A program-high 17 home games at the Buffalo State Sports Arena highlight the 2009-10 Canisius College hockey schedule, announced by head coach Dave Smith on Tuesday.

“We are excited about our schedule this season,” Smith said. “Our fans will be able to see some great hockey this season with a NCAA quarterfinalist, a CCHA team and an ECAC school coming to town.”

The Griffs open the 2009-10 slate with a pair of home games against Ferris State on Oct. 9 and 10. The two schools are opening the year for the second-consecutive season after splitting a pair of games in Michigan last year. Canisius' 5-2 victory over the Bulldogs marked the first win for the Golden Griffin program against a CCHA foe.

Canisius then hits the road for the first time with two games at Lake Superior State. The teams have met on four previous occasions with each of the contests tightly contested. All four games would wind up in overtime, resulting in one Laker victory and three ties.

The Griffs also host Colgate in a non-conference game on Dec. 20. The teams last met during the 2006-07 season and the Raiders have won both contests since Canisius moved to Division I.

“We play some difficult teams in our non-conference schedule,” Smith said. “We are looking to go into those games and gain some valuable experience, prepare ourselves for our league and challenge ourselves to play at a high level each night.”

The Griffs begin their seventh season of Atlantic Hockey play on Oct. 24 against Holy Cross for the first of two home games. Canisius is home for seven of its first eight league games, which includes a pair of games against Air Force, who advanced to the NCAA Championship Quarterfinals last season. The Griffs won a pair of games against the nationally-ranked Falcons last season.

In total, the Griffs will play 33 regular-season games, including 28 contests against Atlantic Hockey rivals. Canisius will play AIC, Army, Bentley, Connecticut and Mercyhurst four times, two games at home and two on the road. The Griffs will host Air Force and Holy Cross for two games, while traveling to play RIT and Sacred Heart in a two-game set.

Canisius will also host Guelph University in an exhibition matchup on Jan. 2 at the Amherst Pepsi Center.

The Atlantic Hockey Championship begins on March 6 with the four lowest seeds competing in a single-elimination game at the higher-seeded teams. The quarterfinals will be a best 2-of-3 series from March 12-14 at campus sites. The four remaining teams will be reseeded and will square off in the semifinals at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, N.Y. on March 19 and in the finals the following night.

“Our first goal every season is to finish in the top four of the Atlantic Hockey standings and earn home ice for the tournament,” Smith said. “Our league is very competitive from top to bottom and any team can win on any night. We have an experienced team this season and we look forward to competing for a league title.”

Canisius returns 23 letterwinners from the 2008-09 season, including 94 percent of its scoring and all three goaltenders.