A four-goal spurt in the second period help visiting Findlay jump to an early lead on the way to an 8-1 victory over Canisius in non-conference action Saturday afternoon at the Buffalo State Sports Arena. The Griffs fall to 0-4 on the season and open the MAAC Hockey League season next weekend, while Findlay improves to 2-0 on the year.
The Griffs kept the game close with a solid opening period, allowing only a power-play goal by Findlay’s Andrew Radzak. Findlay used the speed and a few defensive miscues by the Griffs to score four times in the second period and open a 5-0 advantage over the Blue and Gold.
Rigel Shaw got things going for the Oilers with a power-play goal from the right faceoff circle at 6:33, followed by two quick goals just over five minutes later. Kris Wiebe scored his third of the season at the 11:27 mark and Jeff Radzak added his first of the season just under two minutes later to chase Canisius starting goalie Bryan Worosz to the bench in favor of backup netminder Eric Kieffer.
Findlay started the third period as they left of the second, with a quick goal just 32 seconds into the period. Jason Maxwell took a lead pass from Nick Udovicic and beat Kieffer for a 6-0 lead. Lee Arnold added another goal at the 10:28 mark and Andrew Radzak scored his second of the evening with 7:59 remaining in the period. That goal chased Kieffer to the bench in favor of the Griffs’ third goalie of the night, Jeremy Redquest.
Canisius broke up the shutout effort by Findlay’s Jamie VandeSpyker with 3:56 left in the game, as freshman defenseman Tim Songin scored the first goal of his collegiate career.
VandeSpyker posted 21 saves and was named the game’s first star. Worosz took the loss for Canisius, recording 14 saves. Kieffer added four saves and Redquest, two.
Canisius returns to action next weekend, opening the MAAC season with a home contest against Quinnipiac, Friday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m.
