# 2024–25 Canisius Golden Griffins men's ice hockey season

The 2024–25 Canisius Golden Griffins men's ice hockey season was the 45th season of play for the program, the 27th at the Division I level, and the 1st in Atlantic Hockey America. The Golden Griffins represented Canisius College, played their home games at the LECOM Harborcenter and were coached by Trevor Large in his 8th season.

## Season

As did most other teams in Atlantic Hockey America, Canisius had a poor start to their season. The Golden Griffins ended up losing all eight of their non-conference games, leaving the team with only one real path to the NCAA tournament; winning the conference championship. Despite a bad stretch in December, Canisius played much better against their contemporaries and were in the top half of the standings to end the first half of their schedule.
When the season started back up after Christmas, the club continued rack up wins in conference play and were sitting in a good position at the end of January. All of that changed at the beginning February when the team lost six consecutive games (three in overtime) and tumbled down the standings. During the skid, the defense collapsed and allowed 39 shots per game. Petter Wickström Stumer did well to stop as many shots as he did but the results were not forthcoming. The team managed to find enough offense to win two of its final three games and earn a 6th-place finish but the Griffs were forced to begin their postseason run in the first round of the AHA tournament.
Ben Bonisteel, who had played in just one game since December, got the starting job against Mercyhurst but it likely wouldn't have mattered who was in goal. The Lakers were the lowest-ranked team in the nation and could only muster 16 shots on goal for the entire match, less than half of what Chanisius was able to produce. Though the offense only found the back of the net twice, it was more than enough to send the Golden Griffins into the quarterfinals. The following week, Canisius was completely held in check by Bentley's netminder and the team was unable to score in either of their two games. Bonisteel game the club a chance to win in the second game by stopping all but one of the shots he faced but the Griffs' inability to score sealed their fate.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Powell Connor | Defenseman | Canada | Graduation (signed with Reading Royals) |
| Brenden Datema | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (signed with Atlanta Gladiators) |
| David Fessenden | Goaltender | United States | Graduation (signed with Adirondack Thunder) |
| Randy Hernández | Forward | United States | Graduation (signed with Fort Wayne Komets) |
| Alexander Houston | Goaltender | United States | Left program (retired) |
| Max Kouznetsov | Forward | United States | Graduation (signed with Reading Royals) |
| Hudson Lambert | Defenseman | Canada | Graduation (signed with Fayetteville Marksmen) |
| Griffin Loughran | Forward | United States | Graduation (signed with Savannah Ghost Pirates) |
| Jack Lyons | Defenseman | Canada | Graduation (retired) |
| David Melaragni | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Erik Urbank | Forward | United States | Graduation (signed with Pensacola Ice Flyers) |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Ben Bonisteel | Goaltender | Canada | 21 | Fenwick, ON |
| Alec Cicero | Forward | United States | 23 | Williamsville, NY; graduate transfer from Holy Cross |
| Mikey Colella | Forward | United States | 25 | Turnersville, NJ; graduate transfer from Northern Michigan |
| Ryan Gillespie | Forward | Canada | 21 | Toronto, ON |
| Cole Kodsi | Forward | United States | 24 | Boca Raton, FL; graduate transfer from Union |
| Luke Marshall | Defenseman | Canada | 20 | Saskatoon, SK |
| Carter Patterson | Defenseman | Canada | 20 | Burlington, ON |
| Dominic Payne | Defenseman | Canada | 19 | North Vancouver, BC |
| Hunter Price | Defenseman | Canada | 20 | Calgary, AB |
| Kash Rasmussen | Forward | Canada | 23 | Cochrane, AB; transfer from Michigan Tech |
| Petter Wickström Stumer | Goaltender | Sweden | 20 | Stockholm, SWE |

## Roster

As of August 7, 2024.

