Rochester, N.Y. – The Canisius College hockey team rallied from a two-goal deficit but couldn’t complete the comeback as a late RIT goal sealed a 4-3 win for the host Tigers on Saturday night. The loss drops the Griffs to 6-14-2 on the season and 6-8-2 in Atlantic Hockey play, while RIT improves to 8-10-2 overall and 8-5-1 against league foes.
“We battled back real hard after falling behind but just couldn’t get the equalizer through,” said Canisius head coach Dave Smith. “We showed a lot of grit and character late to get back in the game but just couldn’t find a way to pull even in the end.”
Junior Shane Conacher (Burlington, Ontario) led the Griffs with three points on the night, scoring one goal and adding two assists, while senior Ralph Cuddemi (Concord, Ontario) netted two tallies to lead the Canisius attack.
Freshman Simon Hofley (Ottawa, Ontario) recorded 38 saves in net for Canisius.
Cuddemi and the Griffs didn’t waste much time finding the back of the net with the senior captain scoring just 34 seconds into the game. From the left face-off circle, Conacher had his initial shot deflect off the post but the rebound went to Cuddemi in the slot and he buried his chance on the open net for the 1-0 lead. Freshman defender Cameron Heath (Troy, Mich.) also registered an assist on the game’s opening goal.
The Canisius advantage, however, wouldn’t last for long as the Tigers answered back and before adding a second goal for their first lead of the weekend. Abbott Girduckis redirected the puck into the net from the low slot at the 3:40 mark of the period before Myles Powell scored on the power play with just 1:56 remaining in the opening frame.
The Tigers then stretched their lead early in the second. One second after a full two-minute 5-on-3 power play expired, RIT took advantage of the numbers game when Gabe Valenzuela scored for the 3-1 advantage 1:35 into the second frame.
Cuddemi and the Griffs fought back and the senior pulled Canisius back within one with his second of the game, scoring on the power play with 12:59 remaining in second stanza. Sophomore Ryan Schmelzer (Buffalo, N.Y.) had his redirection from the slot saved but Cuddemi was there to once again knock the rebound in. The captain’s 13th goal of the season sent the teams into the intermission with RIT leading, 3-2.
Conacher then squared the game at three with his team-leading 14th goal of the season. On a rush, freshman Dylan McLaughlin (Lancaster, N.Y.) found Conacher open in the left face-off circle and the junior fired the shot in with an open look on net to tie the contest. Freshman Felix Chamberland (Quebec City, Quebec) also added an assist on the tally with 11:01 remaining in regulation.
RIT, however, answered shortly after the Griffs finally tied the game. Just 2:05 following the Canisius goal, Brad Shumway scored on a wrist shot from the slot for the 4-3 advantage with 8:56 remaining.
The Griffs had their chances to pull even once again but couldn’t break through. With 6:30 left in regulation, Heath had his attempt on a rush hit the pipe and bounce back out. Canisius was also awarded a power play with 2:15 remaining but couldn’t find the equalizer with the goalie pulled and a 6-on-4 advantage as RIT pulled out the 4-3 victory.
The Tigers posted a 42-18 advantage in shots on the night. Both teams scored one power-play goal in eight attempts for RIT and seven for the Griffs.
Christian Short picked up the victory between the pipes for the Tigers, recording 15 saves.
Canisius turns its attention toward rival Niagara this upcoming week. The Griffs return home for the first time in more than a month with the teams slated to open the two-game series at HARBORCENTER on Thursday at 7:35 p.m.
Game Notes: Canisius has scored the first goal of the game in each of its last six contests … The Griffs scored on the power play in back-to-back games for the first time this season … Conacher matched his career best by recording a point in six-straight games, while Schmelzer extended his personal-best streak, also to six … Conacher is now the only player in the country with five three-point games this season … The seven power-play attempts are a season high for the Griffs, while RIT’s eight extra-man chances are also the most by a Canisius opponent his season.
