Ice Hockey 1/19/2006 12:00:00 AM Canisius College Athletics

Hockey Starts Road Trip at Army

Games No. 23 and 24 Canisius College (5-16-1, 3-12-1 Atlantic Hockey) at Army (8-12-3, 6-7-3) Friday, Jan. 20, 2006 -- 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, 2006 -- 7 p.m. Tate Rink

Scouting the Griffs

Junior forward Michael Cohen (Williamsville, N.Y.) leads the team in all major offensive categories with eight goals, 12 assists and 20 points. Joel Kitchen (Orilla, Ont.) and Joey Coccimiglio (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) are tied for second on the team with 16 points.

Senior defenseman Brandon Irish-Baker (Clarence, N.Y.) leads the team's defensemen with 13 points (four goals, nine assists). All of Irish-Baker's offensive totals are career highs.

In net, the Griffs continue to alternate their goalies with Dan Giffin (Milton, Ont.) and Max Buetow (Denver, Colo.) each getting four starts during the past eight games.
Last Time on the Ice

The Griffs lost both home games to Sacred Heart, falling 4-1 and 3-1. The wins by the Pioneers were their second and third ever in Buffalo in 10 total games.

Joey Coccimiglio and junior Jaymie Harrington (West Boylston, Mass.) scored goals for the Griffs. Coccimiglio's goal was his first in the past six games while Harrington's was his second of the season, with his other goal being a game-winner at R.I.T. Oct. 22.

Max Buetow stopped 28 of the 30 shots he faced in the Jan. 14 game. That .933 save percentage was the best since an 18-for-19 performance (.947) against Army in a 2-1 overtime win Nov. 4.
Scouting Army

The Black Knights have won four of their past five games, including a weekend sweep of first-place Mercyhurst.

Goaltender Brad Roberts has led Army and is the reigning league Goaltender of the Week honors. Roberts won Player of the Week honors for the week of Jan. 1-8. In his past five games, Roberts is 4-1-0, with a 1.60 goals against average and .949 save percentage. Roberts leads the league with three shutouts.

A pair of defensemen lead the Black Knights in scoring as Tim Manthey and Chase Podsiad each have 15 points (five goals, 10 assists).

Army is in the middle of playing nine of 10 games at Tate Rink. The Black Knights have played four of their past five at home, and this weekend series starts five straight home games for Army.
Penalty Kill on a Roll

The Griffs haven't allowed a power play goal during the past six games. That is the most consecutive games since a six-game stretch from Dec. 10, 1993 to Jan. 19, 1994.

Canisius has killed the last 30 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 eight games by a combined 14 goals, with four of those goals of the empty net variety.

The Griffs have not been shut out in 131 consecutive home games, a streak dating back to a 3-0 shutout loss to Niagara on Feb. 15, 1997.

Canisius is on an 10-game losing streak, which matches the program record, and happened Dec. 9, 1988 to Jan. 22, 1989.
Army-Canisius history

Canisius took three of four points against Army earlier this season, with an overtime win and tie against the Black Knights in Buffalo.

Canisius leads the all-time series 11-10-2, but Army leads 7-2-1 in games played in West Point.

The Griffs are 4-0-1 in their last five games against the Black Knights.
Current Griffs vs. Army

Joey Coccimiglio leads current Griffs with seven points in seven career games against the Black Knights. Coccimiglio had the game-winning goal against Army Nov. 4.

Michael Cohen had three points in the two games earlier this season.

Assistant captain Billy Irish-Baker (Clarence, N.Y.) has six points in seven games against Army.

Max Buetow has a 2.66 goals against average in four starts against Army.
Schedule Facts

The Griffs start a six-game, four-week road trip weekend with their series against the Black Knights. That is the longest conference road trip since the Griffs have a seven-game stretch during January and February last season.
Griffs in League Rankings

Canisius ranks fifth offensively with 2.55 goals per game and seventh in allowing 3.73 goals per game.

Michael Cohen is tied for ninth with 20 points while Joey Coccimiglio and Joel Kitchen are tied for 16th with 16 points. Andrew Dawe and Michael Cohen are tied for eighth with four power play goals each.

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Players Mentioned

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

#37 Joey Coccimiglio: F; 6' 0"; Junior

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

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

#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

#37 Joey Coccimiglio
: 6' 0"; Junior
: F

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

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