Springfield, Mass. ? The Canisius College hockey team defeated AIC on Friday night, 3-2. The win is the Griffs first league victory of the season and Canisius is now 2-2-2 on the season and 1-1-1 in league play.
“We played exceptionally well in the first and third periods,” said Canisius head coach Dave Smith. “It was a hard-fought victory. It is really rewarding to win a game 3-2. Especially how we played in the third, it was a telling sign how we can play and how we can win.”
Senior Spencer Churchill and freshman Dave Kostuch led the Canisius offense with a goal and an assist each. Junior Carl Hudson also added a goal, scoring in his third-consecutive game. Junior Andrew Loewen recorded 22 saves in net.
It took the Griffs just 1:57 to take the lead. Junior Ryan Klusendorf gathered the puck in the corner and found Churchill right in front of the goal. The senior then tipped the puck in for his first goal of the season. Sophomore Brandon Cummings also registered an assist on the goal.
Canisius stretched its lead to two when Kostuch tallied his fourth goal of the season at the 12:35 mark. The Griffs were able to take advantage of an odd-man rush when junior Jason Weeks skated the puck past the blue line and then passed to classmate Josh Heidinger. The AIC defender then collapsed on Heidinger and the junior found Kostuch to his left, who beat AIC's goalie one-on-one.
The Yellow Jackets responded with two goals of their own in the second period with Michael Penny tallying both scores. Penny scored his first goal 3:04 into the second stanza to bring AIC within one and then knotted the game at two with 2:32 left in the period.
Hudson would help the Griffs reclaim the lead just 43 seconds into the third period. After a Canisius shot, Kostuch gathered the puck and attempted to sneak it past the AIC goalie. The puck sat in the crease and Hudson was there to tip it in for his fourth score of the season. Churchill also posted an assist on the score.
AIC had some chances to score the equalizer but could not get the puck past Loewen. The junior goaltender made two point-blank saves on Penny in the final minutes and also helped kill off a power play in the final 2:26 of the game.
“We were ready to come and play as a team tonight,” Loewen said. “We came out really strong to open the periods and that was the difference in the game.”
The teams conclude the two-game series tomorrow afternoon in Springfield. Game time is slated for 4:05 p.m.
Game Notes: Canisius has defeated AIC more time than any other school in its Division I history (18) ... Hudson and Kostuch are now tied for the team lead along with sophomore Cory Conacher with four goals ... Hudson's three-game scoring streak is the longest of his career ... Conacher was held without a point for the first time this season, ending a career-long five game point streak ... Loewen has allowed only one goal in the third period this season ... Canisius won its second road game of the season, equaling its win total from last year.
