Canisius (3-7-0, 2-3-0 AHA) vs. Connecticut (4-4-1, 3-1-0 AHA)
Dates: Friday, November 29 / Saturday, November 30
Times: 4:05 p.m. / 4:05 p.m.
Location: Buffalo, N.Y. | Buffalo State Sports Arena
TV/Webcast: America One Network
Live Audio: GoGriffs.com
DI Series History: Canisius leads, 24-17-6
Canisius welcomes Connecticut to Buffalo for the holiday weekend for a pair of Atlantic Hockey contests. The schools are set to meet at the Buffalo State Sports Arena on Friday and Saturday at 4:05 p.m.
Following Friday’s contest, Canisius will host its annual Anderson’s Ice Cream Family Skate. Fans will have the opportunity to skate with the Griffs after the game (including free skate rental), while enjoying free Anderson’s ice cream.
SCOUTING THE GRIFFS
• Canisius is coming off a 5-2 home victory against RIT on Nov. 19 and is 2-3-0 in Atlantic Hockey play this season (3-7-0 overall).
• Senior Ben Danford leads the Griffs in scoring, posting nine points on two goals and seven assists. Senior Kyle Gibbons ranks first on the team with five goals, including three power-play tallies.
• Senior Tony Capobianco (3.87 gaa, .896 save pct.) and junior Keegan Asmundson (2.50, .931) have split time in goal this year.
DANFORD RANKS AMONG THE NATION’S BEST
• Senior defender Ben Danford is saving his best for his final season.
• Danford leads the Griffs with nine points this year (2g, 7a).
• He currently ranks third in Atlantic Hockey and 11th nationally among defensemen with 0.90 points per game.
GIBBONS REACHES ONE MILESTONE, EYES ANOTHER
• Senior Kyle Gibbons led Canisius to a 5-2 victory over RIT in its most recent game and in the process, recorded his 100th career point.
• Gibbons led the Griffs with three points and two goals against the Tigers to become the eighth player in the program’s Division I history to reach the 100-point mark and the 28th Griff overall.
• Up next for Gibbons is the 50-goal mark. He is just three tallies shy of becoming the third player in the program’s Division I history to reach the total and the 17th player overall.
HOME COOKING
• The Griffs are looking to continue their strong start to the 2013-14 campaign at home this weekend.
• Canisius has won its first two home games of the season for just the third time in the program’s 15-year Division I history.
• It marks the first time the Griffs accomplished the feat since the 2007-08 campaign when the team won its first three home games and started the year 4-0-1 in Buffalo.
CANISIUS – CONNECTICUT SERIES HISTORY
• In a series that dates back to the 1984-85 season, Canisius holds a 26-21-6 advantage against the Huskies, including a 24-17-6 edge in Division I meetings.
• Canisius swept a pair of games last season in Connecticut, ending a six-game winless streak in the series. The Griffs earned 3-0 and 3-1 victories in Storrs.
• Goalkeeper Tony Capobianco led the Griffs to the two wins against the Huskies last season, stopping 81-of-82 shots (.988 save percentage) in the sweep.
ABOUT THE HUSKIES
• Connecticut enters the weekend with a 4-4-1 record and 3-1-0 mark in Atlantic Hockey play.
• The Huskies earned an 8-1 victory in their most recent contest against AIC on Saturday.
• Senior Jordan Sims (2g, 5a) and junior Trevor Gerling (3g, 4a) lead Connecticut with seven points each. Senior Billy Latta has scored a team-best four goals.
• Senior Matt Grogan has started 8-of-9 games in net, posting a 3-4-1 record to go along with a 2.74 goals against average and .919 save percentage.
