As anyone who’s ever played a game of pick up hockey can testify to, there’s nothing worse than a game without goalies. So it’s understandable then why Saturday afternoon’s American International vs Holy Cross game was postponed.
“Due to unforeseen circumstances, today's game between Holy Cross and AIC at 1:00 p.m. ET will not be played,” Atlantic Hockey America was posting on X, the social media site once known as Twitter. “We apologize for any inconvenience.”
Curious minds immediately wanted to know why. And AIC coach Eric Lang was quick to provide the answer.
“(Three) goalies injured,” was his post in reply to the questions.
The Yellow Jackets list three goalies on their roster - Adam Manji, a freshman from Burnaby, B.C., Chase Clark, a junior from Williamsville, NY and Peyton Grainer, a sophomore from Detroit.
Clark was between the pipes for Friday’s 1-0 loss to Holy Cross. He’s played eight games this season, showing a 2.70 GAA and .916 save percentage.
Grainer has played in nine games with a 3.19 GAA and .886 save percentage. Grainer last played on Nov. 23, a 2-1 loss to Niagara.
Manji has appeared in two games with a 2.39 GAA and .921 save percentage. He hasn’t seen any game action since a 5-2 win over Niagara on Nov. 24.
AIC was making news earlier in the week. The school was announcing that beginning next season, it would be dropping back to play NCAA Division II hockey.
According to a report by College Hockey News, "budgetary issues and the changing landscape of NCAA athletics," were the reason for the decision.
AIC has spent the last 27 seasons in Division I and posted winning records in each of the past six seasons. At the 2019 NCAA Tournament, AIC upset top-seeded St. Cloud State.