The Canisius College hockey team fell in its regular-season finale at RIT on Saturday night, losing 3-1 in Rochester. The Griffs finish the regular season with a 12-19-3 record and 11-13-3 mark in Atlantic Hockey play, while the Tigers improve to 11-18-5 and 10-14-3 against league foes.
The Griffs earned the seven seed for the Atlantic Hockey Tournament, which begins next week. Canisius will square off with 10th-seeded Sacred Heart in Buffalo for a best 2-of-3 first-round series, starting on Friday.
“Our attention now turns toward the postseason and a strong Sacred Heart team,” said Canisius head coach Dave Smith. “We need to build on the many positives that are there for us and just hit the reset button to get ready for the playoffs.”
Senior captain Ryan Bohrer (West St. Paul, Minn.) scored the lone goal for the Griffs in the defeat.
Junior Keegan Asmundson (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) stopped 31 shots between the pipes.
The Tigers grabbed the early lead in the contest when Adam Mitchell scored with 11:39 remaining in the first. Mitchell finished from the slot off a pass from behind the net for the 1-0 advantage.
The Griffs finally solved the RIT defense midway through the second period, scoring their first goal in four-plus periods during the weekend. Freshman Jack Hidi (Toronto, Ontario) fired a pass to an open Bohrer on the back door the senior redirected the puck into the net for his second tally of the season. Junior defender Logan Roe (Fort Myers, Fla.)also registered an assist on the goal with 8:39 remaining in the second, knotting the contest at one.
RIT would answer back, however, when Thompson scored for the Tigers with 5:12 left in the second. A shot by RIT was deflected in front and went right to Thompson with an open look. He then buried his chance on the open net for the 2-1 RIT lead.
The Tigers extended their lead to two with 13:31 remaining in regulation when Dan Schuler scored on a breakaway for the 3-1 lead. The Griffs were unable to pull any closer in the final 13-plus minutes as RIT finished the regular season with the two-goal victory.
RIT outshot the Griffs, 34-27, on the night. Canisius was 0-for-5 on the power play, while the Tigers went scoreless in two extra-man chances.
Mike Rotolo recorded 26 saves for the Tigers in net.
The Griffs open the first-round series on Friday at the Buffalo State Sports. Canisius and Sacred Heart begin the best-of-three series at 7:05 p.m.
Game Notes: Canisius won the Atlantic Hockey title last season as the seven seed … The Griffs and Pioneers split a two-game series during the 2013-14 regular season … Canisius was swept in an Atlantic Hockey series for the first time this season.
