Happy, Not Satisfied, To Be There AIC Stuns St. Cloud, One Game From Frozen Four

(photo: Russ Hons)

The miracle had just got on the plane this week. Due to obtaining practice through interviews. Everything that came with a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Just be there. It was March 27 when American International got on that plane. And he still had a game. In past years, they would arrive on March 13 or 14, and AIC was already packing the store.

It has been said that certain losers always like to tell them that they are not only happy to be there. They talk about wanting to win. For their part, they are jazzed. Which of course, they want to win. But there is nothing wrong with being happy. Especially, when you consider where they were. Since they were more successful than AIC three years ago when Eric Lang, a former student, took the job.

It is necessary to mention that Lang’s performance was not just focused on being a coach. In fact, he had to make people believe in something, he believed that AIC could persist. Convincing people that the program would be there.

Too much happiness to be true

It should be noted that on Friday night, in front of 4,220 people in Fargo, AIC surprised everyone except themselves, defeating the state of St. Cloud, 2–1, and advancing to the regional final on Saturday’s west. It is necessary to remember that AIC, a program that was once happy to win eight games in a season, will play in Denver, a program that won eight national championships, for a place in the 2019 Frozen Four.

Consequently, Eric Lang, expressed somewhat ironic after the victory of his team, “Pretty good.” He maintained a poker face at all times. “We’ll have to be better tomorrow, games do not get easier this time of year.”

Now, when the Yellow Jackets took the ice on Friday night, everything in front of them was the easy part. The challenge was not too much for AIC. St. Cloud State halved the Yellow Jackets by the 9:27 advantage of the third period through Easton Brodzinski.

However, the shots were blocked. The pucks were cleaned. Striker Zackarias Skog was not perfect, but he stopped 33 of the 34 shots he saw and kept the Yellow Jackets in control.

Eventually, time ran out at St. Cloud State. AIC was there. The first tournament of the NCAA. First NCAA tournament wins. One of the biggest surprises in the history of the NCAA Tournament. So forgive them for enjoying it a little this week. They were very happy to be there.

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Source: Joe Meloni | College Hockey News