# 2021–22 Army Black Knights men's ice hockey season

The 2021–22 Army Black Knights men's ice hockey season was the 119th season of play for the program, the 112th at the Division I level, and the 19th season in the Atlantic Hockey conference. The Black Knights represented the United States Military Academy and were coached by Brian Riley, in his 18th season.

## Season

Army began the season with junior Justin Evenson as the team's starting goaltender. After two poor performance, however, Gavin Abric was given a turn in the net and the results improved. Despite in uptick in the goaltending, however, Army's offense suffered early in the year and the Black Knights went winless in their first six games. The team picked up their game in late October and managed to climb their way back to a .500 record by the winter break with senior All-American Colin Bilek leading the way.
An uptick in COVID-19 positives in January didn't affect Army too badly, however, it caused the cancellation of their annual meeting with the Royal Military College Paladins for the second straight season.
In the second half of the season, Army wasn't able to play very consistently and ended up losing slightly more than they won. Fortunately for the Black Knights, Atlantic Hockey was a sea of mediocrity that year and Army managed to finish third in the conference standings despite being just 1 game above .500.
Army played host to Air Force in the conference quarterfinals but the Black Knights' defense faltered. Army allowed their rival to fire 86 shots on goal in the two games and surrendered overtime goals in both.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Matthew Berkovitz | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Tucker DeYoung | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Kevin Dineen | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Cody Fleckenstein | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Trevin Kozlowski | Goaltender | United States | Graduation (signed with Iowa Wild) |
| Mason Krueger | Forward | United States | Graduation (signed with Quad City Storm) |
| John Laurito | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| John Zimmerman | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (signed with Quad City Storm) |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Joey Baez | Forward | United States | 21 | Tampa, FL |
| Josh Bohlin | Forward | United States | 21 | Wausau, WI |
| Andrew Garby | Defenseman | United States | 21 | Canton, MI |
| Andrew Gilbert | Defenseman | United States | 21 | Fairfield, CT |
| Hunter McCoy | Forward | United States | 21 | Newburyport, MA |
| Michael Sacco | Forward | United States | 21 | Syosset, NY |
| Evan Szary | Goaltender | United States | 21 | Nashville, TN |
| Brad Zona | Defenseman | United States | 21 | Auburn, MA |

## Roster

As of August 23, 2021.

