BOSTON, Mass. - November 13, 2024 - American International College (AIC) has announced that the men's hockey program will be moving to Division II at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. The program will remain an active member of Atlantic Hockey through the rest of the 2024-25 season before it moves to Division II.

The move comes as a part of AIC's "Pathway to Progress" initiative, which outlines an exspansive organizational business plan that will guide AIC over the next several years. In addition to the men's hockey program moving to Division II, the men's wrestling and women's tennis teams will be discontinued.

The AIC men's hockey program was Division II from 1948 to 1998, when it made the jump to Division I and joined the MAAC. AIC then joined the Atlantic Hockey Association when it was founded prior to the 2003-04 season. The Yellow Jackets have been an instrumental part of Atlantic Hockey for over two decades.

"Atlantic Hockey America is shocked and disappointed by the news," said AHA Commissioner Michelle Morgan. "Like many others, we were first informed via social media, yet have waited to understand all facts from the institution. We recognize that these difficult decisions are not made in a vacuum, as they effect the lives of so many individuals. Our immediate focus is on the remainder of the 2024-25 season, in which AIC will remain an active member. The AHA will continue its work in elevating all facets of our newly united league, while remaining nimble in the ever-changing landscape of collegiate athletics."

Additional information on AIC's "Pathway to Progress" can be found via the College's official announcement on aic.edu.

AIC in Atlantic Hockey
Gary Wright led the Yellow Jackets from 1984-2016, and alumnus Eric Lang was named the ninth head coach in program history on April 13, 2016. Lang has spent over 15 years at AIC as a player (1994-1998), Graduate Assistant (2006-08), and coach (2016-present). 

Lang has led AIC to four regular season titles (2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22), and three Atlantic Hockey Tournament titles (2019, 2021, 2022), which is the third-most in conference history. The Yellow Jackets have appeared in three NCAA Tournaments under Lang, with their first NCAA Tournament win coming in 2019 when they took down No. 1 St. Cloud State. Lang has been named Atlantic Hockey Coach of the Year three times (2019, 2020, 2022). 

The program was nationally ranked for the first time in 2018, and was ranked in national polls for 14 consecutive weeks in 2020-21. Heading into the 2024-25 season, Lang had accumulated 142 wins, and has posted winning records in six straight seasons.

"I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every player, staff member, and alumnus that I’ve been privileged to coach and work alongside during my nine seasons here," head coach Eric Lang said on Twitter/X. "Together, we have achieved things that many thought impossible. I also feel the need to share how indebted I am to Coach Gary Wright, the heart and soul of AIC Hockey. I am beyond blessed to have played and learned from you, Coach."

In total, AIC has produced 13 AHA First Team All-Conference players, nine AHA Second Team All-Conference players, 10 AHA Third Team All-Conference players, and 10 AHA All-Rookie Team players. Two Yellow Jackets have been named AHA Player of the Year (Brennan Kapcheck in 2021 and Chris Theodore in 2022) and three have been named MVP of the Atlantic Hockey Tournament (Zackarias Skog in 2019, Justin Cole in 2021 and Blake Bennett in 2022). Blake Christensen won the AHA Regular Season Scoring Trophy in 2019.