Ice Hockey tops Niagara in shootout after wild contest

LEWISTON, New York - The excuses were easy to access. The American International College ice hockey team was not going to accept easy.

The result was two key standings points as the Yellow Jackets earned a 1-0, four round shootout win after a 4-4 tie with Niagara University in Atlantic Hockey Association play on Saturday, February 10.

AIC is now 14-14-2 overall, with a 10-10-2-2-1-1 AHA mark.

As with the previous games, the first period went by scoreless thanks to the goaltending work of Alexandros Aslanidis and Jarrett Fiske. The AIC senior was more busy, making 11 saves to the four by his counterpart.

In the second, the game opened up. AIC struck first as Dustin Manz jammed home his fourth of the season just 14 seconds into the frame at the right side of the net on a pass from behind the cage by Hunter Jones after Oscar Geschwind dumped the puck into the Niagara end.

Glebs Prohorenkovs tied the game on the power play at 9:50, but AIC rebounded to retake the lead shortly after. Akseli Pennanen won the puck in the left wing corner and fired it back around the boards to Manz, who tipped it further to the right point for Tomi Leppanen. The rookie defender stepped in and fired through a screen for his second of the season at 11:52; the assist was Pennanen's first NCAA point.

Niagara again tied things, with Tyler Wallace striking to equalize at 16:18.

In the third, the offenses continued to shine. AIC retook the lead again at 8:54 as Jordan Biro pushed a puck deep into the right corner. Austen Long then passed between his legs to Julius Janhonen, who cut to the netfront and one-timed in his third of the season.

Niagara's power play drew the game again as Prohorenkovs scored another power play tally at 11:56. 

Late in the period, Long put AIC ahead a fourth time. Dario Beljo came out of the penalty box and fired the puck in deep, and Manz was behind the net to feed it in front to the grad forward, who beat his former teammate on the right side at 14:43 for his sixth of the year. 

Once more, Niagara converted on the man advantage, with Lars Rodne tying the game at 16:46.

The overtime went by scoreless, with Aslanidis stopping six shots in the extra time and Fiske five.

In the shootout, the first seven chances were turned aside as the keepers continued to make spectacular saves. Biro came onto the ice and finally broke the deadlock, snapping home the winner to give AIC the extra AHA point.

Head Coach Eric Lang noted in particular of Manz that his leadership was crucial for the team. "Dustin Manz plays in every single situation that's important for our hockey team. He's emerged as a leader and and is a player we will lean on down the stretch. He has an incredible brain for the game and is a guy we just flat out trust," Lang said.

Aslanidis ended with 27 saves in the tie.

The Yellow Jackets return home to face Mercyhurst University on Friday, February 16 at 4:35 p.m. at the Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield, Massachusetts.