The Canisius College hockey team signed five players to National Letters of Intent during the early singing period, announced by head coach Dave Smith on Thursday.
Forwards Josh Gabriel (Lancaster, N.Y.), Daniel LaFontaine (Lloyd Harbor, N.Y.) andMatt McLeod (Mississauga, Ontario) and defenders Cameron Heath (Troy, Mich.) andJimmy Mazza (Kings Park, N.Y.) are all set to join the Golden Griffin program, beginning in the 2015-16 season.
“We are excited to add these players to our program,” Smith said. “Each of them has the values and characteristics that we believe will allow them to be successful as people and hockey players with Canisius College and within the environment of our program. Our entire staff looks forward to seeing them in Canisius Blue and Gold next season.”
Gabriel is in his second season with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres of the OJHL. The Lancaster, N.Y. native has totaled 15 points on seven goals and eight assists in 18 games this season and has recorded 49 points, 21 goals and 28 assists in 55 career games with the Jr. Sabres.
LaFontaine, son of NHL Hall of Famer Pat, has played in 19 games with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres of the OJHL this season, totaling 10 points, two goals and eight assists. In 40 career regular-season and playoff games with the team, LaFontaine has collected 27 points, seven goals and 20 assists. The Lloyd Harbor, N.Y. native also played for the Long Island Royals from 2010 to 2013, leading the team to a national championship in 2012 as its leading scorer.
McLeod is in his second season playing in the OJHL, recording 44 points, 14 goals and 30 assists in 94 career games. In 36 contests this season with the Oakville Blades, the 18-year old Mississauga native has posted nine points, three goals and six assists.
A member of the Jersey Hitmen of the USPHL, Heath has totaled 24 points on three goals and 21 assists in 30 games this season. He was a member of the P.A.L. Junior Islanders during the 2013-14 campaign, earning first-team USPHL All-Star honors and ranking second in the league among defensemen with 40 points (16g, 24a). Heath also collected first-team all-state accolades at Cranbook High School.
A team captain during the 2014-15 season, Mazza currently leads the P.A.L. Junior Islanders in scoring this season with 31 points, 10 goals and 21 assists in 34 games from the blue line. He played in the 2014 USPHL All-Star Game and is a two-time participant at the NY Islanders Development Camp.
The Griffs finished the first half of the 2014-15 season with a 6-6-5 record and a 5-4-4 mark in Atlantic Hockey play. The team returns to action on Jan. 2, beginning a two-game series at Maine.
