WINTHROP, Mass. – After putting up the best save percentage and GAA for a goalie in his first five starts under Coach Brian Riley, Gavin Abric earned the Atlantic Hockey Association’s Goalie of the Month Award. Abric burst onto the scene for the Black Knights , as he leads the AHA in nearly every statical category for a goaltender after the hot start to his collegiate career.
Abric started six games in the month of October, posting two wins and one shutout while making 198 saves on 208 shots for a percentage of .952. His save percentage is good for best in the conference and fourth highest in the NCAA. The Wisconsin native’s GAA of 1.67 is also best in the conference and 11th in the nation.
Abric’s entrance into the starting lineup made an immediate impact on the team, as Army picked up its first two points of the season on a shootout victory in his first start against RIT (Oct. 9). Abric made 18 saves on the night – which didn’t include his three shootout saves – to lift Army to the result. He followed up the RIT performance with two excellent outings against the RV Wisconsin Badgers, saving 70 of 72 shots faced. Abric finally put Army in the win column with a 36-save shutout against RV AIC on Oct. 22.
The sophomore has sparked Army’s recent two-game winning streak and has helped the Black Knights build some momentum as they work their way through their non conference schedule.
Abric and the Black Knights return to action next Friday, Nov. 12, for a tilt with the Yale Bulldogs of the ECAC. Army and it’s Ivy League foe will drop the puck at 7:05 PM at Tate Rink.
