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American International Yellow Jackets men's ice hockey

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American International Yellow Jackets men's ice hockey
Current season
American International Yellow Jackets athletic logo
UniversityAmerican International College
ConferenceAHA
First season1948–49
Head coachEric Lang
9th season, 142–111–28 (.555)
Assistant coaches
  • Patrick Tabb
  • Matthew Woodward
  • Brendan Riley
ArenaMassMutual Center
Springfield, Massachusetts
ColorsBlack, white, and gold[1]
     
NCAA Tournament appearances
2019, 2021, 2022
Conference Tournament championships
2019, 2021, 2022
Conference regular season championships
2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Current uniform

The American International Yellow Jackets men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents the American International College. The Yellow Jackets are members of Atlantic Hockey America. They play at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts.[2]

History

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AIC began its varsity program in 1948, playing a modest schedule for the first dozen years, building the program under William Turner before he handed it off to Joe Bucholz. In 1961, the Yellow Jackets joined with 27 other eastern schools (mostly in New England) to form ECAC Hockey.[3] AIC finished near the bottom for three seasons and in 1964 it was decided that the conference was too unwieldy to continue and was split into two divisions. The Yellow Jackets joined the lower division, becoming a founding member of ECAC 2.[4]

AIC had some success when Turner returned to take over, winning the conference tournament in 1969,[5] but dipped slightly after his retirement in 1970. When Paul Thornton took over in 1974, AIC saw a resurgence, and by the late 1970s, it had returned to the ECAC 2 Tournament, but after his departure in 1978, the program slumped once more.

In 1984, the Division II ice hockey level collapsed and sent almost all teams at that level down to Division III. AIC followed along, and when ECAC 2 split, the Yellow Jackets stayed with the eastern side, joining the new ECAC East. In all that upheaval, it was not lost that AIC had gotten its sixth head coach since 1970, but they were finally able to find someone willing to stick around in Gary Wright.[6]

Wright's time with AIC began successfully, with the team earning its first 20-win season in his fourth year. The following season, 1989, saw the Yellow Jackets pace the ECAC East with 20 wins and set a program record with 24 wins overall. Still, they faltered in the conference tournament and failed to make the D-III National championship. The following year, they won the ECAC East title, their first conference championship in 21 years. However, they were left out of the National Tournament due to a relatively poor overall record (only eight teams made the tournament, and the league champions did not receive an automatic berth). AIC continued to play well in the mid-90s, but in 1995, the program declined sharply, dropping from 14 to 4 wins, and remained in the ECAC East cellar for the rest of its time there.

In 1998, the MAAC began sponsoring an ice hockey conference, and AIC joined as an affiliate member, returning to the top tier of college hockey.[7] In their first year back the Yellow Jackets posted a decent record, finishing 5th in the 8-team field but bowed out in the first round of the conference playoffs. After that brief glimpse of success, however, AIC fell to the bottom of the conference and remained there for almost the next 20 years. Even with several new teams joining the conference and the division's reworking into the Atlantic Hockey Association, AIC could finish no better than 9th from 2000 through 2017, with the lone exception coming in 2006 when Atlantic Hockey had only 8 league members.

AIC lost 20 games for 13 consecutive seasons and 18 out of 19 years after 1999. Gary Wright eventually retired in 2016, being the longest-tenured coach at the time of his retirement.[8]

AIC playing an outdoor game at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in 2011

A new era at AIC began in 2016 with Eric Lang as the new head coach. After a poor but familiar first season, AIC posted its best record since 1993 with 15 wins, finishing 8th in Atlantic Hockey and winning its first conference tournament round in over a decade. The following year, AIC won its first-ever conference championship and, after winning its first conference tournament at the Division I level, made its first appearance in an NCAA Championship. As the lowest-seeded team, AIC played against #1 St. Cloud State and, despite being outshot 34-13 in the game, won the game 2-1.[9] They would fall to Denver 3-0 in the next round of the tournament.[10]

AIC again won the Atlantic Hockey championship in 2020; however, before the team played its first postseason game, the NCAA canceled all remaining contests and tournaments due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11][12]

AIC qualified for the NCAA tournament again in 2021 and 2022.[13]

