Mercyhurst Athletics Men's Ice Hockey 1/22/2026 9:26:12 PM Gabe Herman, Director of Communications AHA Men’s Weekly Journal (Jan. 22, 2026) Eight AHA programs are set to compete this week through a blend of conference and non-conference action. BOSTON - Eight of 10 Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) squads are slated to hit the ice for two-game series this week, with six programs competing in conference series. MATCHUPS Friday/Saturday (Jan. 23/24) Holy Cross at Robert Morris Princeton at (RV) Bentley Canisius at Mercyhurst (RV) RIT vs. Niagara (Game One at Niagara - Game Two at RIT) Sacred Heart vs. CT Ice AROUND AHA Bentley sophomore forward Michael Mesic has scored in four straight contests, tied for the longest active streak of its kind in the nation. Canisius senior forward Killian Kiecker-Olson has recorded a point in six straight conference games, tied for the sixth-longest streak in Division I. Sacred Heart senior forward Felix Trudeau leads college hockey with nine power play goals this season. Air Force sophomore forward Nick Sajevic has eight multi-point efforts in the current campaign, tied for the second-most in AHA. QUICK HITS AHA skaters have recorded a hat trick on five separate occasions this season. Army West Point junior forward Barron Woodring’s 295 faceoff wins are the second-most in Division I. Robert Morris freshman defenseman John Babcock leads the nation with 60 blocks. Holy Cross and Bentley are tied for the eighth-most goals per game in conference matchups in Division I, with 3.6. ON THE PROWL RIT’s penalty kill has been operating at an 85.9 percent success rate in 2025-26, tied for the eighth-best in the nation and leads AHA. The Tigers have allowed 11 power play goals to opponents this season, and only eight other programs have allowed fewer than them. NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION Since the calendar turned to Jan. 1, 2026, Mercyhurst has found a rhythm in AHA play. The Lakers are 3-1-0 in four conference games since 2026 began. Each program in the league has played at least two conference games since Jan. 1, and Mercyhurst’s 2.5 goals per game ranks fifth in conference play in 2026. However, the Lakers lead AHA play in that span with a 1.8 goals-agaisnt average as a team, the only AHA program under a 2.0 this year. PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Forward: Walter Zacher, JR, Canisius (Buffalo, N.Y.) - 2 GP, 3 PTS (3G) vs. RIT Defenseman: FJ Buteau, FR, Canisius (Montreal, Quebec) - 2 GP, 3 PTS (1G-2A) vs. RIT Goaltender: Chase Clark, SR, Canisius (Williamsville, N.Y.) - 1 GP (1-0-0), 1.00 GAA, .967 SV% vs. RIT Rookie: Teagan Kendrick, G, Sacred Heart (St. Albert, Alberta) - 2 GP (1-0-1), 2.88 GAA, .921 SV% vs. Bentley BY THE NUMBERS 3 - Army West Point sophomore goaltender JJ Cataldo leads AHA with three shutouts this season. 5 - Since Jan. 1, Mercyhurst freshman forward Will Schumacher has tallied five points (2G-3A). This figure is tied for the ninth most in Division I in that span. 97 - Air Force senior blueliner Chris Hedden is at 97 career points (33G-64A) and is trying to become the only active defenseman in Division I to reach the century mark over his career. 705 - Niagara is one of four AHA programs with 700+ (747) faceoff wins in 2025-26. SCORING LEADERS *Stats are from all regular-season contests. GOALS Felix Trudeau (Sacred Heart) - 19 Chris Hedden (Air Force) - 11 Sam Stitz (Air Force) - 10 Walter Zacher (Canisius) - 10 ASSISTS Nick Sajevic (Air Force) - 20 Marcus Joughin (Sacred Heart) - 17 Mikey Adamson (Sacred Heart) - 15 Sam Stitz (Air Force) - 15 POINTS Felix Trudeau (Sacred Heart) - 27 Sam Stitz (Air Force) - 25 Nick Sajevic (Air Force) - 25 Michael Mesic (Bentley) - 22 GOALTENDING LEADERS *Min. 33% of team minutes played. GOALS-AGAINST AVERAGE Lukas Swedin (Bentley) - 2.06 Jakub Krbecek (RIT) - 2.08 JJ Cataldo (Army West Point) - 2.38 Two tied - 2.39 SAVE PERCENTAGE Lukas Swedin (Bentley) - .926 Teagen Kendrick (Sacred Heart) - .925 Jakub Krbecek (RIT) - .924 JJ Cataldo (Army West Point) - .922 SAVES JJ Cataldo (Army West Point) - 612 Jakub Krbecek (RIT) - 532 Charles-Edward Gravel (Mercyhurst) - 492 Dominik Wasik (Air Force) - 486 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.