Canisius junior forward Cory Conacher was named player of the year in Atlantic Hockey at the league’s annual awards banquet Thursday. The Burlington, Ontario, native led the league with 44 points, the second-highest regular season point total in AHA history. Overall, Conacher has 53 points to date (20 goals, 33 assists). Joining Conacher on the … Read more
Forward Cory Conacher might have accounting in his future, but right now, he’s accounting for a lot of Canisius’ goals.
Former Canisius hockey coach Brian Cavanaugh once said that the Jesuit way is to gradually but continually improve. Current Golden Griffins coach Dave Smith has his team along that path. For a few years, his better players have been his younger ones, and as those classes have matured, the wins have started to come — … Read more
Three-time defending champion Air Force has been picked to again repeat as champions in the Atlantic Hockey coaches poll, announced Tuesday at the league’s media day, held at Blue Cross Arena, site of the 2010 league championships. Mercyhurst, which lost to Air Force in the AHA finals last season, is picked to finish second. RIT, … Read more
Canisius coach Dave Smith has received a contract extension that will keep him with the school through the 2012-13 season. Smith, entering his fifth season leading the Golden Griffins, had his best season last year. Canisius earned its first victories against a nationally ranked team, a CCHA team and an ECAC team en route to … Read more
Sources within Atlantic Hockey have confirmed to USCHO.com that Niagara and Robert Morris will join the league as full members beginning with the 2010-2011 season. The schools will be affiliate members of Atlantic Hockey next season, using league officiating crews. An official announcement from the league detailing the decision will be released within the next … Read more
Canisius’s Dave Kostuch has turned heads in the opening salvos of his college career, surprising few around the rookie forward. Jennifer Miller reports.
The steadily-improving Golden Griffins are probably a year away from challenging for an Atlantic Hockey title, but things are certainly moving in the right direction. “This is the most talented team I’ve had,” said coach Dave Smith. “We’ve had two really good recruiting classes and I think we have a third. Every class has come … Read more
Atlantic Hockey on Wednesday assessed additional penalties and suspensions to four players from each team after a brawl between Canisius and RIT on Saturday, February 9. The penalties include regular-season suspensions for RIT’s Ricky Walton and Canisius’ Carl Hudson. Atlantic Hockey commissioner Bob DeGregorio and Gene Binda, supervisor of officials, have reviewed the tapes from … Read more
The bad news for the Golden Griffins last season was that they won only nine games and lost in the play-in game in the Atlantic Hockey playoffs. The good news is that the freshman-dominated lineup played a lot of minutes, which will only make them better coming into this season. Coach Dave Smith is continuing … Read more
There are a lot of fresh faces in the lineup for Canisius, but the Griffs will not be as green as one might think. “We’ll be young, but not as bad as if you just see the new names in the media guide,” said Griffs coach Dave Smith, entering his second season behind the Canisius … Read more
Atlantic Hockey will host its league championship at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester for the next three seasons, and may look to extend the relationship beyond that. Commissioner Bob DeGregorio says the move to an off-campus site for the Atlantic Hockey tournament will help the league raise its level of play. (photo: Ed Trefzger) … Read more
Canisius announced Friday that sophomore forward Mike Ruberto, sophomore defensemen Matt Ruberto and Craig Nooyen and freshman goalie Ryan Hatch have been dismissed from the hockey team for violations of that college’s athletics department policies. “The Department of Athletics has a clear set of expectations for all of our student-athletes,” said Canisius director of athletics … Read more
If there’s any theme to the 2005-06 hockey campaign for Canisius, it would be new beginnings. A year ago, despite having wonderful on-ice success, the Griffs took a major black eye when head coach Brian Cavanaugh was fired after a player revolt. With Cavanaugh out, multiple disciplinary problems ensued that led to the resignation of … Read more
Steve Fabiilli has been named head men’s hockey coach at Northland College, succeeding Dan Huntley, who resigned in July. Fabiilli Fabiilli served as co-head coach last season at Canisius after the dismissal of Brian Cavanaugh in December. A former goaltender at Canisius, Fabiilli was named the Griffins’ MVP in 2000, his senior year. “We are … Read more
USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program has announced the schedule for its 2005-06 U.S. National Under-17 Team, and it will include two college hockey teams. For the first time in the nine-year history of the NTDP, the U.S. National Under-17 Team will face two NCAA Division III opponents in games at SUNYAC members Plattsburgh on … Read more
Canisius has found its man, and to many it comes as a bit of a surprise. Dave Smith, who was an associate head coach this past season at Mercyhurst College, leading the Lakers to this year’s NCAA tournament, has been hired by the Griffs it was announced at a news conference Friday. Smith replaces Brian … Read more
Canisius will finish interviewing candidates for its head coaching vacancy next week. With Colorado College’s season finally over, Tigers assistant Joe Bonnett will join a group of five finalists, according to sources. The other names include current RPI assistant and former Iona head coach Frank Bretti; two-time ECAC Coach of the Year Stan Moore, now … Read more
Canisius is moving forward with its plans to find a new head coach, and is not intending to dismantle the program, officials said. “We have no intention of dropping our hockey program,” said Marc Gignac, Canisius’ director of athletic communications. Speculation was fueled that the program could be in danger after Canisius fired 24-year head … Read more
The outgoing Canisius athletic director speaks about the events that led to his resignation and more.