Shortly after the end of the 2023–24 season, Atlantic Hockey merged with the women-only College Hockey America to form the new Atlantic Hockey America, with all members of both predecessor conferences becoming charter members of the merged league.[14]

In November 2024, the school announced the hockey program would be going back to Division II due to budgetary issues and enrollment. They will join the Northeast-10 Conference conference with Post, Franklin Pierce, Assumption, Saint Anselm, Saint Michaels, and Southern New Hampshire. As part of the move, the team will also forgo further use of the MassMutual Center beyond the 2024-25 season. [15]

Lineup of American International Yellow Jackets players
2023-2024 American International Yellow Jackets at Holy Cross's Hart Center

Season-by-season results

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Main article: List of American International Yellow Jackets men's ice hockey seasons

[16]

Roster

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As of July 29, 2024.[17]

No. S/P/C Player Class Pos Height Weight DoB Hometown Previous team NHL rights
1 British Columbia Adam Manji Freshman G 6' 5" (1.96 m) 181 lb (82 kg) 2003-07-10 New Westminster, British Columbia Coquitlam Express (BCHL) —
2 New York (state) Tyler Procious Freshman D 5' 10" (1.78 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 2003-05-29 Pittsford, New York Rochester Jr. Americans (NAHL) —
3 Saskatchewan Tanner Willick Freshman D 5' 9" (1.75 m) 157 lb (71 kg) 2003-12-20 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Blackfalds Bulldogs (BCHL) —
4 Missouri Blake Dangos Junior D 5' 10" (1.78 m) 174 lb (79 kg) 2002-04-08 St. Louis, Missouri Sacred Heart (AHA) —
6 Norway Tobias Bjercke Larsen Freshman D 6' 2" (1.88 m) 207 lb (94 kg) 2004-08-27 Oslo, Norway Färjestad BK J20 (J20 Nationell) —
7 New York (state) Danny Weight Graduate F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2001-05-01 Lattingtown, New York Colorado College (NCHC) —
8 Alberta Brett Bamber Junior D 5' 9" (1.75 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 2001-11-07 St. Albert, Alberta Alaska Anchorage (NCAA) —
9 Illinois Hunter Longhi Sophomore F 5' 8" (1.73 m) 174 lb (79 kg) 2002-04-02 Collinsville, Illinois Minot (NAHL) —
10 Belarus Nikolai Tishkevich Freshman F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2004-01-09 Minsk, Belarus Aberdeen Wings (NAHL) —
11 Michigan Justin Mexico Freshman F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 2003-12-05 Madison Heights, Michigan Lincoln Stars (USHL) —
12 New York (state) David Posma Junior D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 2003-08-27 Pomona, New York Niagara (AHA) —
13 Minnesota Hunter Jones Sophomore F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2002-07-13 Andover, Minnesota Oklahoma (NAHL) —
14 Sweden Douglas Andersson Sophomore F 6' 6" (1.98 m) 209 lb (95 kg) 2002-04-04 Ängelholm, Sweden Kallinge-Ronneby IF (Hockeyettan) —
15 New Jersey Nicky Wallace Sophomore D 5' 8" (1.73 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 2003-05-07 Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey Quinnipiac (ECAC) —
16 Quebec Andrew Amousse Sophomore F 6' 3" (1.91 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 2001-07-16 Laval, Quebec Victoria (BCHL) —
17 Sweden Oscar Geschwind Senior F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 2001-02-24 Hällefors, Sweden Northern Michigan (CCHA) —
19 Alberta Jordan Biro Graduate F 5' 8" (1.73 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 2000-08-10 Sherwood Park, Alberta Colorado College (NCHC) —
21 New York (state) John Lundy Junior F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 163 lb (74 kg) 2001-04-27 Brooklyn, New York Jamestown (NAHL) —
22 Russia Timofei Khokhlachev Junior F 6' 4" (1.93 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 2001-11-06 Moscow, Russia Shreveport (NAHL) —
23 Sweden Theo Angesved Sophomore D 5' 11" (1.8 m) 172 lb (78 kg) 2003-06-23 Växjö, Sweden Borås HC (Hockeyettan) —
24 Sweden Wilhelm Forsberg Freshman F 6' 3" (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2004-04-26 Sollentuna, Sweden Djurgårdens IF J20 (J20 Nationell) —
25 Sweden Alexander Malinowski Junior F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2001-02-07 Linköping, Sweden Fairbanks (NAHL) —
26 Illinois Hunter McCurdy Junior D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 2001-08-09 Mokena, Illinois Danbury (NAHL) —
27 Ontario Josh Barnes Junior F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 2002-09-27 Cornwall, Ontario Des Moines (USHL) —
28 Sweden Alfred Lindberg Sophomore F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2002-01-28 Hallsberg, Sweden New Mexico (NAHL) —
29 Alberta Noah Serdachny Junior F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2003-03-09 Edmonton, Alberta Colorado College (NCHC) —
33 Michigan Peyton Grainer Sophomore G 6' 1" (1.85 m) 179 lb (81 kg) 2002-03-12 Detroit, Michigan Jersey (NCDC) —
34 New York (state) Chase Clark Junior G 6' 6" (1.98 m) 208 lb (94 kg) 2002-04-08 Williamsville, New York Sacred Heart (AHA) WSH, 183rd overall 2021
37 Sweden Evan Stella Senior D 5' 11" (1.8 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 2001-05-11 Karlstad, Sweden Dubuque (USHL) —
39 Ontario Dario Beljo Sophomore F 6' 3" (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2002-08-15 Sudbury, Ontario Brooks (AJHL) —
55 Alberta Brett Rylance Junior F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 167 lb (76 kg) 2001-08-03 Edmonton, Alberta Chilliwack (BCHL) —
61 Saskatchewan Casey McDonald Junior F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 187 lb (85 kg) 2001-05-10 Plenty, Saskatchewan Penticton (BCHL) —

