Ice Hockey 2/5/2003 12:00:00 AM Canisius College Athletics

Hockey Hits The Road To Face Fairfield And Sacred Heart

Canisius College Golden Griffins (9-15-3, 8-8-1 MAAC)
vs. Fairfield University Stags (5-16-2, 4-10-2 MAAC) Friday, February 7, 2003 - 7:00 p.m. Wonderland of Ice - Fairfield, Conn.
vs. Sacred Heart University Pioneers (8-9-6, 8-6-3 MAAC) Saturday, February 8, 2003 - 5:00 p.m. Milford Ice Pavilion - Milford, Conn.
This Weekend The Griffs look to break a 0-7-2 road winless streak this weekend with a trip to Fairfield and Sacred Heart. Canisius' last victory on the road was a 4-0 win over Bentley Nov. 22. Canisius dropped a heart-breaking 5-4 loss to Mercyhurst Tuesday night in Erie, Pa. and will look to gain four points this weekend in two very important MAAC Hockey League contests.

Scouting Fairfield Sitting in the cellar of the MAAC Hockey League, but only three points out of the final playoff position, Fairfield will look to make a run for that final playoff spot in the conference during the month of February. Senior Rae Metz leads the Stags with 22 points (7 goals, 15 assists), while fellow senior Steve Calderara heads up the defensive corps with six goals and 12 assists. Three netminders have played at least seven games each for the Stags. Sophomore Andrew Martin leads the group with a 3-5-1 overall record and a 3.18 GAA. Head Coach Jim Hunt is in his 3rd season behind the bench of the Stags, posting a 21-53-7 career record.
Series History vs. Fairfield Canisius leads the all-time series with the Stags, 13-2-1. Last season, the Griffs took the season series, 2-0-1. Fairfield stunned the Griffs 4-2 last Friday in Buffalo to take game one of this season's two-game series.

Scouting Sacred Heart Staring the weekend just two points in front of the Griffs, the Pioneers are in fourth place and hold the final home playoff position. Senior Martin Paquet leads the Pioneers with 24 points (9 goals, 15 assists), while sophomore Garrett Larson adds eight goals and 15 assists. Preseason MAAC Goalie of the Year Eddy Ferhi posts a 7-7-5 overall record with a 2.31 GAA and .922 save percentage, both ranking second in the MAAC Hockey League. Head Coach Shaun Hannah is in his 7th season behind the bench of the Pioneers, posting a 89-95-19 career record.

Series History vs. Sacred Heart Canisius leads the all-time series with the Pioneers, 9-5-0. Last season, Sacred Heart took the season series, 1-3-0, including a 3-2 overtime win in the MAAC Quarterfinals in Milford. The Griffs are 4-5-0 all-time in Milford and 5-0-0 all-time in Buffalo, including a 3-2 overtime win against the Pioneers Nov. 3, 2002.

Head Coach Brian Cavanaugh Brian Cavanaugh is in his 22nd season as head coach of the Canisius College ice hockey team and his third in a full-time capacity. He has led the Griffs to the postseason 16 times during his career, including a trip to the 2000 Easton/MAAC Championships after tying a school record with 21 wins (21-10-4). Last season, Cavanaugh joined college hockey's coaching elite as he earned his 300th win behind the Griffs' bench. Prior to accepting the head post at Canisius, Cavanaugh served as an assistant coach at Geneseo State (1976-77) and at Brockport State (1978-80). Before joining the coaching ranks, he played for the Brockport ice hockey team. Cavanaugh was named the Golden Eagles' MVP three times and held numerous Brockport scoring records upon graduation. He earned his bachelor's degree in physical education and health education from the school in 1976. Cavanaugh continued his studies, earning a master's degree from Brockport in 1980. His thesis, "Spectator Misbehavior at Sporting Events" was presented at an International Symposium of Sports in Trois Rivers, Quebec, and was published in 1981.

Cavanaugh Coaching Highlights 1st Win 11-20-80 7-6 @ Niagara-Welland 50th Win 11-09-85 7-3 @ Hobart 100th Win 02-06-88 4-3 vs. Hobart 150th Win 10-02-92 5-2 @ Brockport 200th Win 02-25-95 10-5 vs. Hobart 250th Win 01-30-99 3-2 vs. Holy Cross 300th Win 11-02-01 9-2 vs. Bentley

