YourHub's College Hockey Weekly

A look at your college hockey programs in Western New York: Canisius, Niagara and BuffaloState College.

Division I

USCHO.com men's poll: 1.) Miami; 2.) Michigan; 3.) Denver; 4.) Colorado College; 5.) Michigan State; 17.) Niagara

USCHO.com women's poll: 1.)New Hampshire; 2.) Harvard; 3.) Minnesota-Duluth; 4.)Wisconsin; 5.) St. Lawrence

Canisius men's ice hockey
( 2-9-2, 2-5-1 Atlantic Hockey)

GoGriffs.com reports: " The CanisiusCollege hockey team lost to the nation's top-ranked team Miami, 11-1 in front of 2,502 fans.

"Miami showed us that a great team will play hard and disciplined in all situations," said Canisius head coach Dave Smith. "That is a tough lesson and hopefully it will benefit us in the future and is something that we can take out of this weekend."

"Freshman Eric Rex (pictured) recorded his first collegiate goal in the game. In the second period, Rex found the puck near the goal and knocked it in for the score. Classmate Scott Jenks posted an assist on the goal.

"Sophomore Andrew Loewen and freshman Taylor Anderson split time in goal for the Griffs (2-9-2). Loewen stopped nine shots, while Anderson recorded 21 saves in his first collegiate appearance.

"The nation's top team struck 13:51 into the game and never looked back. The RedHawks (13-1-0) added three more goals in the first period en route to the victory. Miami converted on 5-of-8 power plays, while the Griffs went scoreless on their three extra-man advantages.

"The Griffs return to Atlantic Hockey play next weekend with a home-and-home series against Mercyhurst. Canisius hosts the Lakers on Friday at 7:05 p.m. and then plays in Erie, Pa. on Saturday at 7:05 p.m.

"The Griffs played a No. 1 team for the fifth time in school history ... It is the second-consecutive season that a Griffs' goalie made his collegiate debut at Miami. Last year, Loewen recorded a school-record 61 saves in his first game ... Rex, who also recorded his first collegiate point, is the third Canisius freshman to score a goal this season and the sixth rookie to register a point ... The Griffs allowed 10 goals in a game for the first time since Oct. 23, 1998.

Niagara men's ice hockey
( 8-3-0, 2-2-0 CHA)

From PurpleEagles.com: "Holding the nation's longest activehome-unbeaten streak of22 games, andsweeping the Pioneers of Sacred Heart,the Niagara University men's hockey team (8-3-0)is creating some noise around the country in the three major college hockey polls. USCHO.com/CSTV, USA Today and the NCAA Tournament Pairwise Comparison Ratings all continue to take interest in the boys of Monteagle Ridge now for the fifth straight week.

"USCHO.com/CSTV has Niagara sitting in the No.17 spot, while the NCAA Tournament Pairwise Comparison Ratings has the Purps tied at No. 14 with Massachusetts, and the USA Today poll has Niagara just nearly breaking into the top 15 receiving 27 votes.

"Last season, the Purple Eagles were mainstays in the polls, spending six weeks in the USCHO.com/CSTV poll and one week in the USA Today rankings, while garnering votes in all but one week of play from USCHO.com. The rankings mark the third season in the program's history that Niagara has been ranked nationally.

"The Purple Eagles will host CHA rival BemidjiState at Dwyer Arena on Nov.30 - Dec.1. Splitting the two game road series with the Beavers earlier in the season, Niagara will look to continue the PurplePalace streak, and once again advance in the national polls."

Niagara women's ice hockey
(7-4-2)

PurpleEagles.com notes: "Niagara kept up with the best team in the country for a period and a half, but New Hampshire pulled away to finish the weekend sweep with an 11-1 win on Sunday afternoon.

"Niagara fought tooth and nail with the Wildcats for the entire game, doing whatever they could to gain momentum.

"Today the character and work ethic of the players came out as they fought hard to the end, as evidenced by our even strength goal," said head coach Margot Page. "We simply never gave up."

"For the second game in a row, both teams came out strong offensively. New Hampshire struck first, as Kelly Paton scored on the man advantage to put Niagara in a 1-0 hole eight minutes into the first period. Junior goaltender Nikki Rudy ( Port McNeill, B.C.) played strong in net, stopping 14 of 15 Wildcat shots during the first period.

"The Wildcats expanded their lead to 3-0 in the second frame via two quick goals in a 37 second span starting at the 6:19 mark. Kelly Paton scored her second goal of the day to make it 4-0, which prompted coach Page to send sophomore Jill Zelonis (Ashburn, Va.) into the game. The Wildcats finished the second frame by adding three more goals to take a commanding 7-0 lead into the final frame.

"The Wildcats didn't let up in the third period, as Jenn Wakefield buried an opportunity just four minutes in to increase their lead to 8-0. New Hampshire continued their offensive onslaught with three more goals, to top out at 11 for the day. Niagara broke the shutout in the final minute of play as Autumn Stuntz (Amery, Wis.) beat Kayley Herman for her second goal of the season.

"Starting netminder Rudy made 15 saves and Zelonis made 14 saves in the losing effort.

"Niagara returns home to host College Hockey of America foe Mercyhurst on Saturday and Sunday afternoon."

Division III
USCHO.com men's poll: 1.) Wisconsin-RiverFalls; 2.) Hobart; 3.) Plattsburgh; 4.)Elmira; 5.) St. Norbert

USCHO.com women's poll: 1.) Plattsburgh; 2.) Middlebury; 3.) Wisconsin-Stevens Point; 4.) RIT; 5.) Elmira

Buffalo State men's ice hockey
( 2-6-2, 1-2-2 SUNYAC)

Buffalostate.edu reports: " The Bengals will return to action at defending national champion Oswego on Nov. 30 at 7 p.m."

BuffaloState women's ice hockey
( 2-2-1, 1-2-1 ECAC West)

Buffalostate.edunotes: "Meghan Herald (Tonawanda/ Kenmore East) had a goal and an assist as BuffaloState (2-2-1/1-2-1) tied host Neumann, 3-3, in the second ECAC West showdown in as many days between the two teams today at the Ice Works Arena.

"Abbey Hubble (Herndon, VA/Herndon) opened the scoring in the first period for BuffaloState with her first collegiate goal. After Neumann took the lead with a pair of goals in the second period, the Bengals pulled back in front with third-period goals by Herald and Mariah Fairgrieve (Ft. Erie, ON/Lakeshore Catholic). Neumann tied the game at 3-3 minutes later, however, to compete the scoring.

"Neumann outshot the Bengals, 34-29. Shannon Anesetti (Canonsburg, PA/Canon-McMillan) made 31 saves for BuffaloState.

"BuffaloState will next host Cortland for a two-game set starting on Dec. 1."