Lindy Feider

Box Score

Mercyhurst MER 16-18-4

Canisius CAN 16-16-3

Mercyhurst MER

16-18-4

Final

Mar. 12, 2022

Canisius CAN

16-16-3

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	F
Mercyhurst MER	1	0	2	3
Canisius CAN	0	1	0	1

Game Recap: Ice Hockey | 3/13/2022 12:19:00 AM

Hockey Eliminated by Mercyhurst in AHA Quarterfinals

Rylee St. Onge scored two goals to lead seventh-seeded Mercyhurst to a 3-1 victory over second-seeded Canisius in game two of their 2022 Atlantic Hockey Association Tournament Quarterfinal Round Series Saturday at LECOM Harborcenter in downtown Buffalo.

Jonathan Bendorf tallied the other goal for the Lakers (16-18-4), who completed the sweep of the best-of-three series and advanced to Championship Weekend, where they will face top-seeded AIC in the first semifinal at the Adirondack Bank Center in Utica on March 18. Kyle McClellan turned aside 29-of-30 shots faced between the pipes for Mercyhurst.

Junior Ryan Miotto accounted for the lone goal for the Golden Griffins (16-16-3). Junior goaltender Jake Barczewski finished with 23 saves.

St. Onge gave Mercyhurst a 1-0 lead less than five minutes into the contest, stuffing home a rebound after Mickey Burns' initial attempt from the slot rang off the left post.

Miotto brought Canisius level at the 8:58 mark of the second period with his seventh goal of the season, finishing off a 2-on-1 rush with sophomore Cooper Haar by depositing Haar's cross-ice feed over the outstretched glove of McClellan and into the Mercyhurst goal.

Bendorf restored the Lakers lead a little more than five minutes into the third period, taking advance of a turnover deep in the Canisius zone before lifting a backhanded effort over the right shoulder of Barczewski to make it a 2-1 contest.

St. Onge closed out the scoring with an empty-net goal with less than two minutes to play in the third period.

Head Coach Trevor Large's Postgame Comments
"It's tough anytime a season ends. It's final. It's abrupt. Both games were very similar; two good hockey games with two elite goalies going toe to toe. Sometimes the hockey gods are cruel. It was a good hockey game by both teams. Congrats to Mercyhurst. They're playing extremely well right now. Their goalie played unbelievable. It's tough to get pucks by him and he played back-to-back games only giving up one goalie each night, it's tough to win.

"After my first comments, my thoughts go right to those guys. There's 10 of them. We've had guys come in from different programs. Some went through season-ending injuries. Some guys played a lot. Some guys played a little. Some guys were able to earn spots. All 10 have been hugely important for our program, both on and off the ice. They've been unbelievable. This program is about people. I couldn't be prouder of the people that we have. We continue to build something special here. It's about the people that we have in our locker room. I couldn't thank those 10 guys enough.

"I didn't tell Barzo anything after the game, but my thoughts are that I love him. He's an unbelievable goalie and a special person. It was definitely not his fault at all tonight. He is still one of the best goalies in college hockey. I didn't have to say anything to him tonight. I'll save that for later. He's unbelievable."

Game Notes
• Canisius out-shot Mercyhurst, 30-26, for the contest, highlighted by a 21-13 edge over the final two periods of regulation.
• Neither team scored on the power play as Mercyhurst was 0-for-5 with the man advantage while Canisius was 0-for-4.
• Canisius was held to one goal or fewer for the fourth straight contest as it finished the season with a 2-15-1 record when held to two goals or fewer.
• Haar recorded the primary assist on Miotto's second-period tally, giving him points in consecutive games for the first time in his career.
• Junior defenseman Hudson Lambert was also credited with an assist on Miotto's goal.

For complete coverage of the Canisius hockey team, please follow the Griffs on social media at @GriffsHockey on Twitter and Instagram.

Print Friendly Version