Canisius College Golden Griffins (2-2-0, 0-0-0 Atlantic Hockey) vs. Sacred Heart Pioneers (1-0-0, 0-0-0)
Friday, October 28, 2005 and Saturday, October 29, 2005 -- 7:00 p.m. Milford Ice Pavilion -- Milford, Conn.
Scouting the Griffs Canisius bounced back from a 5-3 home loss on Friday, Oct. 21, to win 2-1 at R.I.T. the next night. In the weekend opener, sophomore forward Mike Ruberto (Stoney Creek, Ont.) scored his team-high fifth goal of the season. On Saturday, freshman goalie Ryan Hatch (Medway, Mass.) got his first collegiate start and earned the win, making 24 saves. The Griffs' goals-per-game average of 3.25 currently ranks 16th nationally.
Scouting Sacred Heart The Pioneers have only played one regular season game ? a 5-2 loss at Union on Oct. 14. Defenseman Bernie Chimel and forward Chris Connerty scored the goals for the Pioneers. Goaltender Jason Smith made 33 saves as the Pioneers gave up three power play goals to Union. Junior Pierre-Luc O'Brien returns as Sacred Heart's leading scorer from the 2004-05 season when the forward scored 35 points (18 goals, 17 assists) and was one of just two unanimous selections to the All-Atlantic Hockey First Team.
Last Weekend The Griffs split two games with the Rochester Institute of Technology ? losing 5-3 on Oct. 21 and winning 2-1 the next night in Rochester. Those were the first meetings between the teams since the 1997-98 season, the last year Canisius played at the Division III level. The win at Rochester on Saturday night was the first for the Blue and Gold on the Tigers' home ice since Feb. 2 1994, and it gave the Griffs their third victory in 25 meetings at Rochester.
Sacred Heart-Canisius History In a scheduling quirk, the Pioneers and Golden Griffins played six times in the 2004 calendar year and didn't meet in 2005. Canisius went 3-2-1 in those six games. Overtime has been a common theme in games between the Pioneers and Golden Griffins with seven of the past 13 matchups needing extra time, including three of the last five. The teams have been even at Sacred Heart ? 6-6-1 ? while Canisius has won seven of the eight meetings when the Blue and Gold are the host team.
Current Griffs vs. Sacred Heart Junior forward Billy Irish-Baker (Clarence, N.Y.) leads the current Golden Griffins in past performance against Sacred Heart as he's recorded four points (three goals, one assist) in six previous games. Goaltender Max Buetow (Denver, Co.) recorded his first collegiate win against Sacred Heart on Jan. 17, 2004 in a 5-4 overtime win.
Ruberto Still Among Nation's Best Sophomore forward Mike Ruberto (Stoney Creek, Ont.) continues to rank at the top of the country in several offensive categories. He's tied for third in points per game (2.00), second in goals per game (1.25) and ninth in power play goals (2).
Kitchen and Others Ranking High Sophomore forward Joel Kitchen (Orilla, Ont.) also is ranking high nationally with his quick start to the season. Kitchen (right) is tied for 18th in points per game (1.75), 27th in goals per game (.75), 24th in assists (1.00) and seventh in game-winning goals (1). Junior forward Michael Cohen (Williamsville, N.Y.) is 26th with 1.50 points per game and 14th with 1.25 assists per contest. Senior forward Chris Angelo (Depew, N.Y.) is tied for 67th in goals per game and junior forward Jaymie Harrington (West Boylston, Mass.) is tied with Kitchen at seventh in game-winning goals.
Commissioners' Cup Last weekend, Atlantic Hockey went 1-3 in four Commissioners' Cup games ? Army lost to Colgate, Holy Cross defeated Massachusetts, Quinnipiac beat American International and Robert Morris won at Bentley. The Commissioners' Cup is a season-long competition between the six Division I ice hockey conferences. The AHA is now 4-4 in Commissioners' Cup games with the next game for the conference coming Nov. 12 when the Air Force Academy travels to Army.
Learning to Love the Road Enjoying a 48-24-13 record within the confines of Buffalo State Sports Arena over their seven seasons there, the Griffs are 0-2 at home this season. However, on the road this season, Canisius has started 2-0 for the first time since the 1992-93 season when the Blue and Gold started that season with four consecutive road victories
Three Times the Charm Canisius was 14-1-2 when scoring three or more in a game last season. The Griffs did not fare as well when scoring two goals or less, going 2-14-2 in those games. So far this season the Griffs are 1-1-0 when scoring three or more goals in a game.
