Southern New Hampshire University secured its first Northeast 10 victory of the 2026 season on Saturday night, defeating American International College 4-2 at The Ice Den Arena.
The Penmen scored two critical short-handed goals to beat the Yellow Jackets, reversing the momentum from their previous loss to Franklin Pierce.
The win moves SNHU to a 2-1-0 record, while AIC remains winless at 0-5-0. For the Penmen, the performance served as a vital proof of concept for first-year head coach Brooks McQuade, demonstrating an ability to capitalize on special teams’ advantages to dictate the tempo of the game.
- Depth Chart Elevation: Sophomore Kenny Thurston’s emergence as a multi-point producer (1G, 1A) positions him as a primary focal point for offensive production in upcoming matchups.
- Faceoff Dominance: Freshman Ethan McLean’s success rate at the dot (11 of 12) provides a high-floor metric for possession-based tactical analysis.
The decisive factor in this matchup was SNHU’s opportunistic execution during shorthanded situations. Sophomore Jory Veenstra opened the scoring at 16:12 of the first period with a short-handed goal, assisted by junior Kyle Slingerland.
While leading 2-0, junior Dillon Phillips extended the cushion to 3-0 at the 9:34 mark with an unassisted short-handed goal. This feat was historically significant for the program; it marked the first time SNHU had scored twice while short-handed in a single game since January 22, 2022, against Franklin Pierce.
Tyler Arthurs managed to pull one back on the power play just 22 seconds after Phillips’ goal, briefly shifting the momentum before SNHU regained control. The Penmen’s ability to absorb pressure and strike on the counter-attack proved to be the difference-maker in the shot differential, which stood at 30-13 in favor of SNHU.
| Metric | SNHU Penmen | AIC Yellow Jackets |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 4 | 2 |
| Total Shots | 30 | 13 |
| Power Play Conversion | 1-for-3 | 1-for-5 |
| Faceoff Win Percentage | majority | minority |
Kenny Thurston acted as the engine of the SNHU offense, earning the game’s first star honors. Thurston notched his first goal of the season at 3:41 of the second period, assisted by freshman Nolan Nemecek, to make the score 2-0. His performance, coupled with an assist later in the game, shows his growing role in the Penmen's offensive rotation.
The scoring depth was further evidenced by sophomore Aidan Rufa, who converted a power-play opportunity at 3:54 of the third period to extend the lead. This goal was facilitated by freshman Ethan Hoff, who recorded his first collegiate point with an assist. On the defensive end, senior Sean Guerin provided a steady presence in the crease, making 11 saves to secure his second victory of the season.
The sheer volume of puck possession was anchored by freshman Ethan McLean. McLean won 11 of 12 faceoffs, allowing SNHU to maintain a 38-34 advantage at the faceoff dot.
The Penmen will continue Northeast 10 play with a pair of home games against Post University. The schedule dictates a high-stakes weekend at The Ice Den Arena against Post University. The two programs are slated to meet on Friday, November 13, at 7:40 p.m., followed by a Saturday matchup at 2:40 p.m.
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