The Canisius College hockey team scored two extra-attacker goals in the final two minutes but it wasn’t enough as Sacred Heart held on for a 4-3 victory at HARBORCENTER on Saturday night. The loss drops the Griffs to 10-17-5 on the season and 10-11-5 in Atlantic Hockey play, while the Pioneers improve to 12-16-4 and 10-13-3 versus league foes.
“Overall, it was a disappointing weekend for us,” said Canisius head coach Dave Smith. “Tonight, we learned in the third period that a positive effort, positive attitude and positive team play are key to be successful both in the short and long term.”
Sophomore Ryan Schmelzer (Buffalo, N.Y.) led the comeback attempt with two points on extra-attacker scores, netting a goal to go along with an assist. Freshmen Felix Chamberland (Quebec City, Quebec) and Jimmy Mazza (Kings Park, N.Y.) also tallied goals for the Griffs.
Freshman Simon Hofley (Ottawa, Ontario) recorded 29 saves for Canisius in net.
For the second-straight night, the Griffs struck first in the contest thanks to Chamberland’s sixth goal of the season. Right after a Canisius power-play expired, sophomore Mike Sabatini (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) slipped the puck to Chamberland, who was open in front. The rookie then finished from close distance for the 1-0 Canisius advantage at the 8:46 mark of the first. Freshman Cameron Heath (Troy, Mich.) added an assist on the game’s opening goal.
Sacred Heart answered just over two minutes later when Evan Jasper found the back of the net. Off a wide shot that deflected off the boards, Justin Danforth centered the puck from behind the net and Jasper was there to finish it off for the 1-1 game with 9:10 remaining in the opening frame.
The Pioneers then seized control of the game in the second stanza with three tallies. Danforth gave Sacred Heart the lead for good, knocking in the puck after a blocked shot for the 2-1 advantage just 2:30 into the period.
Jasper and Adam Durkee then scored two goals 1:34 apart to give Sacred Heart a 4-1 lead. Jasper scored his second of the day with a strong finish on a rush for a 3-1 Pioneer advantage at the 10:09 mark before Durkee finished off another rush for the 4-1 lead at the 11:43 mark.
The 4-1 score stood until the closing minutes of the game when Canisius finally inched back into the contest. Mazza brought the Griffs within two with his second tally of the season, scoring with just 1:21 remaining in regulation. Schmelzer had his shot blocked but freshman Dylan McLaughlin (Lancaster, N.Y.) was there to knock the loose puck to Mazza, who finished with an open look at frame for the 4-2 score.
Schmelzer then pulled Canisius within one with his eighth of the season with just 31 ticks remaining in the game. The puck squirted to the sophomore in the right face-off circle and with a quick release, Schmelzer found the netting for the 4-3 score. Sabatini and Heath both registered their second assist of the night on the extra-attacker tally.
The Griffs, however, would run out of time as the Pioneers held on for 4-3 victory.
Sacred Heart finished the game with a slight edge in shots, 33-32. The Pioneers outshot the Griffs, 20-8, in the second period only to see Canisius control the third with an 18-4 advantage in shots. Neither team scored on the power play with the Griffs going 0-for-3 with the man advantage and killing all five Sacred Heart power plays.
Brett Magnus earned the win for the Pioneers with 29 saves in net.
Canisius wraps up the regular season next weekend with a home-and-home series versus Robert Morris. The schools begin the series on Friday night in Buffalo with the Griffs’ Senior Night contest slated to begin at 7:35 p.m. at HARBORCENTER.
Game Notes: One weekend after completing its first sweep of the season, the Griffs were swept in a league series for the first time this campaign … It also marked the first time that Canisius did not earn a point in a series at HARBORCENTER … Mazza has recorded a point in four-straight games, posting five points (2g, 3a) during the run after registering two points in his first 26 games of his career … The Griffs were eliminated from contention for a first-round bye and will finish anywhere between sixth and ninth in the final Atlantic Hockey standings (currently in sixth place).
