WORCESTER, Massachusetts The No. 19 American International College ice hockey team scored twice in each frame to back a strong debut from rookie goalkeeper Ryan McInchak as the Yellow Jackets sank the College of the Holy Cross 6-0 in Atlantic Hockey Conference play on Friday, January 29.

FAST FACTS:
Final Score: No. 19 AIC 6, Holy Cross 0
Records: AIC improves to 12-3-0 on the year and 9-1-1-1 in the AHC; Holy Cross drops to 4-9-0 overall and 1-6-2-2 in AHC action.
Location: Hart Center, Worcester, Massachusetts

STATS LEADERS:
Holy Cross:
Matt Radomsky: Loss (0-3-0), 35 saves in 59:52

AIC:
Brennan Kapcheck: Three assists
Chris Dodero: Two goals
Justin Cole: One goal, one assist
Julius Janhonen: Two assists
Chris Theodore: Two assists
Justin Young: One goal
Nico Somerville: One goal
Elijiah Barriga: One goal
Jake Kucharski: Win (5-0-0), three saves in 19:46
Ryan McInchak: No decision (0-0-0), 17 saves in 40:00

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• AIC took a penalty in the first minute of the game but was able to shut the door, and used the momentum to get on the board first as freshman Julius Janhonen passed to senior Brennan Kapcheck at the left point and Kapcheck hit classmate Chris Dodero at the right post for a tap in for his fifth of the year at 3:27.
• The Yellow Jackets then found themselves on the power play and cashed in; after an attempt by redshirt junior Justin Cole was barely kept out, AIC went around the horn with the rebound, as Kapcheck moved the puck below the left circle for redshirt sophomore Chris Theodore, and Theodore in turn touched a pass to junior Elijiah Barriga at the hash marks for a one-time blast at 6:37 that hit the right side of the net for his fourth of the season.
• The physicality picked up, most notably early in the second after Holy Cross's Alex Peterson was ejected for a hit to the head, and AIC made the Crusaders pay the price on the major penalty, as Kapcheck and Theodore again moved the puck expertly, with Cole catching Theodore's pass from the left circle to the right and ripping it into the net over a diving Matt Radomsky for his seventh of the season at 3:51.
• AIC's offense was not done yet, and late in the frame the Yellow Jackets struck again on a breakout play started by redshirt sophomore Zak Galambos to freshman Aaron Grounds, who sent senior Justin Young in on a two-on-one with Barriga. Young used Barriga as a decoy and then snapped home his second of the season at 14:10.
• Another two-on-one ended up in the Crusaders net in the third, with Cole springing Janhonen and Dodero; the rookie dished across to the senior for his second of the game and sixth of the year at 7:22 from nearly the same spot the opening goal was shot from.
• The Crusaders took a late tripping call and AIC used the man advantage to tie a bow on the game as redshirt sophomore Eric Otto won the game's penultimate faceoff back to junior Parker Revering, who in turn made a cross pass at the blue line to rookie Nico Somerville. The defender threw the puck toward the net and it deflected in off of a defender at 19:54 for his second of the season to close the scoring.

PICKING APPLES:

• Kapcheck's three assists give him 75 for his career.
• Kapcheck and Theodore are tied for the team lead with 13 helpers each on the season, which puts the duo in a tie for first in Atlantic Hockey and sixth nationally.
• Kapcheck has set up five game-winning strikes for the Yellow Jackets, while Theodore has assisted on four in addition to scoring three.

RYAN SPELLS RELIEF:

• While redshirt sophomore Jake Kucharski started the contest, rookie Ryan McInchak finished it, playing the balance of the final two periods in his collegiate debut.
• He was brilliant in net, stopping all 10 shots he faced in the second and then all seven in the third to preserve the shutout.

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS:

• At 22.93 shots on goal allowed per game, AIC has allowed the second fewest attempts on target per game in the nation, behind only Minnesota State.
• AIC's defense is more than three shots per game stingier than the next AHC team, Army West Point.

NEXT UP:

• The teams return to the MassMutual Center for the third meeting of the season at 2:05 p.m. on Saturday, January 29.

STAY CONNECTED:

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