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Atlantic Hockey Weekly Release: Two for a Title

RIT hosts AIC to decide the Atlantic Hockey Postseason champion

In the News
  • AIC to Face RIT for Atlantic Hockey Championship: No. 1 seed RIT will host fifth-seeded AIC in the 2024 Atlantic Hockey Championship on March 23 at the Gene Polisseni Center in Rochester, N.Y.
  • The winner of the 2024 Atlantic Hockey Championship will skate off with the Jack Riley Memorial Trophy along with receiving the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship.
  • This season’s AHA Championship matches two programs that have combined to win six Jack Riley Trophies and, including next Saturday’s match-up – have made a combined 10 AHA Championship appearances.
  • RIT is making its sixth trip to the Atlantic Hockey Championship and its first since 2016. The Tigers have claimed three Atlantic Hockey Postseason titles (2010, 2015, 2016) in their previous five appearances in the AHA title game. This season, RIT swept Robert Morris and Niagara in the Atlantic Hockey Quarterfinals and Semifinals, respectively, to reach the AHA Championship.
  • AIC is making its fourth appearance in the Atlantic Hockey Championship, all of which have come since 2019. The Yellow Jackets won three-consecutive AHA Postseason titles in their previous appearances in 2019, 2021 and 2022. The Yellow Jackets swept No. 4 seed Air Force in the AHA Quarterfinals and rallied for a 2-1 series win over No. 2 seed Holy Cross in the AHA Semifinals to reach Saturday’s Championship.
  • RIT and AIC split their only series of the season on Dec. 8-9 at AIC with the Yellow Jackets taking a 3-2 overtime decision in Game 1 before RIT rallied for a 5-2 victory in the series finale. This will be the first Atlantic Hockey Championship meeting between AIC and RIT and just fifth time the Tigers and Yellow Jackets have met in the AHA Postseason. RIT has won all four of the previous meetings. The pair last met in the first round of the 2013 AHA Postseason.
  • Saturday’s contest will be the second AHA Championship to feature the No. 1 and No. 5 seeds. In the only other such match-up. No. 5 RIT defeated No. 1 Robert Morris, 7-4, in the 2016 final. 
  • Atlantic Hockey in the National Rankings: RIT checks in at No. 18 in the latest USCHO poll and No. 19 in the latest USA Hockey/The Rink Live poll, both of which were released March 18. AIC received votes in both polls and Holy Cross received votes in the USCHO poll.
 
McLinskey Named a Hobey Baker Top-10 Finalist
  • Holy Cross junior Liam McLinskey has been named a Hobey Baker Memorial Award Top-10 Finalist, the Hobey Baker Memorial Award Foundation announced Wednesday.
  • McLinskey helped lead the Crusaders to a second-straight appearance in the Atlantic Hockey Semifinals this season as he captured Atlantic Hockey Player of the Year honors. 
  • He is the 14th Atlantic Hockey player to be named a Hobey Baker Top-10 finalist and the first since Mercyhurst’s Joseph Duszakwas tabbed in 2018-19.
 
Cassaro Sets AHA Defenseman Single-Season Goals Record
  • RIT's Gianfranco Cassaro broke the Atlantic Hockey season record for goals by a defenseman when he potted his 17th tally of the season in the Tigers' 4-1 win over Niagara in the Atlantic Hockey Semifinals on March 16.
  • The Nobleton, Ont., native surpassed the previous record of 16 goals set by Mercyhurst blueliner Joseph Duszak during the 2018-19 season.
  • The 17 goals also lead all NCAA Division I defensemen this season.
  • Cassaro also enters this weekend's AHA Championship in ninth place on the AHA's single-season defenseman points list with 36 points.
 
By the Numbers
  • 87: Blocked shots by AIC in the 2024 Atlantic Hockey Postseason, which leads all teams. 
  • 38: All-time Atlantic Hockey Postseasons wins by RIT. The total ranks No. 2 in AHA history, trailing only the 39 victories by Air Force.
  • 24: Wins this season by RIT goaltender Tommy Scarfone (24-8-2). The total ranks fourth nationally and is tied for No. 4 on the AHA single-season list. 
  • 19: Wins by AIC freshman goaltender Nils Wallstrom this season. He is one victory shy of becoming the first freshman to win 20 games in Atlantic Hockey history. 
  • 6: Career postseason goals scored by RIT defenseman Gianfranco Cassaro, which is tied for the AHA Postseason record among blueliners.
  • 4: Appearances in the Atlantic Hockey Championship by AIC in the last five AHA Postseasons.
 
About the Atlantic Hockey Association 
The Atlantic Hockey Association is marking its 21st season of competition in 2023-24. The 11-team NCAA Division I conference consists of, American International College (Yellow Jackets), Bentley University (Falcons), Canisius College (Golden Griffins), The College of the Holy Cross (Crusaders), Mercyhurst University (Lakers), Niagara University (Purple Eagles), Rochester Institute of Technology (Tigers), Robert Morris University (Colonials), Sacred Heart University (Pioneers), the United States Air Force Academy (Falcons) and the United States Military Academy (Black Knights). For more information, visit atlantichockeyonline.com.