Last Time Out Mercyhurst rallied from a two-goal second period deficit to edge Canisius 5-4 Tuesday night at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. The teams did all of their scoring in the first two periods, including a six-goal outburst in the middle stanza. The Lakers scored first when freshman forward Erik Johnson tallied his fourth of the year on a breakaway just 1:26 into the game. Junior forward Mike Carter had the lone assist. The Griffs tied the game about five minutes later when junior defender Joe D'Urzo scored his third of the season on a power play, and then took the lead when sophomore forward Ryan Corcoran lit the lamp at 17:02. Mercyhurst tied the game early in the second when freshman forward Scott Reynolds tallied on a power play at 4:29. But the Griffs got goals from sophomore defender Josh Zavitz, his fourth at 5:28, and from junior defender Daryl Pierce, his fourth at 13:16, to seemingly take control at 4-2. But the Lakers scored three times in a 2:25 second span to take a 5-4 lead heading into the third. Reynolds scored his second of the period at 14:25 followed by junior forward Peter Rynshoven's sixth at 15:37 and sophomore forward Rich Hansen's team-leading 13th at 16:50. Things quieted down appreciably in the third, although the Lakers hit the post early in the final chapter. Canisius had the lone power play opportunity in the period and pulled its goalie for an extra attacker down the stretch, all to no avail.

2002-03 NCAA Frozen Four The NCAA Men's Frozen Four has sold out for the fourth consecutive year. The 56th annual event will be held at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York, April 10 and 12, 2003. It marks the sixth time in the last seven years that the event has sold out. This will be the 10th time the semifinals and finals have been in the state of New York, the second most of any state. The state of Colorado has hosted the Men's Frozen Four 14 times. The MAAC, Canisius College and Niagara University are co-hosts of the 2003 event. "The Frozen Four has become one of the biggest events in college athletics, and we're excited about hosting it in a city that is very passionate about hockey," said Tim Dillon, athletic director at Canisius. "We're also expecting around 10,000 out-of-town fans so it's an excellent opportunity for Western New York and Southern Ontario to be the center of college hockey for a weekend." Buffalo is hoping to build off a successful 2002 Frozen Four, which was held in St. Paul, Minnesota, at the Xcel Energy Center. Attendance records were set in 2002 for a single game (19,324 for the championship game), and three-game total (57,957). HSBC Arena, the home of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres, has a capacity of 18,600.

Hall of Fame Former Griff forward Mike Sisti was inducted into the Canisius Sports Hall of Fame Saturday Sept. 28, joining three other former Golden Griffin Hockey players (Mike Torrillo, Gary Roessler and Kevin Sykes) and Canisius ice hockey founder Dr. David Dietz. A four-year letter winner in ice hockey, Michael Sisti ranks fourth at Canisius in career scoring (163 points), third in career goals (74), and sixth in career assists (89). He shares the school record for single-game goals with four and holds the mark for single-season hat tricks with six. Sisti posted 13 goals and 19 assists to help the Griffs to a 21-11 record in 1986-87. He led Canisius in goals (33) and points (57) in 1988-89 and was named the team's top forward. Sisti served as an assistant coach at Canisius and Mercyhurst before becoming the first Mercyhurst women's ice hockey coach. He owns a 61-30-4 record in three seasons.

He Shoots, He Scores Sophomore Fred Coccimiglio scored on a penalty shot this season beating UConn netminder Jason Carey during the second period of the Griffs' 3-3 tie with the Huskies at the Buffalo State Sports Arena Jan. 17.

All In The Family Several members of the 2002-03 Golden Griffins have interesting connections to the professional sports world. They include: Ryan Corcoran - nephew of Lou Nanne (player/coach/general manager with the Minnesota North Stars from 1968-78, captain of the U.S. Olympic Team in 1967-68 and inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 1998) Joe D'Urzo - cousin of John Massara (former captain at University of Maine, member of Italian National Team) Andrew Dawe - cousin of Jason Dawe (1991 second-round draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres, played with Buffalo, Montreal, and the New York Islanders and New York Rangers) son of Mike Dawe (played for Cornell University) Jon Durno - brother of Chris Durno (three-year letter winner and senior center for Michigan Tech in the WCHA) Tim Songin - son of Paul Songin (played defense for the University at Buffalo hockey team) cousin of Tom Songin (played right wing for the Boston Bruins) cousin of Ed “Butch” Songin (played quarterback for the Boston Patriots) Jeremy Redquest - son of Greg Redquest (fourth-round selection of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1976 NHL Draft)

Home Sweet Home Enjoying a 35-9-8 record within the confines of Buffalo State Sports Arena over their four-plus seasons, Canisius will return to their home ice Feb. 14-15 for a weekend series with Holy Cross.

