Canisius (2-7-0, 1-3-0 AHA) vs. RIT (1-5-2, 1-2-0 AHA)
Date: Tuesday, November 19
Time: 7:05 p.m.
Location: Buffalo, N.Y.  |  Buffalo State Sports Arena
TV/Webcast: America One Network
Live Audio: GoGriffs.com
DI Series History: RIT leads, 16-8-0

The Canisius College hockey team returns to Atlantic Hockey play on Tuesday night with a home game against RIT. The Griffs host the Tigers at the Buffalo State Sports Arena at 7:05 p.m.

SCOUTING THE GRIFFS
• Canisius is 2-7-0 during the 2013-14 campaign after losing a pair of games at Ohio State last weekend. The Griffs are 1-3-0 in league play.
• Senior defender Ben Danford continues to lead the Griffs in scoring, totaling seven points on a goal and six assists. Seniors Kyle Gibbons and Patrick Sullivan each lead the team with three goals.
• Senior Tony Capobianco (4.24 gaa, .886 save pct.) and junior Keegan Asmundson (2.50, .931) have split time in goal this year.

GIBBONS CHASES 100
• Senior Kyle Gibbons is currently on the cusp of a milestone.
• The senior has totaled 97 points during his career (45g, 52a) and is just three points shy of reaching the century mark.
• Gibbons will become the eighth player in the program’s Division I history and the 28th Griff overall to reach the 100-point plateau.

POWER DOWN
• After a slow start to the season, the Griffs are finally starting to show the form of their record-setting penalty kill from a year ago.
• Canisius allowed a power-play goal in each of its first seven games of the season and 10 of its first 32 attempts (68.8 percent penalty kill).
• The Griffs, however, have started to respond with eight-straight kills.
• Canisius killed off 3:39 of a five-minute major to finish a 4-3 win against Mercyhurst. The Griffs were then perfect at Ohio State, holding the Buckeyes scoreless in seven extra-man chances.
• The Griffs now own a penalty kill unit of 75.0 percent after posting a 90.1 rate last season (11th-best mark in NCAA history).

SPECIALIZED SCORING
• The Griffs’ special teams units have been the key to their offensive success this season.
• Canisius has scored half of its goals (9-of-18) while on special teams – netting seven power-play tallies and two short-handed goals.
• The Griffs are currently converting 18.9 percent of their power plays.

CANISIUS – RIT SERIES HISTORY
• In a series that dates back to the Griffs’ inaugural season of 1980-81, RIT holds a 46-14-1 advantage in 61 all-time meetings between the two schools.
• Canisius has played only Mercyhurst more than the Tigers during the program’s history.
• Since RIT moved to Division I before the 2005-06 season, the Tigers own a 16-8-0 edge in the series.
• The Griffs won all three games against the Tigers last season, marking the first time in the series history that Canisius has won three-straight games over RIT.
• Canisius swept the Tigers in the final weekend of the regular season last year, starting an eight-game winning streak that led the team to the Atlantic Hockey title.

ABOUT THE TIGERS
• RIT is 1-5-2 on the season and 1-2-0 in Atlantic Hockey play.
• The Tigers were off last weekend and earned their first victory of the season in their most recent game – a 4-2 win at Robert Morris.
• Mike Colavecchia leads RIT with eight points and five goals this season. Matt Garbowsky is second with seven points, including a team-leading five assists.
• Jordan Ruby has played every minute in goal for the Tigers, posting a 3.33 goals against average and .898 save percentage.

The Niagara hockey team will begin its longest road trip of the season on Tuesday night with a game in Erie, Pa against the Mercyhurst Lakers.  The puck is schedule to drop at 7:05 p.m.

The Purple Eagles will play three games in eight days, with additional stops at Michigan and Cornell; they do not play again at Dwyer Arena until Jan. 10-11.  Niagara, which is 0-4-1 on the road, starts its journey in second place in the Atlantic Hockey Association, at seven points.  The Purps are 3-6-1 in their first 10 games, snapping a five-game winless streak (0-4-1) after picking up a pair of victories over Army this past weekend.