## Standings

2021–22 Atlantic Hockey Standingsvte :
| | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record |
| | GP | W | L | T | OW | OL | SW | PTS | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| #18 American International †* | 26 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 97 | 61 | 38 | 22 | 13 | 3 | 134 | 95 |
| Canisius | 26 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 43 | 76 | 67 | 35 | 16 | 16 | 3 | 99 | 97 |
| Army | 26 | 12 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 42 | 75 | 68 | 35 | 14 | 17 | 4 | 98 | 100 |
| RIT | 26 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 41 | 69 | 82 | 38 | 18 | 16 | 4 | 92 | 115 |
| Sacred Heart | 26 | 11 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 40 | 72 | 70 | 37 | 15 | 18 | 4 | 95 | 100 |
| Air Force | 26 | 11 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 37 | 76 | 80 | 36 | 16 | 17 | 3 | 99 | 127 |
| Mercyhurst | 26 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 75 | 79 | 39 | 16 | 19 | 4 | 114 | 129 |
| Niagara | 26 | 10 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 70 | 79 | 36 | 11 | 22 | 3 | 82 | 122 |
| Bentley | 26 | 10 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 70 | 78 | 36 | 14 | 20 | 2 | 94 | 117 |
| Holy Cross | 26 | 10 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 56 | 72 | 37 | 12 | 23 | 2 | 77 | 108 |
| Championship: March 19, 2022 † indicates conference regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion (Riley Trophy) Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll |||||||||||||||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Site | TV | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Regular Season ||||||||||
| October 2 | 4:00 PM | at #12 Providence* | Schneider Arena • Providence, Rhode Island | NESN | Evenson | L 0–7 | 0 | 0–1–0 (0–0–0–0) |
| October 8 | 7:05 PM | RIT | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | Flo | Evenson | L 5–6 | 1,132 | 0–2–0 (0–1–0–0) |
| October 9 | 4:05 PM | RIT | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | Flo | Abric | T 3–2 $^{SOW}$ | 1,279 | 0–2–1 (0–1–1–1) |
| October 14 | 8:00 PM | at Wisconsin* | Kohl Center • Madison, Wisconsin | BSW+ | Abric | L 1–4 | 7,175 | 0–3–1 (0–1–1–1) |
| October 15 | 8:00 PM | at Wisconsin* | Kohl Center • Madison, Wisconsin | BSW | Abric | L 0–1 | 10,281 | 0–4–1 (0–1–1–1) |
| October 21 | 7:05 PM | at American International | MassMutual Center • Springfield, Massachusetts | | Abric | L 3–4 | 195 | 0–5–1 (0–2–1–1) |
| October 22 | 7:05 PM | American International | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | | Abric | W 2–0 | 1,516 | 1–5–1 (1–2–1–1) |
| October 30 | 4:05 PM | Princeton* | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | | Abric | W 4–1 | 1,391 | 2–5–1 (1–2–1–1) |
| November 12 | 7:05 PM | Yale* | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | | Abric | W 6–3 | 1,989 | 3–5–1 (1–2–1–1) |
| November 19 | 7:00 PM | at Niagara | Dwyer Arena • Lewiston, New York | | Abric | T 3–3 $^{SOL}$ | 437 | 3–5–2 (1–2–2–1) |
| November 20 | 5:00 PM | at Niagara | Dwyer Arena • Lewiston, New York | | Abric | W 4–1 | 757 | 4–5–2 (2–2–2–1) |
| November 26 | 4:05 PM | at Bentley | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | | Abric | L 1–3 | 1,275 | 4–6–2 (2–3–2–1) |
| November 27 | 4:05 PM | at Bentley | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | | Abric | L 0–5 | 1,275 | 4–7–2 (2–4–2–1) |
| December 2 | 7:05 PM | Sacred Heart | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | | Abric | W 4–1 | 1,068 | 5–7–2 (3–4–2–1) |
| December 11 | 5:05 PM | at RIT | Gene Polisseni Center • Henrietta, New York | | Abric | W 6–0 | 2,213 | 6–7–2 (4–4–2–1) |
| December 12 | 5:05 PM | at RIT | Gene Polisseni Center • Henrietta, New York | | Abric | W 4–3 | 1,269 | 7–7–2 (5–4–2–1) |
| January 1 | 5:05 PM | Penn State* | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | | Abric | L 3–5 | 1,160 | 7–8–2 (5–4–2–1) |
| January 2 | 2:05 PM | Rensselaer* | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | | Abric | T 3–3 $^{OT}$ | 1,712 | 7–8–3 (5–4–2–1) |
| January 7 | 7:05 PM | Canisius | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | | Abric | L 3–5 | 1,283 | 7–9–3 (5–5–2–1) |
| January 8 | 4:05 PM | Canisius | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | | Abric | W 3–0 | 1,484 | 8–9–3 (6–5–2–1) |
| January 15 | 7:05 PM | Royal Military College* | Tate Rink • West Point, New York (Exhibition) | | | Cancelled | | |
| January 18 | 6:05 PM | at Sacred Heart | Webster Bank Arena • Bridgeport, Connecticut | | Abric | L 2–4 | 313 | 8–10–3 (6–6–2–1) |
| January 21 | 7:05 PM | Holy Cross | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | | Abric | L 1–3 | 1,302 | 8–11–3 (6–7–2–1) |
| January 22 | 4:05 PM | Holy Cross | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | | Abric | W 4–1 | 1,538 | 9–11–3 (7–7–2–1) |
| January 28 | 9:35 PM | at Air Force | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | | Abric | W 8–3 | 3,032 | 10–11–3 (8–7–2–1) |
| January 29 | 7:05 PM | at Air Force | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | | Abric | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 2,175 | 10–12–3 (8–8–2–1) |
| February 4 | 7:05 PM | Mercyhurst | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | | Abric | L 0–4 | 1,238 | 10–13–3 (8–9–2–1) |
| February 5 | 4:05 PM | Mercyhurst | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | | Evenson | W 5–1 | 1,284 | 11–13–3 (9–9–2–1) |
| February 11 | 5:05 PM | American International | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | | Evenson | L 1–5 | 252 | 11–14–3 (9–10–2–1) |
| February 12 | 6:05 PM | at American International | MassMutual Center • Springfield, Massachusetts | | Abric | W 1–0 | 1,589 | 12–14–3 (10–10–2–1) |
| February 17 | 7:00 PM | at Holy Cross | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | | Abric | W 2–1 | 207 | 13–14–3 (11–10–2–1) |
| February 18 | 7:00 PM | at Holy Cross | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | | Abric | W 3–1 | 350 | 14–14–3 (12–10–2–1) |
| February 25 | 6:05 PM | at Sacred Heart | Webster Bank Arena • Bridgeport, Connecticut | | Abric | L 2–5 | 853 | 14–15–3 (12–11–2–1) |
| February 26 | 4:05 PM | Sacred Heart | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | | Abric | T 6–6 $^{SOL}$ | 1,814 | 14–15–3 (12–11–3–1) |
| Atlantic Hockey Tournament ||||||||||
| March 11 | 7:00 PM | Air Force* | Tate Rink • West Point, New York (Quarterfinal game 1) | | Abric | L 4–5 $^{OT}$ | 1,251 | 14–16–3 |
| March 12 | 7:00 PM | Air Force* | Tate Rink • West Point, New York (Quarterfinal game 2) | | Abric | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 1,350 | 14–17–3 |
| Army Lost Series 0–2 ||||||||||
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. Source: ||||||||||