All-time coaching records

[edit]
Eric Lang

As of April 15, 2024

Tenure Coach Years Record Pct.
1948–1957, 1964–1970 William Turner 15 128–118–4 .520
1957–1964 Joe Bucholz 7 39–86–0 .312
1970–1972 Wally Barlow 2 17–23–1 .427
1972–1974 Peter Esdale 2 18–32–3 .368
1974–1978 Paul Thornton 4 63–33–1 .655
1978–1982 Wayne LaChance 4 46–57–0 .447
1982–1984 Lincoln Flagg 2 18–32–0 .360
1984–2016 Gary Wright 32 313–605–76 .353
2016–present Eric Lang 8 142–111–28 .555
Totals 9 coaches 76 seasons 784–1101–113 .421

Awards and honors

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NCAA

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Individual awards

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All-Americans

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AHCA First Team All-Americans

AHCA Second Team All-Americans


MAAC

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Individual awards

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Coach of the Year

All–Conference

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First Team [18]

  • 2000–01: Aaron Arnett, D

Second Team

  • 1998–99: Chance Thede, G; Mike Sowa, F

Rookie Team

  • 2000–01: Guillaume Caron, F; Trent Ulmer, F


Atlantic Hockey

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Individual awards

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All–Conference

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First Team

Second Team

  • 2012–13: Ben Meisner, G; Adam Pleskach, F
  • 2019–20: Patrik Demel, D
  • 2020–21: Stefano Durante, G; Elijah Barriga, F; Chris Dodero, F
  • 2021–22: Jake Stella, F
  • 2022–23: Jarrett Fiske, G; Brian Kramer, D

Third Team

  • 2006–07: Jeremr Tendler, F
  • 2007–08: Jeremr Tendler, F
  • 2011–12: Adam Pleskach, F
  • 2012–13: Jeff Ceccacci, D
  • 2013–14: Jon Puksar, F
  • 2017–18: Jānis Jaks, D
  • 2019–20: Martin Mellberg, F; Hugo Reinhardt, F
  • 2021–22: Jake Kucharski, G
  • 2022–23: Jordan Biro, F

