2024–25 American International Yellow Jackets men's ice hockey season

The 2024–25 American International Yellow Jackets men's ice hockey season will be the 77th season of play for the program, the 27th at the Division I level and 1st in the Atlantic Hockey America conference. The Yellow Jackets will represent American International College, play their home games at MassMutual Center and be coached by Eric Lang in his ninth season.

2024–25 American International Yellow Jackets men's ice hockey season
ConferenceAHA
Home iceMassMutual Center
Record
Overall1–5–1
Conference1–1–0
Home1–2–0
Road0–3–1
Coaches and captains
Head coachEric Lang
Assistant coachesMatthew Woodward
Brendan Riley
Nielsson Arcibal
American International Yellow Jackets men's ice hockey seasons
« 2023–24 2025–26 »

Season

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In November of 2024, American International announced that it would be reclassifying its ice hockey team as a Division II program for the following year.[1] The Yellow Jackets were a D-II school for most of their teams, however, the school had taken advantage of an NCAA rule that allowed them to promote one sport to a higher tier, similar to the RIT Tigers and Clarkson Golden Knights. Unfortunately, AIC has had some of the worst attendance numbers in college hockey, routinely drawing less than 500 people in a building that could seat more than 6,800.[2] American International's primary conference, Northeast-10, is the only league that sponsors Division II ice hockey, so the immediate expectation is that the Yellow Jackets will join that conference as soon as possible.

Departures

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Player Position Nationality Cause
Alexandros Aslanidis Goaltender   United States Graduate transfer to Lindenwood
Brett Callahan Defenseman   United States Graduation (retired)
Grayson Dietrich Forward   United States Left program (retired)
Cole Hudson Goaltender   United States Left program (retired)
Julius Janhonen Forward   Finland Graduation (signed with HPK)
Logan Jenuwine Forward   United States Graduation (retired)
Brian Kramer Defenseman   United States Graduate transfer to Western Michigan
Darwin Lakoduk Forward   Canada Graduation (retired)
Tomi Leppänen Defenseman   Finland Signed professional contract (Iisalmen Peli-Karhut)
Austen Long Forward   United States Graduation (signed with Fayetteville Marksmen)
Dustin Manz Forward   United States Graduation (signed with Wheeling Nailers)
Akseli Pennanen Forward   Finland Signed professional contract (TUTO Hockey)
Matthew Rickard Defenseman   United States Graduation (retired)
Jake Sacratini Forward   United States Left program (retired)
Casper Söderling Defenseman   Sweden Left program (retired)
Nico Somerville Defenseman   Canada Graduation (retired)
Nils Wallström Goaltender   Sweden Transferred to Merrimack
Blake Wells Forward   Canada Graduation (signed with Utah Grizzlies)

Recruiting

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Player Position Nationality Age Notes
Brett Bamber Defenseman   Canada 23 St. Albert, AB; transfer from Alaska Anchorage
Chase Clark Goaltender   United States 22 Williamsville, NY; transfer from Sacred Heart; drafted 183rd overall in 2021
Blake Dangos Defenseman   United States 22 St. Louis, MO; transfer from Sacred Heart
Wilhelm Forsberg Forward   Sweden 20 Sollentuna, SWE
Tobias Bjercke Larsen Defenseman   Norway 20 Oslo, NOR
Adam Manji Forward   United States 21 New Westminster, BC
Justin Mexico Forward   United States 20 Madison Heights, MI
David Posma Defenseman   United States 21 Pomona, NY
Tyler Procious Defenseman   United States 21 Pittsford, NY
Noah Serdachny Forward   Canada 21 Edmonton, AB; transfer from Colorado College
Nikolai Tishkevich Forward   Belarus 20 Minsk, BLR
Nicky Wallace Defenseman   United States 21 Atlantic Highlands, NJ; transfer from Quinnipiac
Danny Weight Forward   Canada 23 Edmonton, AB; graduate transfer from Colorado College
Tanner Willick Defenseman   Canada 20 Saskatoon, SK

Roster

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As of July 29, 2024.[3]

