# 2021–22 Canisius Golden Griffins men's ice hockey season

The 2021–22 Canisius Golden Griffins men's ice hockey season was the 42nd season of play for the program, the 24th at the Division I level, and the 19th season in the Atlantic Hockey conference. The Golden Griffins represented Canisius College and were coached by Trevor Large, in his 5th season.

## Season

Canisius got off to a good start, winning games against three non-conference opponents and tying Clarkson, who finished the season in the top-20. Despite showing promise early, the Golden Griffins played inconsistently once their conference schedule began. While they led the Atlantic Hockey standings early, the team could only complete two weekend sweeps all season.
Canisius received very capable goaltending from Jacob Barczewski but their offense was hit-or-miss. The Golden Griffins were limited to less than 3 goals in 18 games during the season with their leading goal-scorer, Max Kouznetsov, hitting just 12 for the year. In spite of their occasional offensive struggles, Canisius benefitted from Atlantic Hockey being a mediocre conference and finished in second place.
The Golden Griffins opened their postseason run with a home date against Mercyhurst but their offense failed them at the worst time. Canisius fired 63 shots on goal in two games but could only get a single marker in each contest. They lost the series, including a double overtime match in game 1, and would have to wait for another year.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| David Baskerville | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Logan Gestro | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Matt Long | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Grant Meyer | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Kevin Obssuth | Forward | United States | Transferred to Wentworth |
| MacGregor Sinclair | Forward | Canada | Transferred to Wisconsin–Superior |
| John Stampohar | Defenseman | United States | Transferred to Wisconsin–Superior |
| Jami Virtanen | Forward | Finland | Signed professional contract (Ässät) |
| Blake Wareham | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (signed with Danbury Hat Tricks) |
| Tucker Weppner | Goaltender | United States | Graduation (retired) |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Alex Ambrosio | Forward | Canada | 24 | Burnaby, BC; graduate transfer from Lake Superior State |
| Danny DiGrande | Forward | United States | 24 | Macomb, MI; transfer from Rensselaer |
| John Hawthorne | Goaltender | Canada | 19 | Chemainus, BC; transfer from Northern Michigan |
| Randy Hernández | Forward | United States | 22 | Miami, FL; transfer from Robert Morris |
| Alexander Houston | Goaltender | United States | 19 | Canton, OH; joined mid-season |
| Keegan Langefels | Defenseman | United States | 21 | Eden Prairie, MN |
| Joey Matthews | Defenseman | United States | 24 | Columbia, IL; graduate transfer from Dartmouth |
| Alton McDermott | Forward | Canada | 20 | Oakville, ON |
| Cory Thomas | Defenseman | United States | 23 | St. Brieux, SK; graduate transfer from Vermont |
| Matthew Vermaeten | Forward | United States | 20 | Ottawa, ON |
| Jake Witkowski | Forward | United States | 24 | Melrose, MA; graduate transfer from Boston University |

## Roster

As of August 23, 2021.