Gare Face-Off Banquet Speaker At the Canisius Hockey Face-Off Banquet Oct. 7, former Buffalo Sabre Danny Gare served as the keynote speaker. Gare played in 827 games during his 13-year NHL career, scoring 354 goals and adding 331 assists for 685 points. He also amassed 1,285 penalty minutes while playing for the Buffalo Sabres (1974-82), Detroit Red Wings (1982-86) and Edmonton Oilers (1986-87).
Preseason Atlantic Hockey Poll At the Atlantic Hockey Media Day on Sept. 28, Mercyhurst and Holy Cross tied for first place in the coaches poll with 59 points each. Canisius was predicted to be in fourth place, finishing with a total of 40 points. First-place votes are in parentheses.
Preseason Coaches Poll Points 1. Mercyhurst (4) 59 1. Holy Cross (3) 59 3. Sacred Heart (1) 49 4. Canisius 40 5. Connecticut 29 6. Bentley 23 7. Army 18 8. American International 11
2005-06 Atlantic Hockey Tournament The College of the Holy Cross will host the 2006 Atlantic Hockey Association Tournament semifinals and championship game at the Hart Center on Friday and Saturday, March 17 and 18. All eight schools will play in quarterfinal round matchups on Saturday, March 11, at the highest seed. The quarterfinal round will be a single game with the semifinals and finals being played the next weekend. Tickets for the semifinals and championship can be purchased by calling the Holy Cross ticket office at (508) 793-2573. This is the sixth year that the NCAA will grant an automatic berth to the winner of the conference championship into the NCAA Division I Hockey Tournament.
All in the Family Several members of the 2005-06 Golden Griffins have interesting connections to the professional sports world. They include: Greg Brown - cousin of Jeff Jurek (played at Canisius in 1999-2000) Max Buetow - son of Bart “Mad Scientist” Buetow (played football for the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings and played football and hockey at Minnesota) 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) Dan Giffin - grandson of the late Donald P. Giffin of Toronto Maple Leafs fame. Giffin was a member of the Board Of Directors from 1970-1992 and in 1990, became President and CEO of Maple Leaf Gardens and sat on the NHL Board Of Governors. Giffin was responsible for the restoration of the image and operation of the storied NHL club including the return of Leafs player alumni, the hanging of Stanley Cup and legendary commemorative player banners as well as the hiring of Cliff Fletcher as Leafs GM. Brother Charlie is a sophomore at St. Lawrence University of the ECACHL Jaymie Harrington - brother of Lance Harrington (member of 2001 NCAA Division III Ice Hockey National Champions at Norwich) Ryan Klusendorf - father Daryl played baseball at Bradley University Craig Nooyen - son of Paul Nooyen and nephew of Pete Nooyen (both played professional hockey in Holland) John Patera - grandson of Jack Patera (head coach of the NFL's Seattle Seahawks from 1976-82 and a fourth-round draft pick of the Baltimore Colts), grand-nephew of Dennis Patera (was a placekicker with the San Francisco 49ers) and grand-nephew of Ken Patera (1972 Olympic weightlifter and professional wrestler with the WWF from 1973-89) Matt and Mike Ruberto - nephew of George Beveridge (selected 121st overall by the Minnesota North Stars in the eighth round of the 1973 NHL amateur draft) 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)
O Brother, Where Art Thou Canisius' roster boasts two pairs of brothers, the Irish-Bakers and the Rubertos. Senior Brandon Irish-Baker is a year younger than his brother, junior Billy Irish-Baker. Brandon joined the Griffs directly out of high school at Williamsville North, while Billy honed his skills as a member of the USHL's Chicago Freeze. Identical sophomore twins Mike and Matt Ruberto joined the Griffs last season from the Cleveland Barons of the NAHL. Contrary to popular belief, the Coccimiglios (senior Fred and junior Joey) are not directly related, even though they hail from the same town, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and both played for the Soo Thunderbirds of the NOJHA.
2005-06 Atlantic Hockey Standings
2005-2006 Overall Atlantic Hockey Statistics
2005-2006 Atlantic Hockey Conference Statistics
2005-2006 Canisius Schedule/Results/Box Scores