GET OUT THE BROOMS

•   Niagara snapped a four-game losing streak on Friday as the Purple Eagles shutout Army 5-0 and came out firing on all cylinders the following day, dropping the Black Knights by a score of 8-3.

•  The sweep marked the third consecutive season the Purple Eagles have won both games against Army in the season series.

•  During Friday’s game, the Purple Eagles collected goals from TJ Sarcona, Isaac Kohls, Stephen Pietrobon, Sam Alfieri and Hugo Turcotte, while NU goaltender Jackson Teichroeb pushed aside 21 Black Knight shots for his first collegiate victory and blank slate.

•  The next day sophomore Hugo Turcotte registered his first career hat trick and added an assist, while the Niagara blueliners put up seven points for the Purple and White, including the first four goals

•   Freshman Vincent Muto scored a pair of goals and added an assist, co-captain Ryan Rashid contributed two assists and a goal, Patrick Divjak and Isaac Kohls added a trio of helpers.

•   Adrian Ignagni made the start in goal for NU, making 16 stops for his second victory of the year.

THE LEADERS

•   Ryan Rashid and Hugo Turcotte lead the Purple Eagles in scoring with eight points each off four goals and four assists apiece.

•   Turcotte, TJ Sarcona, Isaac Kohls and Kevin Patterson lead the squad in assists with four.

•   Ryan is first with a +9 plus/minus rating.

•   Patrick Divjak leads the squad with 40 shots on goal. Turcotte is close behind with 37 looks on net.

HALF A CENTURTY MARK

•   Defenseman Kevin Ryan cracked the 50-point mark during the 8-3 victory over Army on Nov. 16.

•   In 118 games, the senior has four goals and 46 assists for 50 points.

•   His most prolific season came last year when Ryan assisted on a career-high 23 NU goals, and added a goal for 24 points en route to being named to the Third Team All-Conference.

•   Chris MacKenzie (‘00) holds the all-time NU record for points by a defenseman in a career with 97 (1996-00).

SERIES HISTORY

•  The Purple Eagles and Lakers have met 16 times since their first meeting in 1996-97.

•  Niagara holds an 11-4-1 record against Mercyhurst, sweeping its AHA foe in the previous season.  The Lakers’ last victory over NU came on Feb. 4, 2013, when Mercyhurst came out with a 3-2 win at Dwyer Arena.

•  After their matchup during the 2001-02 season, the teams went nine years without a meeting before taking to the ice on Oct. 29, 2010 when NU joined the Atlantic Hockey Association.

SCOUTING THE LAKERS

•  Mercyhurst will be a well-rested team on Tuesday as the Lakers had the past 10 days off.  The team holds a 3-6-1 overall record, and a 2-1-0 conference mark.

•  The Lakers’ last game came against Canisius on Nov. 9 where they dropped a close 4-3 decision to the Griffs.  The squad had a one-goal lead heading to the third period, but Canisius scored a pair of goals in the final period to hand the loss.

•  The Lakers are averaging 3.0 goals a game and are allowing 3.70, placing them 26th and 53rd in the nation, respectively.

•  The power play has gone 9-for-53, while the penalty kill is 43-for-51, ranking them 38th and 21st in the NCAA, respectively.

•  Matthew Zay leads the offense with 10 points off four goals and six assists.  Daniel O’Donoghue is tops on the team with six goals (6-3-9), while Nick Jones leads the Lakers with eight helpers (1-8-9).

•  In the net, Jimmy Sarjeant has started in six games, while Jordan Tibbett has started in four.  Sarjeant leads the way with 203 saves for a .923 save percentage and a 2.68 goals-against average, while Tibbett has made 120 stops for a .863 save percentage and a 5.21 GAA.

DOWN THE ROAD

•   After its Tuesday night game vs. Mercyhurst, NU will continue its eight game road swing with a bout against No. 2/5 Michigan at Yost Arena.

•   The Purple Eagles do not return home until the start of the New Year when they welcome AIC to Monteagle Ridge.

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Sophomore Hugo Turcotte registered his first career hat trick, while five other Purple Eagles pocketed a multiple point evening in Niagara hockey’s 8-3 thumping over Army Saturday in front of a sellout crowd at Dwyer Arena.

