YourHub's College Hockey Weekly

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

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.) Wisconsin; 3.) St. Lawrence; 4.) Minnesota-Duluth; 5.) Harvard

Canisius men's ice hockey
( 2-7-2, 2-5-1 Atlantic Hockey)

GoGriffs.com reports: " The Canisius College hockey team could not overcome an early three-goal deficit and fell to American International, 4-2, in a Saturday matinee game.

"We were flat," said Canisius head coach Dave Smith. "We didn't play well in the first half. The small differences between being assertive and aggressive cost us two games this weekend."

"Sophomore Josh Heidinger (pictured) led the Griffs with a goal and an assist. Freshman Derek Danowski also added a goal. Senior Bryce Luker and sophomore Andrew Loewen split time in goal. Luker recorded eight saves in the first 23:12 of the game, while Loewen made five saves the remainder of the game.

"The Yellow Jackets (2-5-1, 2-4-1 Atlantic Hockey) started the game strong, scoring two goals in the first period. Mike McMillan sent a crossing pass right in front of the goal and the puck deflected off a Canisius skate and past Luker 8:03 into the contest. AIC added another score at the 12:34 mark when T.J. Smith posted his first collegiate goal on a delayed penalty to give the Yellow Jackets a 2-0 advantage.

"American International added another goal early in the second period. Frankie DeAngelis took the puck after an expired penalty and beat Luker on a one-on-one breakaway 3:12 into the period.

"Danowski got the Griffs (2-7-2, 2-5-1 Atlantic Hockey) on board two minutes later. Senior Kyle Bushee fired a shot from the blue line but the AIC goalie recorded the save. Danowski cleaned up the rebound and knocked the puck in for his second goal of the season. Heidinger also recorded an assist on the score.

"Heidinger brought the Griffs within one with 8:22 remaining in the game, connecting on a power-play opportunity. Heidinger faked out a defender and got him on the ice. He then skated by the defender and connected on his sixth goal of the season. Freshman Vincent Scarsella and senior David Kasch posted an assist on the score.

"The Griffs, however, could not add the equalizer. Their best opportunity came with 3:52 left when Scarsella tipped a pass from Heidinger toward the goal but AIC goalie Dan Ramirez made the save. Ramirez stopped 26 shots to earn the victory. The Yellow Jackets added an empty-net goal to round out the scoring.

"The Griffs take a break from Atlantic Hockey play next weekend, squaring off with No. 1 Miami for a two-game series. The two teams will meet on Friday at 7:35 p.m. and Saturday at 7:05 p.m."

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

From PurpleEagles.com: "The 17 th-ranked Niagara men's hockey team extended its home-unbeaten streak Saturday with a 3-1 victory over Sacred Heart. This wins puts the Purple Eagles tied for fifth all-time for the longest home-unbeaten streak with 22 games, and continues the nations longest active home-unbeaten streak.

"Tied halfway through the third period Niagara realized that it needed to do something to keep its streak alive, and that something came on a power play, with a centering pass from Vince Rocco (Woodbridge, Ont.) to Egor Mironov (Thornhill, Ont.) for a one-timer and the game winning goal.

"Starting off the scoring was Ted Cook (Hogansburg, N.Y.) nearing the end of the first period with a power play goal off a pass from Les Reaney (Ceylon, Sask.) and Chris Moran (Buffalo, N.Y.). This gave Niagara the energy it were looking for to build off its 4-2 win from the previous night.

"Ending the night in a similar fashion as the first game in the series, an empty net goal by Vince Rocco from Matt Caruana (Orono, Ont.) advanced the Purple Eagles to a 3-1 victory over the Pioneers.

"We had another great third period,' said coach Dave Burkholder. " We persevered and made a couple huge plays. I give the credit to our guys for keeping the streak alive."

"Getting the start, and the win was Freshman goaltender Adam Avramenko (Strathmore, Alb.), who sits 2-1-0 on the season, stopped 29 shots, while Sacred Heart goalie Oliver St. Onge made saved 35.

"Niagara now sits tied with Michigan Tech who went unbeaten at home from Nov. 28, 1975 to Oct. 22, 1976 for a total of 22 games.

"Niagara continues its six game home stand back at Dwyer Arena on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 when they host CHA rival Bemidji State to continue College Hockey America play."

Niagara women's ice hockey
( 6-2-2)

PurpleEagles.com notes: "Senior defenseman Shannon Moulson ( Mississauga, Ont.) was named the College Hockey of America Defensive Player of the Week for the week ending November 19. This honor has been named to a Niagara defenseman for the third consecutive week, as Marie Linander Henriksen ( Ballerup, Denmark) has won it the previous two weeks.

"Moulson had a great weekend on the offensive and defensive side of the puck during the weekend sweep of the North Dakota Fighting Sioux. Moulson had one goal and three assists this weekend, with the lone goal coming on the power-play. On the defensive side of the puck, Moulson helped Niagara hold North Dakota to a 2-9 mark (22%) on the power-play.

"In 10 games this year, Moulson has a goal and nine assists. She has played in every single game this season for the Purple Eagles.

"Moulson and the rest of the Purple Eagles will take to the ice this Saturday afternoon when they travel to take on New Hampshire, who is ranked number one in the country."

Division III
USCHO.com men's poll: 1.) Middlebury; 2.) Manhattanville; 3.) Wisconsin-RiverFalls; 4.) Plattsburgh; 5.) Wisconsin-Stout

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

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

Buffalostate.edu reports: "Fredonia overcame a 3-2 deficit after two periods and scored the game-winner with 1:09 remaining to defeat visiting Buffalo State (2-6-2/1-2-2), 4-3, in a SUNYAC game tonight at Steele Hall.

"Jason Hill (Niagara Falls, NY) opened the scoring early in the first period and assisted on Jeff Mok's (Richmond Hill, ON) second-period goal that gave the Bengals a 2-1 lead. After Fredonia netted its second shorthanded goal of the game, the Bengals reclaimed the lead later in the second frame on a goal by Kerry Barchan (Oakville, ON). The Blue Devils scored twice in the third, however, including one on the power play to earn the win.

"Buffalo State outshot Fredonia, 39-33. Travis Moore (Simcoe, ON) made 29 saves between the pipes for Buffalo State.

"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: " Women's hockey player Meghan Herald (Tonawanda/ Kenmore East)was named the Buffalo State Athlete of the Week. The junior photography major led the Bengals to a three point ECAC West weekend with a win and a tie at Neumann. Herald registered her first collegiate points, tallying three goals and an assist. She scored twice in a 4-2 win on Saturday and had a goal and an assist in a 3-3 tie on Sunday."