## Standings

2021–22 Atlantic Hockey 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 |
| #18 American International †* | 26 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 97 | 61 | 38 | 22 | 13 | 3 | 134 | 95 |
| Canisius | 26 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 43 | 76 | 67 | 35 | 16 | 16 | 3 | 99 | 97 |
| Army | 26 | 12 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 42 | 75 | 68 | 35 | 14 | 17 | 4 | 98 | 100 |
| RIT | 26 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 41 | 69 | 82 | 38 | 18 | 16 | 4 | 92 | 115 |
| Sacred Heart | 26 | 11 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 40 | 72 | 70 | 37 | 15 | 18 | 4 | 95 | 100 |
| Air Force | 26 | 11 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 37 | 76 | 80 | 36 | 16 | 17 | 3 | 99 | 127 |
| Mercyhurst | 26 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 75 | 79 | 39 | 16 | 19 | 4 | 114 | 129 |
| Niagara | 26 | 10 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 70 | 79 | 36 | 11 | 22 | 3 | 82 | 122 |
| Bentley | 26 | 10 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 70 | 78 | 36 | 14 | 20 | 2 | 94 | 117 |
| Holy Cross | 26 | 10 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 56 | 72 | 37 | 12 | 23 | 2 | 77 | 108 |
| Championship: March 19, 2022 † indicates conference regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion (Riley Trophy) Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll |||||||||||||||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Site | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Regular Season ||||||||||
| October 8 | 7:00 PM | at Penn State* | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | Barczewski | W 4–1 | 5,996 | 1–0–0 |
| October 9 | 1:00 PM | at Penn State* | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | Ladd | L 2–5 | 6,020 | 1–1–0 |
| October 15 | 7:00 PM | at Rensselaer* | Houston Field House • Troy, New York | Barczewski | L 3–7 | 370 | 1–2–0 |
| October 16 | 7:00 PM | at Rensselaer* | Houston Field House • Troy, New York | Barczewski | W 3–2 $^{OT}$ | 304 | 2–2–0 |
| October 19 | 7:00 PM | at Clarkson* | Cheel Arena • Potsdam, New York | Hawthorne | T 4–4 $^{OT}$ | 2,030 | 2–2–1 |
| October 29 | 7:00 PM | Ferris State* | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | Barczewski | W 6–4 | 569 | 3–2–1 |
| October 30 | 7:00 PM | Ferris State* | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | Barczewski | L 2–4 | 523 | 3–3–1 |
| November 5 | 7:05 PM | at Bentley | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | Barczewski | L 1–2 | 1,262 | 3–4–1 (0–1–0) |
| November 6 | 4:05 PM | at Bentley | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | Barczewski | W 6–3 | 1,253 | 4–4–1 (1–1–0) |
| November 12 | 7:05 PM | RIT | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | Barczewski | W 5–2 | 537 | 5–4–1 (2–1–0) |
| November 13 | 7:05 PM | RIT | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | Barczewski | W 4–1 | 582 | 6–4–1 (3–1–0) |
| November 19 | 7:05 PM | at Mercyhurst | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | Barczewski | W 6–1 | 747 | 7–4–1 (4–1–0) |
| November 20 | 7:00 PM | Mercyhurst | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | Barczewski | L 2–5 | 502 | 7–5–1 (4–2–0) |
| November 26 | 1:00 PM | American International | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | Barczewski | W 6–5 | 552 | 8–5–1 (5–2–0) |
| November 27 | 1:00 PM | American International | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | Barczewski | L 2–3 | 609 | 8–6–1 (5–3–0) |
| December 3 | 9:05 PM | at Air Force | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | Barczewski | L 2–5 | 1,652 | 8–7–1 (5–4–0) |
| December 4 | 7:05 PM | at Air Force | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | Hawthorne | T 3–3 | 1,565 | 8–7–2 (5–4–1) |
| December 10 | 7:00 PM | at Niagara | Dwyer Arena • Lewiston, New York | Barczewski | W 4–0 | 1,072 | 9–7–2 (6–4–1) |
| December 11 | 7:00 PM | Niagara | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | Hawthorne | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 852 | 9–8–2 (6–5–1) |
| January 7 | 7:05 PM | at Army | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | Barczewski | W 5–3 | 1,283 | 10–8–2 (7–5–1) |
| January 8 | 4:05 PM | at Army | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | Barczewski | L 0–3 | 1,484 | 10–9–2 (7–6–1) |
| January 14 | 7:05 PM | at Holy Cross | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | Barczewski | T 1–1 $^{SOW}$ | 77 | 10–9–3 (7–6–2) |
| January 15 | 7:05 PM | at Holy Cross | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | Barczewski | W 2–1 | 89 | 11–9–3 (8–6–2) |
| January 21 | 7:00 PM | Bentley | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | Barczewski | L 4–7 | 582 | 11–10–3 (8–7–2) |
| January 22 | 7:00 PM | Bentley | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | Barczewski | W 2–1 $^{OT}$ | 614 | 12–10–3 (9–7–2) |
| February 4 | 7:00 PM | Air Force | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | Barczewski | W 4–2 | 523 | 13–10–3 (10–7–2) |
| February 5 | 7:00 PM | Air Force | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | Barczewski | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 424 | 13–11–3 (10–8–2) |
| February 11 | 7:00 PM | Niagara | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | Barczewski | L 1–4 | 895 | 13–12–3 (10–9–2) |
| February 12 | 7:00 PM | at Niagara | Dwyer Arena • Lewiston, New York | Hawthorne | W 5–1 | 854 | 14–12–3 (11–9–2) |
| February 18 | 7:00 PM | Sacred Heart | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | Hawthorne | W 3–1 | 585 | 15–12–3 (12–9–2) |
| February 19 | 7:00 PM | Sacred Heart | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | Barczewski | W 3–1 | 803 | 16–12–3 (13–9–2) |
| February 25 | 7:00 PM | Mercyhurst | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | Barczewski | L 0–3 | 732 | 16–13–3 (13–10–2) |
| February 26 | 7:05 PM | at Mercyhurst | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | Barczewski | L 1–3 | 858 | 16–14–3 (13–11–2) |
| Atlantic Hockey Tournament ||||||||||
| March 11 | 7:00 PM | Mercyhurst* | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York (Quarterfinal game 1) | Barczewski | L 1–2 $^{2OT}$ | 513 | 16–15–3 |
| March 12 | 7:00 PM | Mercyhurst* | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York (Quarterfinal game 2) | Barczewski | L 1–3 | 443 | 16–16–3 |
| Canisius Lost Series 0–2 ||||||||||
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. Source: ||||||||||

