Atlantic Hockey Association Tournament – quarterfinals (best-of-three)
What: No. 5 Mercyhurst College (15-16-4) at No. 4 Connecticut (13-17-4)
When: Friday through Sunday, 7:05 p.m.*
Where: Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum – Storrs, Conn.
On the air: www.uconnhuskies (Internet video, live stats)
Players to watch
Mercyhurst – Sr. G Ryan Zapolski (13-13-3 record, 2.76 goals-against average, .923 save percentage, 2 shutouts), Sr. F Scott Pitt (18-21-39), So. F Paul Chiasson (17-19-36), Fr. F Taylor Holstrom (9-23-32), Sr. F Mike Gurtler (9-17-26)
Connecticut – Fr. F Cole Schneider (11-17-28), So. F Sean Ambrosie (10-17-27), Fr. F Billy Latta (10-14-24), Sr. F Andrew Olson (14-8-22), So. G Garrett Bartus (12-14-4, 3.46, .905)
Fast facts
Mercyhurst – The Lakers began the Atlantic Hockey Association playoffs with a 5-1 first-round win at Robert Morris last Saturday. … The Lakers split their only two meetings – a 3-1 loss and 9-4 win – at Connecticut Jan. 7-8. … With a series win, the Lakers would reach the conference’s Final Four at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, N.Y., for the third time in four seasons. … Pitt and Chiasson have six-game point streaks. … Gurtler needs seven points to become the 15th player in the program’s NCAA Division I history to reach 100 career points and the third this season (Pitt and senior F Steve Cameron). … Cameron remains out with a potentially season-ending, lower-body injury.
Connecticut – The Huskies followed an eight-game winless streak, which began with the 9-4 loss to Mercyhurst Jan. 8, with six wins in their last eight games. … Bartus has earned 12 of the team’s 13 wins. … Schneider, the team’s leading scorer, is a native of Williamsville, N.Y., a Buffalo suburb.
* Sunday’s game (if necessary)
– Victor Fernandes
Atlantic Hockey Association Tournament schedule
Quarterfinals (best-of-three series)
Today-Sunday*
No. 8 American International (8-22-1) at No. 1 Rochester Institute of Technology (16-10-8), 7:05 p.m.
No. 7 Sacred Heart (6-23-6) at No. 2 Air Force (16-11-6), 9:05 p.m.
No. 6 Canisius (12-17-6) at No. 3 Holy Cross (15-14-5), 7:05 p.m.
No. 5 Mercyhurst (15-16-4) at No. 4 Connecticut (13-17-4), 7:05 p.m.
* Sunday games if necessary; start times apply to all three games
Semifinals – March 18
at Blue Cross Arena – Rochester, N.Y.
No. 1 – Quarterfinal winners, 4:05 p.m.
No. 2 – Quarterfinal winners, 60 minutes after completion of Game 1
Championship game – March 19
at Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, N.Y.
Semifinal winners, 7:05 p.m.
