AIC ADVANCES IN ATLANTIC HOCKEY TOURNAMENT
BUFFALO, N.Y. (March 3, 2007) - Freshman
Mike McMillan's (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario) goal
with 7:35 remaining in regulation lifted No. 9 seed American
International College to a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over No. 8
Canisius College in the first round of the Atlantic Hockey
Tournament at the Buffalo State Sports Arena Saturday night.
The win lifts the Yellow Jackets to 8-24-1 overall and advances
them to a quarterfinal date with top-seeded Sacred Heart next
Saturday at 7:00. The Golden Griffins see their season come
to a close at 9-23-3.
With the game tied 1-1 entering the third period, McMillan would notch his fifth goal of the season at the 12:25 mark of the third period. Chad Richardson (Regina, SK) and David Turco (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario) assisted on the tally. The Yellow Jackets would then hold off Canisius for the remaninder of the contest, even when the Griffs pulled goalie Andrew Loewen with 37 seconds to go.
AIC, which trailed 1-0 after one period when Jason Weeks scored on a power play with 3:37 left in the first frame, would tie the score 3:44 into the second period when Mark Pavli (Sarnia, Ontario) scored his seventh goal of the season, with Jereme Tendler (Viceroy, SK) and Mark Fuqua (Shelby Township, Mich.) assisting on the goal.
Tom Fenton (Sarnia, Ontario) made 28 saves for American International as the hosts held a slim 29-28 shot advantage. Loewen made 27 saves for Canisius. Canisius wrapped up the evening 1-6 on the power play, while AIC was 0-3 with the man advantage.
AIC improves to 2-3 all-time in Atlantic Hockey Tournament play
with the victory.