CANISIUS COLLEGE ATHLETICS
Canisius (1-1-0, 1-1-0 AHA) vs. Air Force (0-2-0, 0-0-0 AHA)
Date: Friday, Oct. 19 | Saturday, Oct. 20
Times: 7:35 p.m. | 7:35 p.m.
Location: KeyBank Rink at Harborcenter
Live Stats: SIDEARM Stats
TV/Webcast: AtlanticHockey.tv
Tickets: Ticketmaster.com
Game Notes: Canisius (PDF) | Air Force (PDF)
The Canisius hockey team opens the home portion of its 2018-19 schedule this weekend when it welcomes defending Atlantic Hockey Tournament champion Air Force to KeyBank Rink at Harborcenter for a two-game series.
A matchup of the top two teams in the Atlantic Hockey Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the Golden Griffins and Falcons open their weekend set Friday before wrapping the series the following night. Puck drop for both contests is set for 7:35 p.m.
Military Appreciation/Pink the Rink on Tap this Weekend
• Friday’s game is Military Appreciation Night. There will be a camo Griffs rally towel as well as a 2018-19 schedule poster giveaway.
• Saturday’s contest serves as the team’s Pink the Rink game, supporting the American Cancer Society’s Real Men Wear Pink initiative. Fans are encouraged to wear pink in support.
Scouting Canisius
• The Golden Griffins return home after earning a split of their season-opening series at Atlantic Hockey rival Holy Cross last weekend. The Crusaders claimed the opener by a 4-2 margin before the Griffs battled back for a 7-6 triumph in the series finale.
• Junior Nick Hutchison (3g, 1a) and senior Jimmy Mazza (1g, 3a) are tied for the team lead in scoring with four points each.
• Senior Dylan McLaughlin and sophomore Logan Gestro each sit one point back of the duo as both registered a goal and two assists during the opening weekend.
• Freshman Lee Lapid made an immediate impact in his first games in a Canisius uniform, picking up a goal and an assist during the series finale. Lapid was one of two Griffs’ rookies to find the back of the net in game two against the Crusaders as fellow newcomer Kevin Obssuth also scored in the win.
• Sophomore Tucker Weppner made his first two starts in goal for Canisius and recorded 42 saves over the two contests, including 26 saves in the series finale to pick up his first collegiate victory.
Scouting Air Force
• Air Force begins conference play this weekend after opening the regular season with losses to in-state foe Denver (4-1) and crosstown rival Colorado College (6-1) last weekend.
• Evan Feno and Matt Koch are tied for the team lead with two assists each while Evan Giesler and Matt Serratore have accounted for the two Air Force goals thus far.
• Senior Billy Christopoulos has started both games in goal for the Falcons. The Mike Richter Award watch list selection has made 40 saves in 107 minutes of action.
Canisius-Air Force Series Notes
• Air Force holds a 21-13-9 edge over Canisius in 43 previous meetings between the two programs, all of which have come since the Falcons joined Atlantic Hockey in 2006-07.
• The Falcons took four-of-five matchups from the Griffs last season. During the regular season, the teams split their first set of games at HARBORCENTER in October (AF 3-1, CC 3-2) before the Falcons won both games of their second series at the Cadet Ice Arena in February (7-4, 3-2). Air Force claimed a 3-0 victory over Canisius in the semifinals of the Atlantic Hockey Tournament.
• Canisius holds a 5-9-1 mark versus Air Force in home contests, including a 2-3-1 ledger versus the Falcons at Harborcenter.
Up Next
• Canisius play the road half of their home-and-home series against non-conference foe Clarkson Oct. 27
• Opening faceoff between the Griffs and the Golden Knights is set for 7 p.m. at Cheel Arena in Potsdam, N.Y.
