BOSTON - Six Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) programs are in action this week, with four of the teams facing off in conference action.

No. 6/6 Penn State hosts No. 15/15 Mercyhurst, and Delaware hosts Syracuse as AHA play continues.
 

MATCHUPS

Oct. 16/17 (Thursday/Friday)

• No. 14/13 St. Lawrence at RIT

Oct. 16/17 (Friday/Saturday)

• No. 15/15 Mercyhurst at No. 6/6 Penn State
• Robert Morris at Yale
• Syracuse at Delaware

 

QUICK HITS

• No freshman blueliner in the country has tallied more than Penn State's Danica Maynard's four points (2G-2A) at Delaware on Oct. 11.
• Maynard's seven points (3G-2A) since Oct. 1 lead all defensemen in the nation.
• AHA defensemen make up the top three in the nation in blocks. Delaware freshman Lexie Lonask leads the nation with 22, followed by Mercyhurst senior Makayla Javier (20) and Delaware freshman Emma MacIntyre (19).
• Delaware freshman Charlotte Payne is the only active goaltender in Division I to record 100+ saves (122) through her first three career games.

 

KEYSTONE CLASH

No. 15/15 Mercyhurst will travel 175 miles from Erie, Pa, to Pegula Ice Arena, in an AHA Championship rematch with #6/6 Penn State on Friday, Oct. 17 and Saturday, Oct. 18. This is the Lakers' first AHA series in 2025-26.

The pair of Pennsylvania programs has met in three straight AHA/College Hockey America (CHA) title games since the 2022-23 season. The Nittany Lions have taken the AHA crown in three straight seasons.

Penn State senior captain and forward Tessa Janecke leads active skaters in the series with 17 points (8G-9A) in 15 games against Mercyhurst.

Janecke also recorded three points in back-to-back games in December 2024, the most by an active player in the series.

Junior forward Sofia Nuutinen leads active Lakers in the series with eight points (2G-6A) in 10 games played.
 

CLAWS > PAWS

RIT hosts No. 14/13 St. Lawrence and seeks its first win over the visitors since Jan. 17, 2023 (a 2-1 win in Rochester, N.Y.).

The Tigers enter the series with more success than any other program in the nation with the man advantage. Operating at a Division I-high 40 percent success rate, RIT has netted 10 power play goals this season, both figures lead the nation.

Eight different skaters have scored all 10 power play goals for the Tigers. Freshman defenseman Riley Gramlich leads the team and is tied for second-most in the nation with two.
 

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK (10/6-12)

Forward: Matile Fantin, FR, Penn State (Como, Italy) - 5 PTS (2G-3A), 2 GP at Delaware

Defenseman: Danica Maynard, FR, Penn State (Lake Country, British Columbia) - 4 PTS (2G-2A), 2 GP at Delaware

Goaltender: Sophia Bellina, SR, RIT (Cleveland, Ohio) - 2 GP (1-1-0), 1.49 GAA, .947 GA at Robert Morris

Rookie: Tatiana Blichova (F), FR, Lindenwood (Presov, Slovakia) - 3 PTS (2G-1A), 2 GP vs. Merrimack
 

BY THE NUMBERS

3 - Penn State senior forward Maddy Christian has potted three-game winners this season. The Elk River, Minn., native enters the weekend with the most in the nation.

6 - The Nittany Lions have only allowed six goals this season, which is tied for third in the nation. 13 teams have allowed fewer than 10 goals.

12.2 - Penn State is allowing 12.2 shots per game, the least in the nation.

136 - Delaware leads Division I with 136 blocks this season.

223 - Javier's 223 career blocks are the most among any active skater across the nation.

 

SCORING LEADERS

Goals

1. Grace Outwater (Penn State) - 6
2. Julia Perjus (Mercyhurst) - 5
3. Maddy Christian (Penn State) - 5
4. Seven tied - 3

Assists

1. Danica Maynard (Penn State) - 7
2. Leah Stecker (Penn State) - 5
3. Nayeon Kim (Mercyhurst) - 5
4. Jessica MacKinnon (Robert Morris) - 5

Points

1. Danica Maynard (Penn State) - 9
2. Maddy Christian (Penn State) - 8
3. Jessica MacKinnon (Robert Morris) - 7
4. Grace Outwater (Penn State) - 7

 

GOALTENDING LEADERS

*Min. 33% of team minutes played.
Goals-Against Average

1. Katie DeSa (Penn State) - 1.20
2. Sophia Bellina (RIT) - 1.60
3. Lexington Secreto (Lindenwood) - 2.31
4. Lucy Phillips (Robert Morris) - 2.51

Save Percentage

1. Sophia Bellina (RIT) - .942
2. Lexington Secreto (Lindenwood) - .940
3. Charlotte Payne (Delaware - .931
4. Katie DeSa (Penn State) - .917

Saves

1. Magdalena Luggin (Mercyhurst) - 152
2. Mattie Robitzer (Delaware) - 146
3. Ava Drabyk (Syracuse) - 139
4. Sophia Bellina (RIT) - 131

 

ABOUT ATLANTIC HOCKEY AMERICA
Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) is in its second season following the merger between the Atlantic Hockey Association and College Hockey America. The conference fields 10 Division I men's teams and seven women's teams. For more information, visit atlantichockeyamerica.com.

Connect with AHA on X (@Atlantic_Hockey), Instagram (@atlantichockeyamerica) and Facebook (Atlantic Hockey America).

Watch AHA home games on FloHockey this season.