## Standings

2024–25 Atlantic Hockey America Standingsvte :
| | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record |
| | GP | W | L | T | OW | OL | SW | PTS | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| #19 Holy Cross † | 26 | 19 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 56 | 92 | 47 | 37 | 22 | 13 | 2 | 119 | 85 |
| Sacred Heart | 26 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 53 | 80 | 64 | 37 | 21 | 11 | 5 | 116 | 93 |
| Bentley | 26 | 16 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 51 | 79 | 57 | 36 | 20 | 14 | 2 | 100 | 75 |
| Niagara | 26 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 48 | 90 | 70 | 37 | 18 | 16 | 3 | 124 | 109 |
| Army | 26 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 44 | 84 | 74 | 36 | 16 | 18 | 2 | 102 | 109 |
| Canisius | 26 | 11 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 38 | 84 | 79 | 37 | 12 | 23 | 2 | 98 | 120 |
| Air Force | 26 | 11 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 37 | 59 | 58 | 40 | 16 | 21 | 3 | 86 | 112 |
| American International | 26 | 9 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 31 | 63 | 77 | 38 | 13 | 23 | 2 | 92 | 117 |
| RIT | 26 | 9 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 28 | 65 | 102 | 35 | 10 | 23 | 2 | 82 | 133 |
| Robert Morris | 26 | 7 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 72 | 86 | 35 | 10 | 20 | 5 | 95 | 115 |
| Mercyhurst | 26 | 4 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 59 | 113 | 35 | 4 | 27 | 4 | 77 | 150 |
| Championship: March 22, 2025 † indicates conference regular season champion (DeGregorio Trophy) * indicates conference tournament champion (Riley Trophy) Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll Updated: March 10, 2025 |||||||||||||||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Site | TV | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Regular Season ||||||||||
| October 5 | 7:00 pm | at Clarkson* | Cheel Arena • Potsdam, New York | ESPN+ | Robertson | L 1–2 | 3,030 | 0–1–0 |
| October 6 | 4:00 pm | at St. Lawrence* | Appleton Arena • Canton, New York | ESPN+ | Robertson | L 2–5 | 1,079 | 0–2–0 |
| October 11 | 7:00 pm | Rensselaer* | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | FloHockey | Robertson | L 3–6 | 901 | 0–3–0 |
| October 12 | 5:00 pm | Rensselaer* | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | FloHockey | Bonisteel | L 3–8 | 538 | 0–4–0 |
| October 22 | 6:00 pm | Mercyhurst | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | FloHockey | Robertson | W 6–3 | 489 | 1–4–0 (1–0–0) |
| October 25 | 7:00 pm | #4 Michigan State* | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | FloHockey | Robertson | L 0–3 | 1,729 | 1–5–0 |
| October 26 | 7:00 pm | #4 Michigan State* | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | FloHockey | Wickström Stumer | L 1–4 | 1,604 | 1–6–0 |
| November 1 | 6:00 pm | Army | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | FloHockey | Robertson | W 4–0 | 485 | 2–6–0 (2–0–0) |
| November 2 | 6:00 pm | Army | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | FloHockey | Robertson | W 6–1 | 1,029 | 3–6–0 (3–0–0) |
| November 8 | 9:05 pm | at Air Force | Cadet Ice Arena • USAF Academy, Colorado | FloHockey, Altitude 2 | Robertson | L 0–2 | 635 | 3–7–0 (3–1–0) |
| November 9 | 3:05 pm | at Air Force | Cadet Ice Arena • USAF Academy, Colorado | FloHockey, Altitude | Bonisteel | L 1–2 | 1,387 | 3–8–0 (3–2–0) |
| November 22 | 7:00 pm | at Mercyhurst | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Robertson | W 3–2 | 1,257 | 4–8–0 (4–2–0) |
| November 23 | 5:00 pm | at Mercyhurst | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Wickström Stumer | T 3–3 $^{SOL}$ | 1,237 | 4–8–1 (4–2–1) |
| December 3 | 7:05 pm | at RIT | Gene Polisseni Center • Henrietta, New York | FloHockey | Bonisteel | W 6–4 | 1,923 | 5–8–1 (5–2–1) |
| December 6 | 7:00 pm | Sacred Heart | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | FloHockey | Bonisteel | L 2–4 | 776 | 5–9–1 (5–3–1) |
| December 7 | 6:00 pm | Sacred Heart | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | FloHockey | Wickström Stumer | T 3–3 $^{SOL}$ | 752 | 5–9–2 (5–3–2) |
| December 14 | 1:00 pm | Robert Morris | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | FloHockey | Wickström Stumer | L 2–5 | 992 | 5–10–2 (5–4–2) |
| December 15 | 4:00 pm | Robert Morris | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | FloHockey | Bonisteel | L 1–3 | 528 | 5–11–2 (5–5–2) |
| January 10 | 7:00 pm | RIT | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | FloHockey | Robertson | W 5–2 | 855 | 6–11–2 (6–5–2) |
| January 11 | 7:00 pm | RIT | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | FloHockey | Robertson | W 5–2 | 1,064 | 7–11–2 (7–5–2) |
| January 17 | 7:00 pm | at Penn State* | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | | Robertson | L 0–4 | 6,310 | 7–12–2 |
| January 18 | 5:00 pm | at Penn State* | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | | Wickström Stumer | L 2–3 | 6,573 | 7–13–2 |
| January 24 | 1:00 pm | at American International | MassMutual Center • Springfield, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Robertson | W 4–2 | 108 | 8–13–2 (8–5–2) |
| January 25 | 5:00 pm | at American International | MassMutual Center • Springfield, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Robertson | L 2–3 | 287 | 8–14–2 (8–6–2) |
| January 28 | 7:00 pm | at Robert Morris | Clearview Arena • Neville Township, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Wickström Stumer | W 4–2 | 532 | 9–14–2 (9–6–2) |
| February 1 | 7:00 pm | at Holy Cross | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Wickström Stumer | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 1,372 | 9–15–2 (9–7–2) |
| February 2 | 3:00 pm | at Holy Cross | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | FloHockey, NESN | Wickström Stumer | L 1–4 | 953 | 9–16–2 (9–8–2) |
| February 7 | 7:00 pm | Air Force | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | FloHockey | Wickström Stumer | L 3–5 | 683 | 9–17–2 (9–9–2) |
| February 8 | 4:00 pm | Air Force | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | FloHockey | Wickström Stumer | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 972 | 9–18–2 (9–10–2) |
| February 11 | 7:00 pm | at Niagara | Dwyer Arena • Lewiston, New York (Rivalry) | FloHockey | Wickström Stumer | L 2–6 | 889 | 9–19–2 (9–11–2) |
| February 14 | 7:00 pm | at Bentley | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Wickström Stumer | L 3–4 $^{OT}$ | 1,145 | 9–20–2 (9–12–2) |
| February 15 | 4:00 pm | at Bentley | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Wickström Stumer | W 5–3 | 1,407 | 10–20–2 (10–12–2) |
| February 21 | 7:00 pm | Niagara | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York (Rivalry) | FloHockey | Wickström Stumer | L 3–6 | 1,492 | 10–21–2 (10–13–2) |
| February 22 | 7:00 pm | at Niagara | Dwyer Arena • Lewiston, New York (Rivalry) | FloHockey | Bonisteel | W 6–2 | 1,649 | 11–21–2 (11–13–2) |
| Atlantic Hockey America Tournament ||||||||||
| March 1 | 5:00 pm | Mercyhurst* | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York (AHA First Round) | FloHockey | Bonisteel | W 2–0 | 293 | 12–21–2 |
| March 7 | 7:00 pm | at Bentley* | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts (AHA Quarterfinal Game 1) | FloHockey | Bonisteel | L 0–4 | 1,389 | 12–22–2 |
| March 8 | 7:00 pm | at Bentley* | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts (AHA Quarterfinal Game 2) | FloHockey | Bonisteel | L 0–2 | 1,204 | 12–23–2 |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. Source: ||||||||||

