American International sits third in Atlantic Hockey following a pair of split series in December, and while the Yellow Jackets have missed out on some standings points, freshman Alfred Lindberg is beginning to find some points of his own.

Lindberg, a native of Hallsberg, Sweden, spent his first North American season with the NAHL’s New Mexico Ice Wolves (2022-2023), registering 33 points (13 goals, 20 assists) in 38 games.

“Incredibly smart, makes a lot of plays, he’s one of these guys; he comes in, he wants to sit with the coaches and watch his shifts,” AIC head coach Eric Lang said of Lindberg. “Sometimes, we learn from him as much as he’s learning from us.”

The 21-year-old was given immediate opportunity this season, slotting into a competitive lineup for each of AIC’s first two games, nonconference matchups with Massachusetts and No. 8 Quinnipiac.

It gave him a look at what the top tier of NCAA hockey possesses, but a minor injury sidelined him for the next three games.

Lindberg’s recovery was a bit slower than the team had anticipated, but since a brief adjustment of getting his feet back under him upon his return, Lindberg is finding his game.

These two goals have us up 2-1 after two as Alfred Lindberg and Brian Kramer scored in the second.#AICommitted @Atlantic_Hockey pic.twitter.com/7MGSNXZUmv

— AIC Hockey (@AIC_Hockey) December 3, 2023

“In practice, he looks different than the rest of the guys when he has the puck on his stick, and he can break you down one on one,” Lang said. “He also really understands how to make two-on-one (matchups) all over the ice.”

Lang attributes Lindberg’s recent play to his ability to process the game and is confident in the center’s ability to become a reliable player up the middle of the ice.

“We brought him in here to kind of say ‘hey, we think we need a top-6 centerman,’ Lang said. “He had looked like that very early in the year, and now, it’s really starting to solidify that line for us.”

Lindberg has accumulated four goals and three assists for seven points in his 10 games this season, but his recent play has begun to show his adaptation to the college level and a glimpse of what he can do for the Yellow Jackets.

Each of his four goals and all seven points have come in his past six games, and the Swede holds a four-game point streak (three goals, three assists).

Lindberg plays between fellow Swede Oscar Geschwind and Brooklynite John Lundy, who is in the midst of a breakout offensive campaign alongside Lindberg.

Ahead of our showdown with RIT this weekend at the @MM_Center, Alfred Lindberg chats about his success playing with his linemates and the meaning the team took from the Jason Pagni Memorial Game in Avon last Friday for the @CTHOCKEYFDN.#AICommitted #EverybodyRides pic.twitter.com/Bm1KqYlSqU

— AIC Hockey (@AIC_Hockey) December 6, 2023

During his scoring streak, Lindberg has helped revitalize the power play, which converted 20.6% of opportunities during the 2022-23 campaign.

Through the Jackets’ first 17 games, the power play sits with a 15.5% conversion rate, 20 teams lower than last season.

“He may be a guy we ask for more on the power play, just in terms of we may start making him a primary option on the power play and kind of have our power play facilitate through him,” Lang said, adding Lindberg understands how to find and make the right play. “If you’re open and find a way to get open, he’ll get it to you. He’s also a very high-end shooter and can really change the angle of attack with his stick.”

Lang compared his shooting to that of Chicago Blackhawks rookie and 2023 No. 1 pick Connor Bedard, adding that he doesn’t want that to be too strong of an analogy, but that both players can utilize the blade of their sticks to make a shot harder to read for goalies.

Don’t miss a second of Lindberg’s freshman season and campaign for AHA Rookie of the Year. Livestream every Atlantic Hockey game – and much more – right here on FloHockey.

Have a question or a comment for Jacob Messing? You can find him on Twitter @Jacob_Messing.