Junior goaltender Andrew Loewen stopped all 31 shots he faced, including one on a penalty shot, to lead the Canisius College hockey team to a 3-0 victory over AIC at the Amherst Pepsi Center. With the victory, the Griffs improved to 12-11-6 on the season and 10-9-4 in Atlantic Hockey play.
“I thought we did a lot of things well today,” said Canisius head coach Dave Smith. “Andrew played very well in net for us and I thought we stayed at a very nice level throughout the game.”
Senior John Patera, junior Jason Weeks and sophomore Pat Kenney each recorded a goal for the Griffs. Sophomore Vincent Scarsella paced the Griffs' attack with two assists.
Loewen was strong right from the start. With the score knotted at zero in the first period, Canisius was whistled for a hooking penalty on an AIC breakaway, resulting in a Yellow Jackets penalty shot. However, Loewen stopped Steve McLeod's attempt to keep the contest scoreless.
“Usually I'm calm for a penalty shot but today I was a little nervous,” Loewen said. “I just mentally prepared for it and figured out what I was going to do.”
Weeks scored the first goal of the game, finding the back of the net with 1:19 left in the first. Scarsella sent a long pass to his linemate, who had got past the AIC defense. Weeks then beat AIC's Tom Fenton for his ninth goal of the season. Sophomore Phil Rauch also tallied an assist on the goal.
After a scoreless second period, one in which Loewen stopped 15 shots, the Griffs added an insurance goal early in the third. Kenney ripped a shot past Fenton for his fifth score of the season. Sophomore Scott Jenks and junior Ryan Klusendorf both registered an assist on the goal.
Patera then added his second goal of the season, scoring with just 2:55 left in the game. Scarsella sent a pass toward the senior through the slot. Patera then fired the puck in for the final 3-0 score. Sophomore Cory Conacher also posted an assist on the goal.
AIC (4-23-1, 4-18-0 Atlantic Hockey) outshot the Griffs, 31-26. Fenton recorded 23 saves in net for the Yellow Jackets. Neither team was able to score in three power play opportunities.
Canisius tries to complete the sweep tomorrow night. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. at the Amherst Pepsi Center.
Game Notes: Loewen was the first Griff to record a save on a penalty shot since Bryan Worosz stopped Holy Cross' Jonas Tomiuck on Nov. 9, 2002 ... The shutout was the second for Loewen this season and the fifth of his career ... Loewen is unbeaten in his last three decisions (2-0-1) ... Rauch's assist was the first point of his career ... Patera, who did not score a goal in his first 73 collegiate games, now has two goals in his last seven contests ... Jenks recorded his first point of the season.