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| Colin Bilek | RW | 34 | 11 | 20 | 31 | 37 |
| Anthony Firriolo | D | 35 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 26 |
| Daniel Haider | F | 30 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 6 |
| Thomas Farrell | D | 35 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 48 |
| Eric Butte | F | 35 | 11 | 6 | 17 | 10 |
| Joey Baez | F | 35 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 8 |
| Ricky Lyle | LW | 35 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 16 |
| John Keranen | F | 35 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 24 |
| Brett Abdelnour | F | 34 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 21 |
| Marshal Plunkett | D | 33 | 2 | 13 | 15 | 6 |
| Mitch Machlitt | C | 26 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 4 |
| Jake Felker | F | 35 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 2 |
| Andrew Garby | D | 23 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Andrew Quetell | D | 31 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| Michael Sacco | F | 23 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Coby Mack | D | 25 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 23 |
| Noah Wilson | D | 30 | 1 | 5 | 6' | 30 |
| Eric Huss | F | 14 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Kendrick Frost | LW | 21 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 |
| Christopher Konin | F | 19 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Patrick Smyth | F | 25 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Hunter McCoy | F | 18 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Josh Bohlin | F | 16 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Brody Medeiros | D | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Andrew Gilbert | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Evan Szary | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Evenson | G | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gavin Abric | G | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | | | 98 | 167 | 265 | 323 |
Source:

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut Outs | SV % | GAA |
| Gavin Abric | 31 | 1748 | 13 | 13 | 4 | 73 | 905 | 4 | .925 | 2.51 |
| Justin Evenson | 10 | 376 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 21 | 193 | 0 | .902 | 3.34 |
| Empty Net | - | 15 | - | - | - | 6 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 35 | 2140 | 14 | 17 | 4 | 100 | 1098 | 4 | .917 | 2.80 |

## Rankings

| Poll | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 (Final) |
| USCHO.com | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | - | NR |
| USA Today | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
Note: USCHO did not release a poll in week 24.

## Awards and honors

| Player | Award |
| Colin Bilek | AHCA All-American East Second Team |
| Daniel Haider | Atlantic Hockey Individual Sportsmanship Award |
| Colin Bilek | Atlantic Hockey Regular Season Scoring Trophy |
| Colin Bilek | Atlantic Hockey First Team |
| Gavin Abric | Atlantic Hockey Second Team |
| Anthony Firriolo | Atlantic Hockey Second Team |