Ice hockey draws with Air Force; Kramer scores shootout winner in sixth round

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts – The American International College ice hockey team tied the Air Force Academy, 3-3, winning the extra Atlantic Hockey Association point with a 1-0 six-round shootout victory on Saturday, November 19.

AIC is now 6-6-3 overall, with a 4-5-1-1-0-0 AHA mark.

The Yellow Jackets came out with a strong first-period showing, and took the lead at 8:33 as Alexander Malinowski tapped in a cross pass from Julius Janhonen that was deflected to him by Jordan Biro at the right post. The tally was his third of the year.

Late in the frame, AIC doubled the edge. Nicholas Cardelli won a wall battle and turned into the left corner before firing a pass back to the high slot, where an on-rushing Brian Kramer, coming in after a line change, caught it and wristed it low at the net. Brett Rylance had stopped in front and was pushed into Air Force goalkeeper Guy Blessing, which allowed the puck to sneak past the netminder at 19:07.7 for Kramer's second of the year.

Air Force notched the second period's lone goal with a strong play off the rush. Clayton Cosentino was able to slide a pass right-to-left across the slot for Nate Horn, who flicked a high wrister into the right corner of the net at 13:16.

In the third, the Falcons tied the game on the power play, with Luke Rowe striking from the slot at 8:13.

AIC retook the lead on a great play by Brett Callahan, who pinched to keep the puck deep. He and Janhonen were able to work the puck deep, and ultimately get it to the netfront, where Malinowski jammed it underneath Blessing for his fourth of the season at 12:48.

That lead lasted barely two minutes. Willie Reim redirected a Rowe shot under the crossbar right at the 15:00 mark to draw the game even 3-3. That score persisted to the end of regulation, ensuring both teams one point in the AHA standings.

In OT, both teams failed to convert power plays, leaving the result overall as a tie. The shootout likewise needed extras; each of the first three for both teams were kept out. It was only in the sixth round that the winner was decided, as Kramer was able to make a move to score five-hole and get AIC the extra AHA point.

Jarrett Fiske moved to 2-2-3 on the season with 29 saves.

The two teams finish the weekend series at 7:05 p.m. on Sunday, November 20.