Canisius (1-4-0, 0-2-0 AHA) at Robert Morris (0-5-1, 0-0-1 AHA)
Date: Friday, November 8
Time: 7:05 p.m.
Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. | 84 Lumber Arena
TV/Webcast: America One Network
Live Audio: GoGriffs.com
DI Series History: Robert Morris, 8-5-1
Canisius vs. Mercyhurst (2-5-1, 1-0-0 AHA)
Date: Saturday, November 9
Time: 7:05 p.m.
Location: Buffalo, N.Y. | Buffalo State Sports Arena
TV/Webcast: America One Network
Live Audio: GoGriffs.com
DI Series History: Mercyhurst leads, 26-19-8
The Canisius College hockey team returns to Atlantic Hockey play this weekend, playing at Robert Morris on Friday (7:05 p.m.) before hosting Mercyhurst on Saturday in its home opener. The Griffs, who are set to unveil their championship banner on Saturday, welcome the Lakers to the Buffalo State Sports Arena for a 7:05 p.m. puck drop.
SCOUTING THE GRIFFS
• Canisius is 1-4-0 on the season after losing a pair of games at No. 6 Miami last weekend. The Griffs are also 0-2-0 in Atlantic Hockey play.
• Senior defender Ben Danford leads the Griffs with seven points this season (on 12 Canisius goals), while senior Kyle Gibbons leads the team with three tallies.
• Senior Tony Capobianco (4.38 gaa, .893 save pct.) and junior Keegan Asmundson (2.00, .948) have split time in goal this year.
GIBBONS CHASES 100
• Senior Kyle Gibbons enters the weekend on the cusp of a milestone.
• Gibbons has totaled 97 points during his career (45g, 52a) and is just three points shy of reaching the century mark.
• The senior will become the eighth player in the program’s Division I history and the 28th Griff overall to reach the 100-point plateau.
A NATIONAL LEADER IN DANFORD
• Senior defender Ben Danford is saving his best for his final season.
• Danford leads the Griffs with seven points this year. He currently ranks first nationally among defensemen with 1.40 points per game.
• The senior has scored one goal to go along with six assists. He also places fifth nationally among all players with 1.20 assists per game.
• Overall, Danford has registered a point on 58.3 percent of the team’s goals this season (7-of-12).
ROAD WARRIORS
• The Griffs have had to wait to play in front of a home crowd this year.
• Canisius plays its first six games on the road with its first game in Buffalo set forSaturday.
• The Griffs have the latest home opener in the country.
• The good news for Canisius is what is waiting for them in its home opener. The Griffs will raise their first Atlantic Hockey Championship and NCAA Tournament banners on Nov. 9.
CANISIUS – ROBERT MORRIS SERIES HISTORY
• In 14 all-time meetings between the two schools, Robert Morris holds an 8-5-1 edge.
• The Colonials won all three games last season against Canisius and have won six of the last seven meetings overall.
• Canisius is 2-4-0 all-time at Robert Morris, having lost each of its last four trips.
ABOUT THE COLONIALS
• Robert Morris is still in search of its first win of the season, entering the weekend with a 0-5-1 record, including a tie in its only Atlantic Hockey game of the season.
• Cody Wydo leads the Colonials with eight points and seven goals this season, including a four-goal performance last weekend against Penn State, earning him AHA Player of the Week honors.
• Scott Jacklin and Zac Lynch rank second on the team with six points, while both ranking first with five assists.
• Terry Shafer has started five of six games in goal, posting a 4.36 goals against average and .886 save percentage.
CANISIUS – MERCYHURST SERIES HISTORY
• Two long-time rivals, the Griffs have played the Lakers more than any other school in the program’s history. In 74 all-time meetings, Mercyhurst holds a 39-26-9 advantage against Canisius, including 26-19-8 edge in Division I meetings.
• The Griffs won perhaps the biggest meeting between the two rivals last season, earning a 7-2 victory in the Atlantic Hockey Championship in Rochester. Kyle Gibbons led the Griffs with a career-best four points (2g, 2a) in the win to earn MVP honors.
• The home team has won the last five meetings, including each of the three regular-season contests last year.
ABOUT THE LAKERS
• Mercyhurst, who also hosts RIT on Friday, enters the weekend with a 2-5-1 record. The Lakers won their conference opener this past Saturday, earning a dominant 8-2 victory over Air Force.
• Matthew Zay leads the Lakers with 10 points on four goals and six assists. Daniel O’Donoghue ranks second on Mercyhurst with eight points, including a team-best five goals.
• Jimmy Sarjeant has started five games in goal, posting a 2-2-1 record with a 2.80 goals against average and .861 save percentage.
