CANISIUS COLLEGE ATHLETICS
BUFFALO, N.Y. — A strong non-conference slate, highlighted by a visit from perennial college hockey power North Dakota, and an always challenging Atlantic Hockey Conference schedule make up the 2018-19 slate for the Canisius hockey program, head coach Trevor Large announced on Tuesday.
The 34-game schedule features 28 AHC contests and six non-league games. The Golden Griffins will play 17 games at HARBORCENTER and take to the road for the other 17 contests.
After hosting the University of Toronto in an exhibition contest (Oct. 6), Canisius officially begins the 2018-19 campaign on the road with a two-game set at league foe Holy Cross (Oct. 12-13). The Griffs open the home portion of their schedule the following weekend against defending league tournament champion Air Force (Oct. 19-20) before closing out October with the road half of a home-and-home series against 2018 NCAA Tournament participant Clarkson (Oct. 27).
November begins at home with a league series against AIC (Nov. 2-3) and the second leg of the non-conference matchup with the Clarkson (Nov. 10). A midweek trip to RIT (Nov. 13) signals the first road trip of the month before Canisius renews acquaintances with long-time rival Niagara for the first of two home-and-home series (Nov. 16-17) against the Purple Eagles during the regular season. All four regular-season contests between Canisius and Niagaraare part of the “Battle of the Bridge” series between the two schools.
The Griffs welcome conference opponent Sacred Heart for a two-game series Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 23-24) and close out the first half of the regular season with a visit to Army (Nov. 30-Dec. 1).
A late December trip to ECAC Hockey foe Union awaits the team upon its return from the holiday break (Dec. 29-30).
Canisius rings in the new year with its final non-conference contests of the season as it entertains eight-time national champion North Dakota for a pair of games at HARBORCENTER (Jan. 4-5). The visit to the Nickel City from the Fighting Hawks is their first since taking on the Griffs in a game at the KeyBank Center back on Oct. 11, 2002.
A home-and-home matchup with Mercyhurst (Jan. 11-12) signals the return to league play for the Griffs while home series against Robert Morris (Jan. 18-19) and Bentley (Jan. 25-26) put the finishing touches on the squad’s January slate.
A second home-and-home series with the Lakers (Feb. 1-2) marks the start of February. Consecutive road trips to Bentley (Feb. 8-9) and Air Force (Feb. 15-16) are followed by a second home-and-home matchup against Niagara (Feb. 22-23) to close out the month.
The regular season comes to a close March 2 when Canisius travels to RIT for a single contest.
Season tickets for the 2018-19 season are now available. Please visit www.gogriffs.com or call 716-888-TIXX for more information.