Turcotte scored three goals and added an assist in the victory, while the Niagara blueliners put up seven points for the Purple and White, including the first four goals to push the Purps to 3-1-1 in Atlantic Hockey play, and 3-6-1 overall.

“The showing by our defense helped quadruple our production on the year from our blueline,” head coach Dave Burkholder said.  “It’s a big part of the game when you can get puck through from the point and I thought our guys did a good job of stacking the crease and making it tough on their goalie.  We got four in a row from a defense which is huge.”

Freshman Vincent Muto scored a pair of goals and added an assist, co-captain Ryan Rashid contributed two assists and a goal, while Isaac Kohls added a trio of helpers.  This was the first time since the 2005-06 season the Purple Eagles have scored eight goals, the last time coming on Nov. 12, 2005 when NU shutout Alabama-Hunstville, 8-4.

“Turcotte and Divjak were electric this weekend,” added Burkholder.  “They’re our go to guys so to have them punch the clock and go as hard as they did, it’s nice to see them get rewarded like that.  In league play you need your best guys to step up and they certainly did that.  Muto played a terrific game for a freshman and contributed like that offensively is a big step for him as a newcomer.  He is a strong kid that has earned his ice time.”

Niagara netminder Adrian Ignagni pushed asked 16 Black Knight shots to push his record to 2-3-1.

The Black Knights (1-8-0; 1-5-0 AHA) would score the game’s first goal to send the Purple Eagles into the first intermission down, 1-0.  Luke Jenkins wristed a shot from the top of the faceoff circle that C.J. Reuschlein tipped in underneath the pads of Ignagni for his fourth goal on the season.

The Purple Eagles’ scoring outburst began in the second frame as Niagara put away five tallies to make it 5-3 heading into the final period.  Muto got the scoring started 1:50 into the period after his slap shot from the point off a Mike Conderman faceoff win beat Tadazak to tie the game at one apiece.  It was the rookie’s first college goal.

Niagara followed that up with a pair of goals in a 56 second span that gave the Purple Eagles their first lead of the game that they would not relinquish.  Kevin Albers scored his first of the season, picking up a blocked Matt Dineen shot and one-timing it home at 4:01, while Muto notched his second of the game after launching a shot from the slot that whipped past the Army goaltender top shelf.

The lead was extended to three goals with 8:49 remaining in the period as Kevin Ryan secured his 50th point as a Purple Eagle off his second goal of the season.  The senior wristed a laser over the shoulder of Tadazek that hit the crossbar before bouncing into the cage to put Niagara up 4-1.

Turcotte and Rashid combined for the Purp’s fifth and final score the period at 14:56.  Rashid dished a backhand to Turcotte who walked in on Tadazek, hesitating with the shot before finding an opening for his second tally of the season.

Army would end the frame with a pair of scores to slice Niagara’s lead to two goals as Andrew O’Leary and Clint Carlisle scored within 33 seconds of each other to make it 5-3 heading into the third period.

Ignagni kept Army from making it a one-goal game five minutes into the third as Mac Lalor raced in on a breakaway and attempted a low wrister, but the shot was swallowed by the freshman goaltender.

The Purple Eagles would add three more goals to finish off the Black Knights as Turcotte netted two and Rashid registered a goal to wrap up the evening.

Niagara will make the drive to Erie, Pa. to face Mercyhurst Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m.  The game against the Lakers will mark the beginning of the Purple Eagles’ eight game road swing.

Columbus, Ohio – The Canisius College hockey team fell to Ohio State on Saturday night, 3-1. Canisius is now 2-7-0 on the season, while the Buckeyes improve to 8-4-0.

“Our team really took over the last 30 minutes of the game from the face-off circle on out,” said Canisius head coach Dave Smith. “We just weren’t able to get that one puck through to pull even. I’m looking forward to replicating that effort and desperate poise from the last half of the game during our conference play.”

Junior Mitch McCrank (Haileybury, Ontario) scored the lone goal for the Griffs, while seniorTony Capobianco (Mississauga, Ontario) recorded 26 saves.

All three non-empty net goals in the contest were scored in a 4:11 span in the second period with the Buckeyes netting the first two goals. Alex Szczechura opened the scoring 3:38 into the stanza, scoring on a rebound off a rush. Josh Healey then gave Ohio State a two-goal advantage, scoring from the left face-off circle just 1:54 later.