MAAC Bits The 2003 Easton/MAAC Hockey Championships will be held March 20-22 at Tate Rink on the campus of the United State Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. This is the third year that the NCAA will grant an automatic berth to the winner of the MAAC Championships into the NCAA Hockey Tournament. Last season, Quinnipiac became the second team to represent the MAAC in college hockey's "Big Dance."
2002-2003 MAAC Standings http://www.collegehockeystats.com/standings/maac
2002-2003 Overall MAAC Statistics http://www.collegehockeystats.com/overallstats/maac
2002-2003 MAAC Conference Statistics http://www.collegehockeystats.com/confstats/maac
2002-2003 Canisius Schedule/Results/Box Scores http://www.collegehockeystats.com/schedules/cnsm
MAAC Rankings Canisius is tenth in the MAAC in scoring offense with 2.41 goals per game. The Griffs are eighth in scoring defense, allowing 3.81 goals-per-game. Canisius is the highest penalized team in the conference with 21.2 minutes per game. The Griffs' power-play, 21-for-135 (15.6%) ranks seventh in the MAAC. Canisius' penalty kill, 109-of-144 (75.7%) is eighth.
Climbing the Charts Sophomore netminder Bryan Worosz has posted 1,013 career saves to moving into 10th place on the all-time save list at Canisius. Former Griff Kevin Kreutzer (1995-97) is in ninth place with 1,040 stops. Worosz is on track to break the Canisius single-season marks in minutes played (1509-Bob Janosz) and games played (27-Derek Slater and Janosz).
In The Sin Bin Freshman Jon Durno set a new team record for most penalty minutes by a forward in a single game with 26 minutes against Niagara University Jan. 25, 2003. He broke the old mark of 20 set by Paul Sullivan on Nov. 16, 1993 against Elmira. Junior Daryl Pierce set a new record earlier this season for penalty minute by a defenseman in a single game with 24 against Quinnipiac Oct. 25, breaking the old standard of 20 set by Adam Stoltman on March 6, 1993 against Elmira.

100+ Club Senior forward Marc Bouffard (Sturgeon Falls, Ont.) played in his 100th career game on Jan. 11, against Lake Superior State. Bouffard joins defenseman Tom Wnuk as the only current Golden Griffins to hold that distinction. Last season, the Griffs graduated four players, David Deeves, Steve Birch, Corey Lucas and Todd Houston, who broke the century mark in games played.
Against the CCHA The Griffs are 0-3-2 all-time against opponents from Central Collegiate Hockey Association. This season, the Blue and Gold picked up the first ever points by a MAAC Hockey League team against a CCHA opponent, skated to a pair of ties with Lake Superior State Jan. 10-11. Canisius and the Lakers played to a 2-2 tie Friday night and a 4-4 draw on Saturday. Last season, Canisius dropped a pair of non-conference games in Kalamazoo, Mich. against Western Michigan. The Griffs fell 4-2 on Nov. 23, and 4-3 in Saturday's closer. In 2000-01, Canisius lost 3-1 to Nebraska-Omaha in the championship game of the SCI Holiday Shootout in Huntsville, Ala.

Against the CHA The Griffs are 9-9-1 all-time against opponents from College Hockey America, which is the NCAA's newest D-I hockey conference, formed in 1999. This season, the Griffs are 1-4-0 against the CHA, falling 4-1 to Niagara in the consolation game of the Xerox Punch Imlach College Hockey Showcase and dropping two games to Findlay by scores of 3-1 and 8-1. Canisius and Niagara also split a home-and-home series in January with each team winning on their home ice. The Griffs won 4-3 Thursday, Jan. 23, while the Purple Eagles gained revenge with a 6-2 victory at Dwyer Arena Saturday, Jan. 25.

Against the ECAC The Griffs are 0-3-0 all-time against members of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference, with all three losses against Colgate. Canisius fell 7-2 to the Raiders on February 5 at Colgate's Starr Rink. There are no games on the 2002-03 schedule against ECAC members.

Against the WCHA The Griffs are 0-3-0 against teams from the WCHA. Canisius fell to North Dakota 8-0 in the Xerox Punch Imlach College Hockey Showcase Oct. 11. The Blue and Gold also fell to the Fighting Sioux two more times, 6-0 and 8-2, Dec. 13-14, in Grand Forks.

Against the Hockey East The Griffs are 0-1-0 against Hockey East members, falling to Maine 6-3 in 1999-2000 at the JC Penney Black Bear Classic. There are no games on the 2002-03 schedule against the Hockey East.

USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll?(February 3) Team Record Pts LW 1 Colorado College (35) 21-2-5 595 3 2 Maine (5) 21-3-4 559 1 3 North Dakota 21-4-3 493 2 4 New Hampshire 18-6-3 481 5 5 Cornell 17-4-0 438 4 6 Boston College 16-6-3 416 6 7 Minnesota 14-6-7 314 8 8 Michigan 18-7-1 287 7 9 Ferris State 19-8-1 257 9 10 Ohio State 18-6-3 232 10 11 Denver 17-7-4 228 11 12 Boston University 15-10-2 139 14 13 Harvard 13-6-1 134 13 14 MSU-Mankato 12-7-9 105 15 15 St. Cloud State 13-10-3 99 12
USA Today/American Hockey Magazine Division I Men's Poll?(February 3) Team Record Pts LW 1 Colorado College (15) 21-2-5 253 3 2 Maine (2) 21-3-4 235 2 3 North Dakota 21-4-3 212 1 4 New Hampshire 18-6-3 202 5 5 Cornell 17-4-0 188 4 6 Boston College 16-6-3 167 6 7 Minnesota 14-6-7 150 7 8 Michigan 18-7-1 119 8 9 Denver 17-7-4 114 9 10 Ohio State 18-6-3 105 10 11 Ferris State 19-8-1 88 11 12 Boston University 15-10-2 64 12 13 Harvard 13-6-1 59 13 14 MSU-Mankato 12-7-9 45 15 15 St. Cloud State 12-10-3 33 14 Canisius' Record When: Leading after first period 4-4-0 Trailing after first period 1-9-2 Tied after first period 4-2-1 Leading after second period 7-0-0 Trailing after second period 1-12-3 Tied after second period 1-3-0 Overtime games 1-1-3 CC out-shoots opponent 3-4-1 Opponent out-shoots CC 6-10-2 Tied in shots on goal 0-1-0 CC scores 3 or more 9-3-2 CC scores 2 or less 0-12-1 Opponent scores 3 or more 2-14-2 Opponent scores 2 or less 7-1-1 CC scores first 6-3-0 Opponent scores first 3-12-3 CC has power-play goal 6-6-1 CC has short-handed goal 0-0-0 CC in October 0-6-0 CC in November 5-2-0 CC in December 1-2-0 CC in January 3-3-3 CC in February 0-2-0 CC in March 0-0-0 CC on Tuesdays 0-1-0 CC on Fridays 5-5-2 CC on Saturdays 3-9-1 CC on Sundays 1-0-0 CC at Buffalo State 7-5-1 CC at neutral sites 0-2-0 CC on the road 2-8-2 CC vs. the CCHA 0-0-2 CC vs. the CHA 1-4-0 CC vs. the ECAC 0-0-0 CC vs. Hockey East 0-0-0 CC vs. the MAAC 8-8-1 CC vs. the WCHA 0-3-0
The Last Time... Weekend Sweep in Buffalo, N.Y.: By Canisius - 11/15-16/02 vs. Iona (5-3) & Army (3-2) same team: 2/1-2/02 vs. Army (4-1, 4-3 ot) By Opponent - 10/25-26/02 vs. Quin. (3-6) & AIC (2-6) same team: 10/18-19/02 vs. Findlay (1-3 & 1-8)
Weekend Sweep on the Road: By Canisius - 2/11-12/00 at Connecticut (3-2 ot, 5-3) same team: 2/11-12/00 at Connecticut (3-2 ot, 5-3) By Opponent - 1/3-4/03 at Quinnipiac (0-2, 3-4 ot) same team: - 1/3-4/03 at Quinnipiac (0-2, 3-4 ot)
The Griffs won in overtime: Buffalo State Sports Arena - 11/3/02 vs. Sacred Heart (3-2) On the Road - 3/2/01 at Sacred Heart (3-2)
The Griffs lost in overtime: Buffalo State Sports Arena - Has not occurred On the Road - 1/4/03 at Quinnipiac (3-4)
The Griffs registered an overtime tie: Buffalo State Sports Arena - 1/17/03 vs. Connecticut (3-3) On the Road - 1/11/03 at Lake Superior State (4-4)
Team scored 10 or more goals: Canisius - 12/4/98 at Sacred Heart (10-2) Opponent - 10/23/98 at MSU-Mankato (3-11)
Player recorded a hat trick: Canisius - 3/3/00, Marc Bouffard vs. Fairfield (3) Opponent - 10/11/02, Zach Parise (North Dakota) (3)

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#27 Todd Houston: F; 5' 8"; Senior

#8 Corey Lucas: F; 6' 4"; Senior

#10 Marc Bouffard: F; 6' 1"; Senior

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

#19 Ryan Corcoran: F; 5' 10"; Sophomore

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

#25 Andrew Dawe: F; 5' 9"; Freshman

#23 Daryl Pierce: D; 6' 1"; Junior

#33 Jeremy Redquest: G; 6' 0"; Freshman

#2 Tim Songin: D; 6' 5"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

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

#27 Todd Houston
: 5' 8"; Senior
: F

#8 Corey Lucas
: 6' 4"; Senior
: F

#10 Marc Bouffard
: 6' 1"; Senior
: F

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

#19 Ryan Corcoran
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: F

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

#25 Andrew Dawe
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: F

#23 Daryl Pierce
: 6' 1"; Junior
: D

#33 Jeremy Redquest
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: G

#2 Tim Songin
: 6' 5"; Freshman
: D