Ice Hockey 1/25/2002 12:00:00 AM Canisius College Athletics

Hockey Can't Hold Lead in Loss to Findlay

FINDLAY, Ohio ? Despite a 2-0 first-period lead, the Canisius College ice hockey team could not hold on and dropped a 6-3 non-conference decision to the University of Findlay Friday night at the Clauss Ice Arena. The Griffs fall to 9-11-2, while Findlay, a College Hockey America member, improves to 9-12-2.

Canisius took a 2-0 lead after one period and held a 16-7 shot advantage after the first 20 minutes. Senior Brad Kenny (Burlington, Ont.) beat Findlay goaltender, Jamie VandeSpyker, for his seventh goal of the season at the 10:38 mark. Senior Steve Birch (Pickering, Ont.) and Joe D'Urzo (Etobicoke, Ont.) were credited with the assists. Kenny helped Canisius take a 2-0 lead at the 18:06 mark. The senior forward won the face-off deep inside Oiler territory and played it back to the point to classmate Chris Duggan (Woodville, Ont.), who, rifled a shot past VandeSpyker for the two-goal lead. It was Duggan's seventh goal of the season.

But the game drastically turned around in the second period for the Oilers. Lee Arnold got Findlay on the board at the 4:03 mark of the second period on assists from Andy Croak and Christian Olson. Lance Holmes, playing in just his fifth game of the season, scored his second goal of the year 48 seconds later to tie the game at 2-2. Kris Wiebe and Nick Udovicic picked up the assists. Steve Traver then put the Oilers up for good at the 11:06 mark, when he rifled a slapshot past Canisius senior goaltender, Sean Weaver (Scarborough, Ont.), for his second goal of the year. Wiebe and Brant Somerville picked up the assists.

Russ Kelley then scored the eventual game-winner at the 15:04 mark, which, at that point, put the Oilers up 4-2. Wiebe and Somerville earned assists on Kelley's fifth goal of the year. Wiebe then got in the goal scoring act with 22 seconds remaining in the second period. He took a great centering pass from last week's CHA Rookie of the Week, D.J. Vogt, and beat Weaver for his seventh goal of the season. Brian Sherry earned the other assist.

Canisius would cut into the lead just one minute into the third period as freshman Fred Coccimiglio (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) tallied his 10th goal of the season for the Griffs. D'Urzo and freshman Justin Carre (Azilda, Ont.) picked up the assists. But the Oilers would respond with an empty net goal at the 19:37 mark to seal the victory. Udovicic scored from the Oiler blueline to put the game away. Wiebe and Nate Markus picked up the assists.

VandeSpyker played well in goal for the Oilers, stopping 35 of 38 Canisius shots. He evened his record at 7-7-1 on the season. Freshman Kris Wiebe led the Oiler scoring attack with one goal and four assists on the night. Weaver, the 1999-2000 MAAC Goaltender of the Year struggled for the Griffs, facing 22 Oiler shots and turning aside just 17. His record dropped to 6-9-2 on the year.
The Griffs, however, did have a record broken on Friday night, as senior forward David Deeves (Barrie, Ont.) played in his 121st game of his career. The old record of 120 was held by three former Canisius skaters of seasons past, Mike Sisti (1986-90), Tom Yoxall (1986-90) and Rob Othmann (1996-2000).

The Griffs return to the ice for game two of the weekend series with Findlay, Saturday, Jan. 26, at 4:05 p.m. at the Clauss Ice Arena.
For full box score and statistics, http://www.collegehockeystats.com/boxes/mcnsfnd1.j25

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Players Mentioned

#26 Steve Birch: D; 5' 11"; Senior

#12 Justin Carre: F; 5' 6"; Freshman

#21 Fred Coccimiglio: F; 5' 10"; Freshman

#6 Joe D'Urzo: D; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#25 David Deeves: F; 5' 7"; Senior

#16 Chris Duggan: F; 6' 0"; Senior

#19 Brad Kenny: F; 6' 0"; Senior

#33 Sean Weaver: G; 6' 1"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#26 Steve Birch
: 5' 11"; Senior
: D

#12 Justin Carre
: 5' 6"; Freshman
: F

#21 Fred Coccimiglio
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: F

#6 Joe D'Urzo
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: D

#25 David Deeves
: 5' 7"; Senior
: F

#16 Chris Duggan
: 6' 0"; Senior
: F

#19 Brad Kenny
: 6' 0"; Senior
: F

#33 Sean Weaver
: 6' 1"; Senior
: G