Canisius cut its deficit in half when McCrank netted his first goal of the season. The junior picked up a loose puck and skated toward net, finishing from close range to bring the Griffs within one, 2-1. Sophomore Stephen Miller (Boxborough, Mass.) registered an assist on the goal 7:49 into the period.

The Griffs, however, were unable to find the equalizing tally in the final 32-plus minutes despite controlling much of the tempo – outshooting the Buckeyes, 17-11, following McCrank’s tally. The best chance for the Griffs came with four minutes remaining when Braeden Rigney (Singhampton, Ontario) and Logan Roe (Fort Myers, Fla.) entered on a 2-on-1 rush but the Ohio State netminder was equal to the challenge and made the save.

The Buckeyes, who blocked a total of 20 shots on the night, then secured the victory with an empty-net goal with 1.5 seconds remaining to earn the 3-1 win.

Ohio State finished the game with a 29-23 edge in shots, while neither team converted on the power play. Canisius was 0-for-4 with the extra-man advantage, while killing all three Ohio State chances.

Canisius now returns to Atlantic Hockey play on Tuesday, hosting RIT. The schools are set to meet at the Buffalo State Sports Arena at 7:05 p.m.

Men’s Hockey Sweeps North Country Trip Against Two Ranked Teams

POTSDAM, N.Y. – Down 3-2 late in the third period and being called for a five-minute major, things looked bleak for the Colgate men’s hockey team, but the Raiders responded with a great comeback to beat 11th-ranked Clarkson 4-3 on the road.

Colgate (6-6-1, 4-2-0 ECAC) got goals from four different skaters. Darcy Murphy scored the game winner with five minutes left in the game, while Kyle Baun scored the tying goal 29 seconds earlier.

Clarkson (10-3-1, 4-2-0 ECAC) went off for a trip with 6:44 left, which set up a 4-on-4 situation after Colgate’s five-minute major. Baun took advantage with his fifth goal of the season coming from Spiro Goulakos to tie the game at 3-3. Murphy made it hurt more for the Golden Knights with his sixth of the year coming 29 seconds later to take the lead at 4-3.

The Raiders also got help down the stretch as Clarkson took two penalties in the final minutes and Colgate came away with the win.

Joe DiNallo led the Golden Knights with a goal and assist in the game. Greg Lewis had 17 saves in the loss.

The Raiders took the 1-0 lead midway through the first period with Brendan Corcoran scoring his first of the season with a wrister from the outside. Daniel Gentzler did a good job in front of the net to give Lewis trouble. The puck took a crazy bounce and went high on Lewis. Ryan Johnston slid the puck over to Corcoran for the shot and Tim Harrison was given an assist as well for his first collegiate point.

The Golden Knights evened the score with 21 seconds left in the first with Paul Geiger scoring from the high slot that beat Charlie Finn five-hole. There was pressure put on by Clarkson and the puck came free out to the high slot and Geiger fired a slapper that beat Finn to make it 1-1.

DiNallo continued the momentum for Clarkson, scoring 2:24 into the second period with assists from A.J. Fossen and Alex Boak. Colgate turned the puck over in the neutral zone and it turned into a low 2-on-1 for the Golden Knights and Fossen found DiNallo for the goal.

Clarkson increased the lead to 3-1 with 6:56 left in the second period. Colgate had a 3-on-3 rush up ice, but gave up the puck, which ended up in a 4-on-2 chance for the Golden Knights. James Howden made a nice drop pass to Joe Burton, who put it home past Finn.

The Raiders got two within one at 3-2 early in the final period. Harrison was given his second assist of the night after a nice pass over to Emilio Audi for his second goal of the season. Harrison earned his first multi-point game of the season with the assist.

Colgate then earned the win with Baun and Murphy’s tallies.

Charlie Finn got the win with 14 saves and was not tested in the third period much as he only had to make two stops. Both teams were scoreless on the power play as Colgate went 0-for-5, while the Golden Knights ended up scoreless on three chances.

The Raiders have won four of their last five games and take that momentum into next weekend at home against reigning national champion Yale on Friday and Brown on Saturday.

