WORCESTER, Mass. - Holy Cross men's ice hockey returns to Atlantic Hockey play on Friday, Jan. 5, at 1 p.m. at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass., before returning to the Hart Center Rink on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. The matchups will stream live on FloHockey.
 
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT HOLY CROSS (9-9-3, 4-7-2 ATLANTIC HOCKEY):

• The Crusaders' fell to Hockey East's Merrimack on Tuesday evening in overtime, 4-3.
• Despite being down 3-1 going into the third period, the Crusaders notched two goals in 55 seconds to force the extra frame.
• Sophomore Joe Solimine recorded his first goal of the 2023-24 season in the game, while sophomore Jack Seymour picked up his first multi-point game of his career.
• With an assist on senior Jack Ricketts' game-tying goal, senior Matt Guerra became one of 12 active Atlantic Hockey players to reach the 60-point mark in their career.
• Holy Cross finished their non-conference schedule with a 5-2-1 record, while going 3-1-1 against Hockey East programs.
• Holy Cross has played six one-goal games this season, holding a 1-6 record. In their ten games decided by 2+ goals, Holy Cross is 8-3. In their five overtime games this season, the Crusaders are 0-3-3.
• The PK unit continues to stand at the top of the national rankings with a 87.6% success rate, good for sixth in nation, behind only Union, Boston College, Quinnipiac, Wisconsin, and AIC.
• Gale's 2.12 goals-against average places him ninth in the nation, while his .926 save percentage is tied for the fourth-highest mark in the country. Grande's 2.14 goals-against average ranks him eleventh nationally, while his .924 save percentage places him in a tie for seventh in the national rankings. Holy Cross owns the nation's 12th-best scoring defense, holding opponents to an average of 2.35 goals per game.
• McLinskey leads Atlantic Hockey in points this season, accumulating 21 so far this season. Senior Jack Ricketts is tied for fifth in the league with nine goals, while McLinskey sits in a tie for third in assists with 14. Junior Matt Shatsky and Ricketts sit in a tie for ninth with ten assists each.
• Junior Thomas Gale sits in fourth in goals-against average (2.12) in the Atlantic Hockey standings and holds the fourth spot in save percentage (.926). Senior Jason Grande sits in second in goals-against (2.15) and tied for first in save percentage (.924). ? 

 
SCOUTING AIC (12-8-0, 8-4-0 ATLANTIC HOCKEY):

• AIC has amassed an 8-3 record since their sweep of Holy Cross on Nov. 9-10.
• Freshman Alfredo Lindberg enters the matchup as the reigning Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Month. Lindberg recorded at least one point in all seven of the Yellowjackets December contests, including four multi-point showings.
• Sophomore John Lundy is tied for second place in Atlantic Hockey for goals this season at ten with Holy Cross senior Jack Ricketts, though Lundy's .67 goals per game paces the league. Graduate student Dustin Manz leads Atlantic Hockey with 16 assists this season.

 
LAST TIME THEY MET:

• The Crusaders lead the all-time series against the Yellowjackets, 60-39-11.
• The two teams have already met for a home-and-home set this season on Nov. 9 and 10. The Yellowjackets swept the series, taking game one in Springfield, 4-1, and game two in Worcester, 3-2.
• The last time the Crusaders defeated the Yellowjackets was in game three of the Atlantic Hockey Championship first round, 4-3, in overtime.

 
FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS 
Be sure to follow the Holy Cross men's ice hockey team — and all things Crusader Athletics — on social media!
Twitter - @HCrossMHockey | @goholycross
Instagram - @hcrossmhockey | @goholycross
Facebook - Holy Cross Men's Ice Hockey | Holy Cross Athletics
YouTube - GoHolyCross