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| Matteo Giampa | RW | 37 | 8 | 22 | 30 | 10 |
| Kyle Haskins | F | 37 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 24 |
| Alec Cicero | F | 34 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 33 |
| Trey Funk | F | 37 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 23 |
| Grant Porter | F | 33 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 12 |
| Oliver Tarr | RW | 30 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 8 |
| Alton McDermott | RW | 33 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 6 |
| Dominic Payne | D | 37 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 14 |
| Jackson Decker | D | 34 | 1 | 12 | 13 | 16 |
| Cole Kodsi | LW | 31 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 8 |
| Michael Colella | F | 37 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 6 |
| Jack Budd | D | 28 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Matthew Vermaeten | F | 35 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
| Kash Rasmussen | F | 14 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 6 |
| Robert Kincaid | F | 24 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| Killian Kiecker-Olson | C | 22 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Luke Farthing | D | 15 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 10 |
| Carter Patterson | D | 28 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 31 |
| Stefano Bottini | LW/RW | 33 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 23 |
| Hunter Andrew | F | 16 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| Jackson Nieuwendyk | F | 22 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Cody Schiavon | D | 34 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 24 |
| Luke Marshall | D | 23 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Cooper Haar | LW | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Ethan Robertson | G | 20 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Ryan Gillespie | RW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Christian MacDougall | F | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Keegan Langefels | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ben Bonisteel | G | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Petter Wickström Stumer | G | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hunter Price | F | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Total | | | 98 | 150 | 248 | 331 |

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut Outs | SV % | GAA |
| Ethan Robertson | 20 | 899:37 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 37 | 387 | 1 | .913 | 2.47 |
| Ben Bonisteel | 12 | 522:33 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 27 | 226 | 1 | .893 | 3.10 |
| Petter Wickström Stumer | 15 | 783:01 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 46 | 431 | 0 | .904 | 3.52 |
| Empty Net | - | 31:45 | - | - | - | 10 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 37 | 2236:56 | 12 | 23 | 2 | 120 | 1044 | 2 | .897 | 3.22 |

## Rankings

| Poll | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 (Final) |
| USCHO.com | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | – | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | | |
| USA Hockey | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | – | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | | |
Note: Neither USCHO nor USA Hockey released a poll in week 12.