GENEVA, N.Y.—The No. 8 Hobart College hockey team played through 65 minutes to a 1-1 tie with visiting Brockport in a non-league game today at The Cooler. The Statesmen (2-1-3) went to overtime for the second night in a row and the fourth time this season.

Brockport is now 2-3-1 this season. First-year Tim Keegan (Lexington, Mass.) played all 65 minutes in goal for Hobart in his first collegiate start. He turned aside 23 shots. Jared Lockhurst played all 65 minutes and made 44 saves.

The Statesmen out shot the Golden Eagles 16-6 in the opening period, but could not get on the board. Brockport struck first at 9:14 in the second. Shane Cavalieri capitalized on a power play after passes from Chase Nieuwendyk and Bobby Chayka.

With just 38 seconds remaining in the middle period, first-year Carl Belizario (Dorval, Quebec) tied things up for the Statesmen. He took a pass from junior Terrence O’Neill (Kearny, N.J.) and carried the box into the zone, lifting his shot into the top right corner of the goal. It was Belizario’s second goal this season.

In the third period, Hobart held an 11-7 edge in shots, but neither team was able to get the go-ahead goal, sending the game into overtime. The Statesmen once again had the upper hand in shots, this time 7-4, but no one could find the back of the net and the game ended in a tie.

Hobart finished with a 45-24 advantage in total shots. The Golden Flyers were 1-for-3 on the power play, and the Statesmen went 0-for-6.

Hobart will be back in action on Friday, Nov. 22, and Saturday, Nov. 23, when it hosts Utica for two ECAC West games at 7 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.

BUFFALO, NY— Ryan Salkeld (Suffolk, VA/Churchland) netted the game winner early in the third period, as Buffalo State (3-2/3-2) rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat Potsdam (0-5/0-4), 3-2, in a SUNYAC game tonight at the Ice Arena.

Taylor McGraw (North Lawrence, NY/St. Lawrence) and Dan Turgeon (Centennial, CO/Cherokee Trail) also scored for the Bengals, while Todd Graham(Melbourne, Australia/Rice Memorial (VT)) chipped in two assists. Kyle Whipple (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore West), Billy Strakosch (Middlebury, CT/Pomperaug),Charles Lapierre (St. Marc de Figuery, QC/Upper Canada College) and Shane Avery (Fort Covington, NY/Salmon River) each added one assist.

The Bears scored two goals in the first period to take a 2-0 lead into intermission. McGraw cut the deficit in half with his first of the season at 1:45 of the second and Turgeon tied the game with his team-leading fifth of the season with a power play goal just under three minutes later, taking a 2-2 tie into intermission, before Salkeld would score a power play marker of his own.

Potsdam outshot the Bengals, 41-31, and finished 1 for 7 with the skater advantage, while Buffalo State was 2 for 6. Kevin Carr (Unionville, ON/Unionville) turned aside 39 shots in the win.

Columbus, Ohio – The Canisius College hockey team lost to Big Ten foe Ohio State on Friday night, 3-0. The loss drops the Griffs to 2-6-0 on the season, while the Buckeyes win their fourth straight and improve to 7-4-0.

“Right now, we’re a work in progress,” said Canisius head coach Dave Smith. “There were some positives to take out of the game like the penalty kill, solid goaltending and the play of our top line. Our team success will come when everybody is contributing with top effort and physical play.”

Junior Keegan Asmundson (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) recorded 31 saves to anchor the Canisius defense.

Ohio State grabbed the lead with 5:33 remaining in the opening period when Ryan Dzingel finished a 3-on-2 rush for the 1-0 advantage.

The Buckeyes then stretched their lead in the second period thanks to two shots from the point. Justin DaSilva gave Ohio State a 2-0 advantage 1:41 into the stanza before Nick Schilkey scored with 5:10 left in the period.

Canisius was unable to get any closer and net its first goal of the game in the final 25-plus minutes as the Buckeyes earned the shutout victory, 3-0.

Ohio State finished the game with a 34-20 advantage in shots on the night. Neither team was able to score on the power play with Canisius going 0-for-3 and killing all four Ohio State extra-man chances.