No. S/P/C Player Class Pos Height Weight DoB Hometown Previous team NHL rights
1   Adam Manji Freshman G 6' 5" (1.96 m) 181 lb (82 kg) 2003-07-10 New Westminster, British Columbia Coquitlam Express (BCHL)
2   Tyler Procious Freshman D 5' 10" (1.78 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 2003-05-29 Pittsford, New York Rochester Jr. Americans (NAHL)
3   Tanner Willick Freshman D 5' 9" (1.75 m) 157 lb (71 kg) 2003-12-20 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Blackfalds Bulldogs (BCHL)
4   Blake Dangos Junior D 5' 10" (1.78 m) 174 lb (79 kg) 2002-04-08 St. Louis, Missouri Sacred Heart (AHA)
6   Tobias Bjercke Larsen Freshman D 6' 2" (1.88 m) 207 lb (94 kg) 2004-08-27 Oslo, Norway Färjestad BK J20 (J20 Nationell)
7   Danny Weight Graduate F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2001-05-01 Lattingtown, New York Colorado College (NCHC)
8   Brett Bamber Junior D 5' 9" (1.75 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 2001-11-07 St. Albert, Alberta Alaska Anchorage (NCAA)
9   Hunter Longhi Sophomore F 5' 8" (1.73 m) 174 lb (79 kg) 2002-04-02 Collinsville, Illinois Minot (NAHL)
10   Nikolai Tishkevich Freshman F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2004-01-09 Minsk, Belarus Aberdeen Wings (NAHL)
11   Justin Mexico Freshman F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 2003-12-05 Madison Heights, Michigan Lincoln Stars (USHL)
12   David Posma Junior D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 2003-08-27 Pomona, New York Niagara (AHA)
13   Hunter Jones Sophomore F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2002-07-13 Andover, Minnesota Oklahoma (NAHL)
14   Douglas Andersson Sophomore F 6' 6" (1.98 m) 209 lb (95 kg) 2002-04-04 Ängelholm, Sweden Kallinge-Ronneby IF (Hockeyettan)
15   Nicky Wallace Sophomore D 5' 8" (1.73 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 2003-05-07 Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey Quinnipiac (ECAC)
16   Andrew Amousse Sophomore F 6' 3" (1.91 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 2001-07-16 Laval, Quebec Victoria (BCHL)
17   Oscar Geschwind Senior F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 2001-02-24 Hällefors, Sweden Northern Michigan (CCHA)
19   Jordan Biro Graduate F 5' 8" (1.73 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 2000-08-10 Sherwood Park, Alberta Colorado College (NCHC)
21   John Lundy Junior F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 163 lb (74 kg) 2001-04-27 Brooklyn, New York Jamestown (NAHL)
22   Timofei Khokhlachev Junior F 6' 4" (1.93 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 2001-11-06 Moscow, Russia Shreveport (NAHL)
23   Theo Angesved Sophomore D 5' 11" (1.8 m) 172 lb (78 kg) 2003-06-23 Växjö, Sweden Borås HC (Hockeyettan)
24   Wilhelm Forsberg Freshman F 6' 3" (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2004-04-26 Sollentuna, Sweden Djurgårdens IF J20 (J20 Nationell)
25   Alexander Malinowski Junior F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2001-02-07 Linköping, Sweden Fairbanks (NAHL)
26   Hunter McCurdy Junior D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 2001-08-09 Mokena, Illinois Danbury (NAHL)
27   Josh Barnes Junior F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 2002-09-27 Cornwall, Ontario Des Moines (USHL)
28   Alfred Lindberg Sophomore F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2002-01-28 Hallsberg, Sweden New Mexico (NAHL)
29   Noah Serdachny Junior F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2003-03-09 Edmonton, Alberta Colorado College (NCHC)
33   Peyton Grainer Sophomore G 6' 1" (1.85 m) 179 lb (81 kg) 2002-03-12 Detroit, Michigan Jersey (NCDC)
34   Chase Clark Junior G 6' 6" (1.98 m) 208 lb (94 kg) 2002-04-08 Williamsville, New York Sacred Heart (AHA) WSH, 183rd overall 2021
37   Evan Stella Senior D 5' 11" (1.8 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 2001-05-11 Karlstad, Sweden Dubuque (USHL)
39   Dario Beljo Sophomore F 6' 3" (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2002-08-15 Sudbury, Ontario Brooks (AJHL)
55   Brett Rylance Junior F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 167 lb (76 kg) 2001-08-03 Edmonton, Alberta Chilliwack (BCHL)
61   Casey McDonald Junior F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 187 lb (85 kg) 2001-05-10 Plenty, Saskatchewan Penticton (BCHL)

Standings

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Conference record Overall record
GP W L T OW OL SW PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
Bentley 10 8 2 0 0 0 0 24 36 21 14 9 4 1 45 30
Niagara 11 6 3 2 0 1 1 22 35 27 15 7 5 3 48 42
Sacred Heart 10 6 3 1 0 1 1 21 33 27 14 7 5 2 46 45
Army 11 5 6 0 0 0 0 15 25 32 12 5 7 0 28 36
Air Force 8 5 3 0 1 0 0 14 13 11 16 8 8 0 28 46
Canisius 7 4 2 1 0 0 0 13 23 13 13 4 8 1 33 41
Holy Cross 9 4 4 1 1 0 1 12 25 21 14 5 8 1 36 40
American International 8 3 5 0 0 1 0 10 18 23 14 4 9 1 29 46
RIT 9 2 6 1 0 0 1 7 21 32 14 3 10 1 34 48
Mercyhurst 12 2 9 1 1 0 0 6 28 44 16 2 13 1 37 60
Robert Morris 5 1 3 1 0 0 1 5 17 23 11 4 5 2 34 32
Championship: March 21, 2024
† indicates conference regular season champion (DeGregorio Trophy)
* indicates conference tournament champion (Riley Trophy)
Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll
Updated: November 25, 2024

