BOSTON - Nine Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) programs competed on the first Saturday of 2026, with two contests being conference matchups.

RIT pulled off a 1-0 upset victory over the Big Ten’s No. 8/9 Penn State in Rochester, N.Y.

The lone goal of the game was scored by freshman forward Evan Konyen 6:28 into the opening period. Sophomore goaltender Jakub Krbecek tied a career high and made 44 saves against the Nittany Lions.

Canisius earned a 4-3 victory over independent Lindenwood on the road. The Golden Griffins scored four of the game’s first five goals.

Despite a comeback effort, the 4-1 lead, at once overwhelming, cemented a Canisius victory.

Sophomore goaltender Petter Wickström Stumer made a school and AHA record 72 saves in between the pipes on Saturday.

The Golden Griffin netminder is the first Division I men’s goaltender to make 70+ saves since three did so during the 2014-15 campaign.

Bentley scored twice in the opening 20:00 session and added two more in the middle frame, taking a 4-2 lead into the second intermission.

In the final frame, the Falcons exploded for four goals and walked away with an 8-2 victory over (RV) Holy Cross.

Each Bentley goal came off the stick of a different Falcon, but eight registered multi-point efforts.

After striking first, Sacred Heart managed to pull ahead of Robert Morris for good, heading into the first intermission 2-1.

The Pioneers had three different goal scorers in a 3-1 victory over Robert Morris. All four goals in the contest were scored at even strength.

Air Force got off to a 1-0 lead in the first period, but lost its lead permanently heading into the first intermission.

Even with bringing it back to a one-goal game within the opening minute of the third period, the Sun Devils managed to tack on two more, including an empty netter to solidify a 2-5 loss for the Falcons.  

Niagara suffered a 2-6 loss on its home ice to ECAC Hockey’s Clarkson.

Despite scoring first on Saturday, Mercyhurst fell 1-6 and was swept at No. 4/4 North Dakota.

SCORES
RIT 1 - #8/9 PENN STATE 0
BOX SCORE - RECAP
RIT Goals: Evan Konyen

CANISIUS 4 -  LINDENWOOD 3
BOX SCORE - RECAP
Canisius Goals: Alton McDermott (2), Rhys Chiddenton (2)
Lindenwood Goals: Oliver Houde, Drew Kuzma, Giovanni Morneau

BENTLEY 8 -  (RV) HOLY CROSS 3
BOX SCORE - RECAP
Bentley Goals: Jake Black, Jack Dalton, Garrett Horsager, Oliver Salo, Kellan Hjartarson, Chase Davis, Oskar Bakkevig, Stephen Castagna
Holy Cross Goals: Mack Oliphant, Dax Williams, Owen Kim

SACRED HEART 3 - ROBERT MORRIS 1
BOX SCORE - RECAP
Sacred Heart Goals: Cole Galata, Vitaly Levyy, Liam Lesakowski
Robert Morris Goals: Connor Gourley

(RV) ARIZONA STATE 3 -  AIR FORCE 1
BOX SCORE
Bentley Goals: Alec Leonard, Owen Goodbrand
Holy Cross Goals: Owen Kim, Noah Eyre

CLARKSON 6 -  NIAGARA 2
BOX SCORE - RECAP
Clarkson Goals: Mael St-denis, Talon Sigurdson (2), Tate Taylor, Justin Cote (2)
Niagara Goals: Davis Codd, Noah Hackett

#4/4 NORTH DAKOTA 6 - MERCYHURST 1
BOX SCORE - RECAP
North Dakota Goals: Ellis Rickwood, Jack Kernan (2), Dylan James (2), Jake Livanavage
Mercyhurst Goals: Dominik Bartecko

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.