Atlantic Hockey Preview - AIC
AIC is the next team I will preview. I predict they will finish 9th in the AHA this year.
American International has traditionally been one of the bottom teams in the Atlantic Hockey Association. However, they have shown a LITTLE improvement - increasing their win totals the last couple years. There is a chance that this could continue, but I am taking a bit of a show me on them.
The offense for AIC has been the biggest problem over the years. Jerome Tendler was their only double digit goal scorer last year. Fortunately, he comes back for his senior season. There some seem to be some help in this area in the recruits. TJ Smith, Tom Mele, and Steve McLeod had some impressive statistics in their junior leagues. They are especially needed to help an anemic power play that only connected on 10% of their chances last year. Getting those stats up should be a top priority for the team.
The defence showed some improvement last year. They allowed only 30.6 shots on goal in conference action. The penalty kill allowed goals on only 17.6% of opponent's chances. When you do that, you have an opportunity to win games. They graduated one defenseman, so the rest of the group will need to step up. If that happens, AIC will be in some games and could steal some.
The main goalie for AIC is one of their best players. Tom Fenton's return from his groin injury was a big reason for them getting 6 wins after the new year when only getting 2 before then. His numbers are not great - 3.75 goals against average and .876 save percentage. He is certainly capable of better numbers - especially if he gets some offensive support. Coby Robinson and Matt Tourville backed Fenton up - and they are adequate at best. Fenton will get the vast majority of the time.
This team is going to win some games that it should not. I don't know if they have the offense yet to play with the top teams. I think they start to escape the cellar and will put some wins together. I'm giving them a low projection, but I think they could do better.
Projected record: 6-22
American International has traditionally been one of the bottom teams in the Atlantic Hockey Association. However, they have shown a LITTLE improvement - increasing their win totals the last couple years. There is a chance that this could continue, but I am taking a bit of a show me on them.
The offense for AIC has been the biggest problem over the years. Jerome Tendler was their only double digit goal scorer last year. Fortunately, he comes back for his senior season. There some seem to be some help in this area in the recruits. TJ Smith, Tom Mele, and Steve McLeod had some impressive statistics in their junior leagues. They are especially needed to help an anemic power play that only connected on 10% of their chances last year. Getting those stats up should be a top priority for the team.
The defence showed some improvement last year. They allowed only 30.6 shots on goal in conference action. The penalty kill allowed goals on only 17.6% of opponent's chances. When you do that, you have an opportunity to win games. They graduated one defenseman, so the rest of the group will need to step up. If that happens, AIC will be in some games and could steal some.
The main goalie for AIC is one of their best players. Tom Fenton's return from his groin injury was a big reason for them getting 6 wins after the new year when only getting 2 before then. His numbers are not great - 3.75 goals against average and .876 save percentage. He is certainly capable of better numbers - especially if he gets some offensive support. Coby Robinson and Matt Tourville backed Fenton up - and they are adequate at best. Fenton will get the vast majority of the time.
This team is going to win some games that it should not. I don't know if they have the offense yet to play with the top teams. I think they start to escape the cellar and will put some wins together. I'm giving them a low projection, but I think they could do better.
Projected record: 6-22
posted by Komey at 4:33 PM
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