's first power play, with redshirt sophomore Chris Theodore moving the puck to the midpoint for senior defenseman Brennan Kapcheck, and Kapcheck in turn dishing into the right circle for senior Tobias Fladeby for a shot that eluded Fraser Kirk for his fourth of the year at 6:18 of the opening frame.
• AIC took three penalties over the course of the rest of the frame, but Kucharski stood tall, stopping nine shots in the frame.
• The second period was a flip of the first in terms of penalties, and AIC had three looks on the power play, but Kirk kept Bentley alive with 13 of his 25 saves in the middle stanza.
• Bentley drew even early in the third on a play from behind the net, as Luke Santerno one-timed home a shot at the top of the blue paint at 4:19 on a pass from Jakov Novak that came from below the goal line.
• AIC responded with a heavy push, and it paid off as Fladeby lined up Kapcheck for a one-timer from the point just over four minutes later, and junior Elijiah Barriga tipped it through at the netmouth for his second of the year at 8:32.
• Bentley pulled Kirk for the extra attacker with 2:20 left on the clock, but AIC locked up the win a minute of game time later, as redshirt junior Justin Cole sent Fladeby in toward the empty net for his fifth of the year at 18:40, locking up the sweep of the week.

THE TREND CONTINUES:

• While no freshmen had points in this game for the first time all season, Kucharski kept the streak of rookie success going in goalkeeper fashion, winning his debut and allowing just one tally on 24 shots.
• Between Kucharski and redshirt junior Stefano Durante, AIC's goalkeepers have a save percentage of .957.

HIGH FIVE:

• AIC's ice hockey team has won five consecutive games to start the season for the first time in the Division I era.
• Fladeby's five goals is third in the conference, and the players ahead of him RIT's Will Calverley and Robert Morris's Jordan Timmons, who have six goals each have played more games than AIC.
• AIC has allowed just five goals in five games, tied for the best defensive mark in the nation with No. 1 Minnesota; the Yellow Jackets and Golden Gophers are the last remaining undefeated and untied teams in Division I men's ice hockey this season.

NEXT UP:

• AIC will visit No. 11 Quinnipiac University for the opener of a home-and-home on December 26 at 7:00 p.m. before returning to Springfield to face the Bobcats again on December 27 at 3:05 p.m.; AIC then hosts Long Island University forthe first time on December 28 at 5:05 p.m.
• The home games, and all Atlantic Hockey Conference matchups, can be watched on flohockey.tv.
• The game at Quinnipiac will be on ESPN+.

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.