Baseball 2/20/2023 3:00:00 PM

This Week in Canisius Athletics: Feb. 21-27

The start of regular-season play for baseball, a pair of home games for men's basketball and the conclusion of the regular season for hockey stand in the spotlight This Week in Canisius Athletics.

Baseball
Social Media: Twitter | Instagram

Feb. 24-26 | Swig & Swine Classic | Charleston, S.C.

Feb. 24: vs Rutgers | 5 p.m.

Feb. 25: vs Boston College | 12 p.m.

Feb. 25: vs Merrimack College | 4 p.m.

Feb. 26: Ball State | 9 a.m.

• The Canisius baseball team opens its 2023 season in Charleston, S.C. at the Swig and Swine Classic Feb. 24-26. The Griffs face off against Rutgers in the opening game on Friday before facing Boston College and Merrimack Saturday and Ball State on Sunday to wrap up the weekend.
• Canisius has never faced Ball State, Boston College and Merrimack in the team's 70-year history. The Blue and Gold faced Rutgers once, on March 16, 2015. Former pitching coach Brandon Bielecki started the neutral site contest, a 12-8 loss to the Scarlet Knights.
• Coming off the fourth MAAC championship since 2013, Canisius was named the conference's preseason favorite, according to the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Griffs earned seven of the 11 first-place votes with Fairfield earning a pair and Rider and Marist each picking up a vote in the top spot.
• Two-time All-American and 2022 MAAC Player of the Year Max Grant was named the league's Preseason Player of the Year. The junior, along with fellow third year Matt Duffy and seniors Mike DeStefano and Chris Pouliot all earned Preseason All-MAAC Team honors.
• Canisius returns to the diamond when the team travels to Richmond, Va., to take part in the Central Virginia Classic. The Griffs will square off against VCU, Richmond and William & Mary March 3-5.

Hockey
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Feb. 24: at Holy Cross | 7 p.m.
Live Stats | FloHockey

Feb. 25: at Holy Cross | 7 p.m.
Live Stats | FloHockey

• The hockey team closes out the regular season this weekend with a pair of Atlantic Hockey Association games at Holy Cross. Start time for both contests of the Feb. 24-25 series is slated for 7 p.m. at the Hart Center in Worcester, Mass.
• Canisius clinched a berth into the Atlantic Hockey Postseason with a split of its four games last weekend against Air Force and Sacred Heart, part of a hectic stretch that saw them play a total of six times in a 10-day span.
• In the series opener at Air Force, senior Jacob Barczewski made a career-high 52 saves in a 2-1 setback to the Falcons. The 52 stops by Barczewski were the most by a Canisius netminder since the 2016-17 season and third most by a goaltender in an Atlantic Hockey Association contest in league history.

Men's Basketball
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Feb. 24: Saint Peter's | 7 p.m.
Live Stats | ESPN3 | Tickets

Feb. 26: vs Fairfield | 1 p.m.
Live Stats | ESPN3 | Tickets

• Canisius will close out the 2022-23 regular season at home with three-straight games at the Koessler Athletic Center, starting Friday, Feb. 24, when the Griffs play host to Saint Peter's. That contest, which is presented by Anderson's, will tip-off at 7 p.m., and will be broadcast live on ESPN3. Tickets for next Friday's game, and the other two remaining home dates, can be purchased in person at the Canisius ticket office, by phone by calling (716) 888-TIXX, or online by CLICKING HERE.
• Canisius redshirt-freshman Tahj Staveskie was named the Hercules Tires MAAC Rookie of the Week on Monday after he averaged 19.0 points, 5.5 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game as the Golden Griffins went 1-1 in league road contests at Rider and Mount St. Mary's.
• Monday's announcement marked the fifth time where Staveskie has been named the Hercules Tires MAAC Rookie of the Week, tying him with Siena's Michael Eley for the most weekly rookie honors in the conference this season. Staveskie is also just the third player in school history to earn conference rookie of the week accolades five-or-more times, trailing only Canisius Hall of Famers 'Sugar' Ray Hall (1981-82) and Frank Turner (2006-07).

