Army Shuts Out Top-Seeded AIC in a Hard-Fought Win

Saturday, February 12

6:05 PM

Army West Point

AIC

Photo by: Jon Malinowski

Army Shuts Out Top-Seeded AIC in a Hard-Fought Win

February 12, 2022 | Hockey

Box Score

By: Phil Tor

WEST POINT, N.Y. – For the second time this season, Army West Point hockey shut out the top team in the Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA), American International College. Gavin Abric saved 39 shots en route to his fourth collegiate shutout and Eric Butte scored the lone goal in the contest as Army skated past AIC, 1-0.

The hard-fought win was created by relentless desire from the Black Knights that picked up three points in AHA play with the result and move to 10-10-2 in conference play.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Army Black Knights brought the energy with them to Tate Rink, feeding of the roars of the crowd and playing with intensity from the first puck drop. The two sides battled in the first eight minutes of the game until Eric Butte broke through the defense and scored a powerplay goal at 8:36 into the opening frame. It only took 10 seconds for the PP unit to get on the board and give Army a 1-0 lead.

Sophomore goaltender, Gavin Abric, cleaned up all 14 shots he faced in the first period to preserve a 1-0 Army lead at the end of the first period.

The Army defensive unit came alive in the second period, once again holding AIC scoreless and allowing only seven shots to reach Abric. The team combined for ten blocked shots in the frame to keep AIC off the scoreboard. The penalty kill unit stepped up to hold off AIC on two powerplay attempts. The kills would later prove to be a pivotal moment in the contest as Army did not allow the momentum to swing in favor of their opposition.

Army carried its energy over into the third period to combat the AIC charge in the final period. Abric stood tall in front of the net, making several tough saves to preserve the lead down the stretch. Army held off the Yellow Jacket push at the end of the period, holding on to win the contest, 1-0.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Eric Butte scored the lone goal for Army in the first period
The goal was Butte's 10th of the season and 8th on the powerplay
That total is good for T-3 in the nation going into tonight
Gavin Abric made 39 saves in net including 18 in the final period
The sophomore netminder recorded his fourth shutout of the season
This marks the second time this season Abric has kept the sheet clean against AIC
AIC has only been shut out twice this season, both times by Army and Abric
Noah Wilson recorded four blocks in the win
Wilson now holds the Army single-season blocked shots record with 68 and counting
The junior passed Dalton McAfee '17 (66 blocked shots) to take the crown
Daniel Haider and Michael Sacco assisted on the Butte goal
John Keranen also blocked a team-high four shots
Butte and Keranen led the way in the faceoff circle with 11 and 10 wins, respectively
Army put 30 shots on net in the contest led by Butte and Haider who had five each
The Army penalty kill was perfect this evening as AIC went 0-for-3 with the man advantage

UP NEXT
Army will play another AHA series next weekend on the road at Holy Cross. The contests are slated for Thursday and Friday, Feb. 16-17 and the puck will drop at 7:05 in both matchups.