Schedule and results

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Date Time Opponent# Rank# Site TV Decision Result Attendance Record
Regular Season
October 5 7:00 pm at #12 Maine* Alfond ArenaOrono, Maine ESPN+ Clark L 0–6  5,043 0–1–0
October 11 7:00 pm at Ohio State* Value City ArenaColumbus, Ohio   Clark T 3–3 OT 2,623 0–1–1
October 12 5:00 pm at Ohio State* Value City ArenaColumbus, Ohio   Grainer L 2–5  2,464 0–2–1
October 18 7:00 pm at #2 Boston College* Conte ForumChestnut Hill, Massachusetts ESPN+ Grainer L 0–5  7,224 0–3–1
October 25 1:00 pm Air Force MassMutual CenterSpringfield, Massachusetts FloHockey Clark L 1–2  212 0–4–1 (0–1–0)
October 26 1:00 pm Air Force MassMutual CenterSpringfield, Massachusetts FloHockey Clark W 4–2  238 1–4–1 (1–1–0)
November 2 1:00 pm #17 Massachusetts* MassMutual CenterSpringfield, Massachusetts FloHockey Clark L 3–4  678 1–5–1
November 7 7:00 pm at Holy Cross Hart CenterWorcester, Massachusetts FloHockey Grainer L 2–5  661 1–6–1 (1–2–0)
November 8 7:00 pm at Holy Cross Hart CenterWorcester, Massachusetts FloHockey, NESN+ Manji W 3–2  814 2–6–1 (2–2–0)
November 15 7:00 pm at Bentley Bentley ArenaWaltham, Massachusetts FloHockey Grainer L 2–5  1,050 2–7–1 (2–3–0)
November 16 6:00 pm at Bentley Bentley ArenaWaltham, Massachusetts FloHockey Grainer L 0–3  850 2–8–1 (2–4–0)
November 19 7:00 pm at Stonehill* Bridgewater Ice ArenaBridgewater, Massachusetts NEC Front Row Grainer W 3–0  76 3–8–1
November 23 1:00 pm Niagara MassMutual CenterSpringfield, Massachusetts FloHockey Grainer L 1–2  3–9–1 (2–5–0)
November 24 3:00 pm Niagara MassMutual CenterSpringfield, Massachusetts FloHockey Manji W 5–2  259 4–9–1 (3–5–0)
November 29 5:00 pm at Robert Morris Clearview ArenaMoon Township, Pennsylvania FloHockey       
November 30 5:00 pm at Robert Morris Clearview ArenaMoon Township, Pennsylvania FloHockey       
December 6 1:00 pm Holy Cross MassMutual CenterSpringfield, Massachusetts FloHockey       
December 7 1:00 pm Holy Cross MassMutual CenterSpringfield, Massachusetts FloHockey       
December 27 1:00 pm Sacred Heart MassMutual CenterSpringfield, Massachusetts FloHockey       
December 29 4:00 pm at Quinnipiac* M&T Bank ArenaHamden, Connecticut ESPN+       
January 3 7:00 pm at Stonehill* Bridgewater Ice ArenaBridgewater, Massachusetts NEC Front Row       
January 7 7:00 pm Army MassMutual CenterSpringfield, Massachusetts FloHockey       
January 17 7:00 pm at Sacred Heart Martire Family ArenaFairfield, Connecticut FloHockey       
January 18 7:00 pm at Sacred Heart Martire Family ArenaFairfield, Connecticut FloHockey       
January 21 7:00 pm Bentley MassMutual CenterSpringfield, Massachusetts FloHockey       
January 24 1:00 pm Canisius MassMutual CenterSpringfield, Massachusetts FloHockey       
January 25 5:00 pm Canisius MassMutual CenterSpringfield, Massachusetts FloHockey       
February 7 7:00 pm at Mercyhurst Mercyhurst Ice CenterErie, Pennsylvania FloHockey       
February 8 4:00 pm at Mercyhurst Mercyhurst Ice CenterErie, Pennsylvania FloHockey       
February 11 7:00 pm Bentley MassMutual CenterSpringfield, Massachusetts FloHockey       
February 14 7:05 pm at RIT Gene Polisseni CenterHenrietta, New York FloHockey       
February 15 7:05 pm at RIT Gene Polisseni CenterHenrietta, New York FloHockey       
February 18 7:00 pm Sacred Heart MassMutual CenterSpringfield, Massachusetts FloHockey       
February 21 7:00 pm Army MassMutual CenterSpringfield, Massachusetts FloHockey       
February 24 4:00 pm at Army Tate RinkWest Point, New York FloHockey       
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time.
Source:[4]

Rankings

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Poll Week
Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 (Final)
USCHO.com RV
USA Hockey NR

References

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  1. ^ "American International to reclassify as Division II beginning with 2025-26 college hockey season". USCHO. November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  2. ^ "Men's Division I Hockey Attendance: 2023-2024". USCHO. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  3. ^ "2024-25 Ice Hockey Roster". American International Yellow Jackets. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  4. ^ "American 2024-25 Men's Ice Hockey Schedule". AIC Yellow Jackets. Retrieved August 13, 2022.