Ice Hockey rebounds, downs Robert Morris for split

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - The American International College ice hockey team found the jump in its game that it needed to earn a split with Robert Morris University, winning 5-2 in an Atlantic Hockey Association meeting on Saturday, January 27.

AIC is now 14-11-1 overall and 10-7-1-1-1-0 in the AHA.

Much like the previous night, AIC controlled the ice in the first. Unlike the first meeting, however, it was the Yellow Jackets who converted. Julius Janhonen won a battle along the boards and flipped the puck into the slot for Alexander Malinowski. He tipped it back from left to right where Nico Somerville was waiting to knock in his first of the season at 14:24. 

Less than two minutes later, netfront presence helped AIC double the lead. Casey McDonald picked up the rebound of a Brett Callahan shot behind the left side of the net and wrapped it around. The puck came across the crease back to the left side, where Brett Rylance slammed it home for his third of the season at 16:20.

The second period belonged to the goalkeepers. Nils Wallstrom stopped eight shots, while Chad Veltri saved all nine for the Colonials to keep the game 2-0.

However, the third period was far from scoreless. The visiting side broke the shutout just 18 seconds into the frame, as Jackson Reineke put back the rebound of a Rylee St. Onge shot.

AIC needed a spark and the Balise Toyota Power Play provided it. Malinowski shot the puck back to the right point for Janhonen, who set up Alfred Lindberg in the slot. The rookie center walked in and picked the top of the net for his 10th goal of the season at 3:29.

The Yellow Jackets then earned a goal thanks to tenacious forechecking. The Colonials turned it over in the slot to Austen Long, who was able to stuff it into the open side of the net unassisted at 11:52 for his fifth of the year. 

Robert Morris drew a late penalty and converted, as a wrist shot from the point by Michael Craig was tipped in by Paul Maust at 18:06. The Colonials then pulled Veltri for a sixth attacker, but Blake Wells forced a turnover and set up McDonald for an empty netter, his third goal of the season, at 19:17 for the 5-2 final.

Wallstrom made 26 saves for his 13th win of the season, breaking a tie with Stefano Durante for the second-most wins in a season by a goalkeeper and the most by a rookie netminder in the Division I era.

AIC will play its next four on the road, starting with a Friday, February 2 tilt at Sacred Heart University.