After a 16-day break the Clarkson University Hockey team returns to action on December 30 with its final non-league game of the season, hosting American International from Atlantic Hockey. Also the final game of the 2014 portion of the schedule, the contest at Cheel Arena opens a three-game home stand for the Green and Gold.

Guided by fourth-year head coach Casey Jones and assistants Phil Roy '00 and Andy Jones, the Golden Knights will look to make the most of their home-ice advantage as they play eight of the next 10 games in Potsdam.

Clarkson, led by junior captain Paul Geiger (Stouffville,ONT) and assistant captains, senior James Howden (Edgeley,SASK) and junior Jeff DiNallo (Aurora,ONT), own a 6-8-4 overall record and are 2-0 against Atlantic Hockey competition this season. The Knights posted a pair of 3-1 road wins at Niagara and RIT in early October.

Holding down third place in the ECAC Hockey standings with a 4-1-2 league mark, Clarkson resumes conference play on January 9-10 when central NY rivals Colgate and Cornell come to the North Country.

In its last action before the break, Clarkson put up one of its best offensive showings of the season, but unfortunately the Green and Gold also allowed their most goals of the year as they fell on the road to Michigan State 6-4 at Munn Arena in East Lansing, MI on December 14.

Twenty-two Golden Knights recorded at least one point in the opening half of the season led by senior Joe Zarbo's (Grand Island, NY) 10 points, including a team-high six goals. Sophomores Jordan Boucher (St. Therese, QUE) , who leads Clarkson with three game-winners, and James de Haas (Mississauga, ONT), who is the team's top producer from the blueline, both have nine points. Sophomore Steve Perry (Ligonier, PA) has seen the bulk of the action in the Clarkson crease, starting 14 of the first 18 games. Perry posts a .912 save percentage and a 1.94 goals against average en route to a 6-6-1 record, including one shutout.

Scouting AIC

American International, guided by long-time head coach Gary Wright, also plays its final game of 2014 looking to break out of a 10-game winless skid (0-7-3). The Yellow Jackets own a 2-11-4 overall record and stand in 10th place in Atlantic Hockey with a 2-6-4 conference mark. In its last action, AIC gained one point in league play in a weekend home series against Bentley on December 13-14 in Springfield, MA, tying the Falcons 4-4 the first night before falling 5-2 the following day.

The Yellow Jackets lone wins on the season came at Niagara on October 31 and November 1 when they swept the Purple Eagles in Western NY, 3-1 and 4-2. In AIC's other games against the ECAC, the Yellow Jackets lost at Union (7-3) at Dartmouth (3-2).

• Clarkson is 6-0-1 against Atlantic Hockey foes the past two seasons.

• The Knights are 5-0 all-time against AIC, outscoring the Yellow Jackets 43-2 in the series, which started with a 10-0 win at Walker Arena during the 1953-54 season. After a 50-year break in the series, the teams met up again early in the 2011-12 campaign with Clarkson gaining a pair of wins (5-2, 5-0) at Cheel Arena. All five games have taken place in Potsdam.

• Clarkson has played in 11 games this season decided by one goal-or-less, going 3-4-4. The Knights have outscored their ECAC Hockey foes 15-9 in seven league games, but have been outscored 40-35 overall. Clarkson is averaging 1.94 gpg.

• The Knights are allowing only 2.22 goals per game and are first in ECAC Hockey, allowing only 1.29 GPG.

• The Knights are 6-2-4 when scoring at least two goals. Clarkson has scored over two goals in only five games this season, going 3-2.

• Clarkson's play on specialty teams has mixed reviews. The Knights are strong on the penalty kill, at 85.9% (55-64), but have clicked at just 9.4% on the power play (5-53), The Green and Gold are first in the league on the PK (96.3%, 26-27). The only goal allowed by the Knights on the man-advantage in ECAC action was at Cornell (11/14).

• The Knights are 4-1-2 when leading after the first, but 0-4-1 when trailing after the opening 20 minutes. After two periods, Clarkson is 5-0-3 when leading and 0-5-0 when losing. Clarkson is 4-2-2 when scoring first, but 2-6-2 when the opponent gets the opening lead. The Green and Gold are winless when being outshot, 0-3-3.

• Clarkson has played eight games against team currently ranked in the Top 20, going 1-5-2.

• Brandon DeFazio '11 became the latest former Knight to reach the NHL when he was called up from the AHL to the Vancouver Canucks on November 9. He played in two Vancouver wins before being sent back down to Utica. He joined Mark Borowiecki '11 (Ottawa), Grant Clitsome '08 (Winnipeg), Erik Cole '00 (Dallas) and Willie Mitchell '99 (Florida) among former CU players skating in the NHL in 2014-15.

• Four current Golden Knights have been selected in the NHL Draft - James de Haas (2012 Detroit - 6th rd, 170), Terrance Amorosa (2013 Philadelphia - 5th rd, 189), Troy Josephs (2013 Pittsburgh - 7th rd, 209) and Kelly Summers (2014 Ottawa - 7th rd, 189).

• In its 93rd season, Clarkson boasts 70 winning campaigns and a 1,369-808-145 all-time record for a .622 winning percentage since 1920-21.