By Warren Kozireski–
Former Canisius College defenseman Jimmy Mazza completed his collegiate career last weekend and signed a professional contract with the Reading Royals of the East Coast Hockey League on Wednesday.
Mazza appeared in 141 games during his four-year career with the Golden Griffins, recording 18 goals and 50 assists for 68 points. He ended his career as the program’s fourth-highest scoring defensemen in its Division I history and third in among Division I blueliners in career assists.
The 6’2, 195lb. led all Canisius defenseman and ranked fourth on the squad in scoring this season with 24 points on six goals and 18 assists and wrapped up his career on a high note, notching three goals and an assist in the Griffs Atlantic Hockey Association Tournament first round series loss to Niagara.
“We had our senior speeches about three weeks ago and since then myself and the other seniors have just been having fun and enjoying the moment,” Mazza said prior to his final game.
“This season we faced a lot of adversity, but…we played for each other, we played for the Griffs and all the alumni.”
Mazza played his youth hockey with the Long Island Royals and junior with the PIL Jr. Islanders and NY Bobcats along with one year in the USHL with Youngstown. And some high school hockey with St. Anthony’s, who defeated St. Francis in Buffalo in Mazza’s senior season in the state championship.
“We have memories from that class of 2012. We were the first downstate school to win.”
As for a favorite memory from his four Division I years in Canisius, Mazza said, “It was really special winning the regular season championship with a 17-game undefeated streak in my sophomore year.”
(Canisius College photo)