Rookie Team

  • 2009–10: Adam Pleskach, F
  • 2012–13: Chris Porter, F
  • 2013–14: David Norris, F
  • 2017–18: Stefano Durante, G; Brennan Kapcheck, D
  • 2020–21: Nico Somerville, D; Aaron Grounds, F; Eric Otto, F
  • 2021–22: Luis Lindner, D
  • 2023–24: Nils Wallström, G

Statistical leaders

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Source:[19]

Career points leaders

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Player Years GP G A Pts PIM
Tom Mullen 1974–1978 86 134 114 248
Jeff Arnold 1983–1987 106 83 119 202
Edgar Alejandro 1972–1976 101 64 136 200
Doug Crawford 1985–1988 84 84 103 187
Darryl Frenette 1986–1990 119 57 125 182
Ken Maffia 1987–1991 103 73 108 181
Bill Condon 1973–1977 102 62 114 176
Martin Labonte 1987–1991 112 75 89 164
Vezio Sacratini 1987–1990 70 49 114 163
Steve Hunter 1981–1985 104 66 97 163

Career goaltending leaders

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GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Minimum 30 games played

Player Years GP Min W L T GA SO SV% GAA
Stefano Durante 2017–2021 66 3651 35 23 3 147 3 .906 2.42
Zackarias Skog 2016–2020 87 4975 37 38 9 219 9 .904 2.64
Ben Meisner 2009–2013 114 6406 30 67 12 361 12 .911 3.38
Frank Novello 2001–2005 81 4644 16 53 7 284 .911 3.67
Tom Fenton 2004–2008 84 4619 15 52 9 289 1 .885 3.75

Statistics current through the start of the 2021–22 season.

Yellow Jackets in the NHL

[edit]

As of July 1, 2024.

Player Position Team(s) Years Games Stanley Cups
Dave Forbes Left Wing BOS, WSH 1973–1979 362 0
Kevin Wortman Defense CGY 1993–1994 5 0

WHA

[edit]

One player was a member of the WHA.

Player Position Team(s) Years Avco Cups
Dave Forbes Left Wing CIN 1978–1979 0

Source:[20]

Olympians

[edit]

This is a list of American International College alumni who played on an Olympic team.

Name Position AIC Tenure Team Year Finish
Jānis Jaks Defenseman 2016–2020 Latvia Latvia 2022 11th

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Logo Usage & Brand Standards Manual (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 28, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  2. ^ "American International Yellow Jackets Men's Hockey". U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved April 8, 2011.
  3. ^ "History of ECAC Hockey". College Hockey Historical Archives. Archived from the original on April 15, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  4. ^ "1964-65 NCAA - ECAC - Div. 2 Standings". Hockey DB. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  5. ^ "NEHC Tournaments". New England Hockey Conference. Retrieved 2018-12-28.
  6. ^ "2012–13 Men's Ice Hockey Coaching Staff". AIC Yellow Jackets. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
  7. ^ "History of the MAAC". College Hockey Historical Archives. 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
  8. ^ "Longtime AIC hockey coach Gary Wright to resign". Mass Live. March 31, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  9. ^ "AIC men's hockey stuns No. 1 St. Cloud State in NCAA tournament debut | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  10. ^ "AIC Battles, but Ultimately Falls in Regional Final to Denver". 31 March 2019.
  11. ^ "NCAA cancels remaining winter and spring championships due to coronavirus concerns". NCAA.com. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  12. ^ "Remainder of 2020 Atlantic Hockey Tournament Cancelled". atlantichockeyonline.com. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  13. ^ "AIC Overpowers Air Force to Clinch Third-Straight Atlantic Hockey Postseason Championship". 19 March 2022.
  14. ^ "Atlantic Hockey and College Hockey America Join to Form Atlantic Hockey America" (Press release). Atlantic Hockey America. April 30, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  15. ^ "AIC Dropping Program Back to Division II". College Hockey News. November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  16. ^ "Men's Ice Hockey Year-By-Year Results". American INternational Yellow Jackets. Archived from the original on 2018-08-17. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  17. ^ "2024-25 Ice Hockey Roster". American International Yellow Jackets. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  18. ^ "All-MAAC Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  19. ^ "Men's Ice Hockey 100 Point Club". American International Yellow Jackets. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  20. ^ "Alumni report for American International College". Hockey DB. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
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