Captains put up points in Ice Hockey's loss at Massachusetts

AMHERST, Massachusetts - The American International College ice hockey team fell 5-3 to the University of Massachusetts-Amherst on Saturday, October 7 in the season opener for both teams.

AIC is now 0-1-0 on the campaign.

The Minutemen scored twice in the first period, with Ryan Lautenbach netting the game's first goal at 9:44, and Samuli Niinisaari jamming in a rebound at 18:54.

AIC got on the board in the second. Jordan Biro fired a pass across to Brian Kramer, who blasted in his first of the season at 5:06.

However, the Minutemen bounced back, scoring a power play tally at 8:26 as Jack Musa put a shot into the net.

AIC drew a late penalty in the second that carried over to the third, but it was the Minutemen taking advantage when the penalty expired. Michael Cameron scored on a breakout just 0:32 into the third.

While some teams may have folded, the Yellow Jackets fought back. Tomi Leppanen earned his first point as a Yellow Jacket with a pass to Julius Janhonen; the senior was able to then get the puck to Brett Callahan, who blasted in his first of the season at 12:16 of the period. 

Less than four minutes later, the Yellow Jackets cut the deficit to 4-3. Josh Barnes fed a puck back to Kramer, who in turn crossed the middle of the ice to the bottom of the right circle to a wide open Logan Jenuwine for a one-timer tally, his first in an AIC uniform, at 16:05.

Unfortunately, the Yellow Jackets could not find the fourth goal, despite a pair of close calls, and the Minutemen hit the empty net with 1:23 left to seal the win.

In his AIC debut, Nils Wallstrom stopped 20 of 24 shots.

AIC opens the MassMutual Center on Friday, October 13 at 7:05 p.m. when the Yellow Jackets host defending national champion Quinnipiac University in the first of a home-and-home with the Bobcats.