Ice Hockey 1/12/2006 12:00:00 AM Canisius College Athletics

Hockey Returns Home to Play Sacred Heart

Games No. 21 and 22 Canisius College (5-14-1, 3-10-1 Atlantic Hockey) vs. Sacred Heart (11-8-1, 8-6-1) Friday, Jan. 13, 2006 -- 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, 2006 -- 7 p.m. Buffalo State Sports Arena
Broadcast Information Friday: CJRN 710 AM and GoGriffs.com (Jay Moran and Clancy Seymour) Saturday: GoGriffs.com (Joe Clifford and Scott Teeter)
Scouting the Griffs

Junior forward Michael Cohen (Williamsville, N.Y.) leads the team with 19 points, eight goals and 11 assists. Sophomore forward Joel Kitchen (Orilla, Ont.) is tied with Cohen for the team lead with 11 assists.

Senior defenseman Brandon Irish-Baker (Clarence, N.Y.) leads the defensemen with four goals, eight assists and 12 points, which are all career highs.

Freshman Dan Giffin (Milton, Ont.) and junior Max Buetow (Denver, Colo.) continue to alternate in net, each receiving three starts during the past six games.

During his last four appearances, Giffin has a 2.14 goals against average and .933 save percentage.
Last Time on the Ice

The Griffs dropped two games at American International, losing 2-1 and 5-2.

Michael Cohen scored both Canisius goals in the 5-2 loss, netting a power play goal and the first shorthanded goal of his career.

Freshman Tommy Flikeid (Lakeville, Minn.) recorded the first goal of his career, which came in the third period against the Yellow Jackets.

Dan Giffin stopped 30+ shots for the second consecutive start, making 31 saves in the 2-1 loss.
Scouting Sacred Heart

Junior Pierre-Luc O'Brien leads the Pioneers with 11 goals, 18 assists and 29 points.

Goaltender Jason Smith, a sixth-round draft pick of the New Jersey Devils, is the reigning Atlantic Hockey Goaltender of the Week and has won that award three times this season. Smith ranks second in the league with a 2.13 goals against average.
Penalty Kill on a Roll

The Griffs haven't allowed a power play goal during the past four games. That is the most consecutive games since a five-game stretch from Nov. 13, 2004 to Dec. 3, 2004.

Canisius has killed the last 22 penalties, which is the most power plays since the Griffs killed 36 straight last season.

During the second period of the 2-0 loss to Union Dec. 30, the Dutchmen were on the power play for 12:20 of that period and didn't score a goal. In that game, Canisius tied a season-high by killing nine penalties, which the Griffs also did against Niagara Oct. 14.
Fast Facts of the Griffs

The Griffs have lost their past six games by a combined nine goals, with three of those goals of the empty net variety.

The Griffs have not been shut out in 129 consecutive home games, a streak dating back to a 3-0 shutout loss to Niagara on Feb. 15, 1997.

Canisius is on an eight-game losing streak for the first time since Jan. 24-Feb. 13, 1992, when the Griffs also had an eight-game losing streak.
Sacred Heart-Canisius history

The Pioneers swept the Golden Griffins in the teams' first meetings this season, winning 3-0 and 5-2 in Fairfield, Conn.

Overall, the Griffs own a 13-9-1 series advantage, including a 7-1-0 mark in Buffalo.
Current Griffs vs. Sacred Heart

Junior forward Billy Irish-Baker (Clarence, N.Y.) leads all current Griffs with six points against the Pioneers, including two goals earlier this season.

Andrew Dawe (Kitchener, Ont.) has scored three goals against Sacred Heart, while Joel Kitchen, Jaymie Harrington (West Boylston, Mass.) and Michael Cohen have scored two goals.
Schedule Facts

After this home series against the Pioneers, Canisius starts on a six-game road trip, covering four weekends. That is the longest conference road trip since the Griffs have a seven-game stretch during January and February last season.

Sacred Heart is the first repeat opponent for the Griffs this season in Atlantic Hockey action.

This weekend's games mark the start of the second half of the conference schedule for the Blue and Gold.
Griffs in League Rankings

Michael Cohen ranks ninth in the league with 19 points and seventh with eight goals.

Cohen and Joel Kitchen are tied for 10th with 11 assists.

Andrew Dawe is tied for eighth with four power play goals and is third with a 25.9 shot percentage.

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Players Mentioned

#35 Max Buetow: G; 6' 5"; Junior

#16 Michael Cohen: F; 5' 10"; Junior

#10 Andrew Dawe: F; 5' 9"; Senior

#19 Tommy Flikeid: F; 5' 11"; Freshman

#30 Dan Giffin: G; 6' 0"; Freshman

#15 Jaymie Harrington: F; 6' 5"; Redshirt Junior

#3 Billy Irish-Baker: F; 5' 10"; Junior

#18 Brandon Irish-Baker: D; 5' 11"; Senior

#14 Joel Kitchen: F; 6' 1"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#35 Max Buetow
: 6' 5"; Junior
: G

#16 Michael Cohen
: 5' 10"; Junior
: F

#10 Andrew Dawe
: 5' 9"; Senior
: F

#19 Tommy Flikeid
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: F

#30 Dan Giffin
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: G

#15 Jaymie Harrington
: 6' 5"; Redshirt Junior
: F

#3 Billy Irish-Baker
: 5' 10"; Junior
: F

#18 Brandon Irish-Baker
: 5' 11"; Senior
: D

#14 Joel Kitchen
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: F