Men's Lacrosse
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Feb. 21: at Michigan | 3 p.m.
Live Stats | Big Ten Plus

Feb. 25: vs Robert Morris | 12 p.m.
Live Stats

• The men's lacrosse team continues its early-season schedule this week with a pair of non-conference games. The Griffs travel to Big Ten foe Michigan on Tuesday before returning home to home Saturday to square off against longtime rival Robert Morris.
• Canisius fell in its only game last week, suffering a 14-4 setback against Bellarmine on Feb. 18 in its home debut. Redshirt sophomore Colin Kelly led the Griffs with four points as he recorded a hat trick and added an assist. Sophomore Patrick Mitchell scored the only other goal for the Griffs.
• Freshman Micah Hanson tied Bellarmine's Jacob Berggren for game-high honors with seven ground balls and while sophomore Tommy Kunz made 10 saves in goal for the Blue and Gold.

Softball
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Feb. 21: at College of Charleston | 12 p.m. (DH)
Live Stats | Flo Softball

• The softball team will conclude its time in Charleston, S.C., with a doubleheader against College of Charleston on Tuesday. First pitch in game one is scheduled for noon with the games being broadcasted on FloSoftball.
• The softball team began the season 4-1 in the Cougar Classic this past weekend, the best start since 2013. The Blue and Gold recorded a pair of walk-off wins, including a 6-5 nine inning victory over defending Patriot League Regular Season Champion Boston University.
• Senior Tiara Johnson collected the two-run single to give the Griffs their fourth win of the season on Sunday against the Terriers. Johnson has a hit in all five games, posting a .385 batting average and .556 on-base pct.

Women's Basketball
Social Media: Twitter | Instagram

Feb. 23: at Saint Peter's | 7 p.m.
Live Stats | ESPN3

Feb. 25: at Iona | 1 p.m.
Live Stats | ESPN3

• Women's Basketball embarks on their final road trip of the regular season, starting against Saint Peter's on Feb. 23, before facing Iona on Feb. 25. Tip-off from Jersey City, N.J., is scheduled for 7 p.m. with the game streaming on ESPN+. As for the game against the Gaels, that contest is slated to begin at 1 p.m. on Feb. 25, with the game streaming on ESPN3.
• Freshman forward Sisi Eleko was tabbed the Hercules Tires MAAC Rookie of the Week, the league office announced Monday. This is Eleko's fourth weekly honor this season and fifth overall for the Golden Griffins. Her best game of the week came against Fairfield on Feb. 17, as she had 12 points, two rebounds and one block in the Griffs 73-60 victory.
• The Blue and Gold will return home next week for their final two games of the regular season, starting on March 2 against Mount St. Mary's, before concluding the regular season on March 4 versus Siena. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. against the Mount and 1 p.m. against the Saints, with both games streaming on ESPN3.

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Players Mentioned

#30 Jacob Barczewski: G; 6' 1"; Senior; L

#44 Tahj Staveskie: G; 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman

#14 Sisi Eleko: F; 6' 2"; Freshman

#25 Tiara Johnson: OF; 5' 6"; Senior; R/R

#15 Colin Kelly: A; 6' 5"; Redshirt Sophomore

#20 Tommy Kunz: G; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#4 Patrick Mitchell: M; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#48 Micah Hanson: FO; 5' 9"; Freshman

#4 Mike DeStefano: OF/INF; 6' 0"; Senior; L/R

#14 Matt Duffy: RHP; 6' 2"; Junior; L/R

Players Mentioned

#30 Jacob Barczewski
: 6' 1"; Senior; L
: G

#44 Tahj Staveskie
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman
: G

#14 Sisi Eleko
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: F

#25 Tiara Johnson
: 5' 6"; Senior; R/R
: OF

#15 Colin Kelly
: 6' 5"; Redshirt Sophomore
: A

#20 Tommy Kunz
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: G

#4 Patrick Mitchell
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: M

#48 Micah Hanson
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: FO

#4 Mike DeStefano
: 6' 0"; Senior; L/R
: OF/INF

#14 Matt Duffy
: 6' 2"; Junior; L/R
: RHP