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| Keaton Mastrodonato | C | 30 | 11 | 15 | 26 | 20 |
| Max Kouznetsov | C/LW | 32 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 20 |
| Lee Lapid | C | 33 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 29 |
| Mitchell Martan | LW | 31 | 5 | 17 | 22 | 31 |
| Austin Alger | F | 33 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 18 |
| Alex Ambrosio | F | 35 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 24 |
| Jackson Decker | D | 35 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 28 |
| David Melaragni | D | 35 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 41 |
| Ryan Miotto | F | 32 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 12 |
| Jake Witkowski | F | 32 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 14 |
| Danny DiGrande | C | 30 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 42 |
| Joey Matthews | D | 28 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 6 |
| J. D. Pogue | LW | 17 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 |
| Simon Gravel | C/RW | 31 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Cooper Haar | LW | 21 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 6 |
| Lincoln Erne | D | 32 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 48 |
| Randy Hernández | RW | 10 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Hudson Lambert | D | 24 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 12 |
| Derek Hamelin | D | 24 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| Cory Thomas | D | 34 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 39 |
| Alton McDermott | RW | 25 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Keegan Langefels | D | 13 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Niclas Puikkonen | C/W | 15 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Connor Zilisch | F | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Jacob Barczewski | G | 29 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Matt Ladd | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jake Zurat | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nick Parody | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Lyons | D | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| John Hawthorne | G | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Matthew Vermaeten | F | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Total | | | 99 | 164 | 263 | 464 |

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut Outs | SV % | GAA |
| John Hawthorne | 11 | 388 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 217 | 0 | .935 | 2.32 |
| Jacob Barczewski | 29 | 1688 | 13 | 14 | 1 | 68 | 814 | 1 | .923 | 2.42 |
| Matt Ladd | 1 | 59 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 39 | 0 | .907 | 4.05 |
| Empty Net | - | 16 | - | - | - | 10 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 35 | 2136 | 16 | 16 | 3 | 97 | 1070 | 1 | .917 | 2.70 |

## 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 |
| 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 (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 | - | NR |
| USA Today | NR | NR | 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: USCHO did not release a poll in week 24.

## Awards and honors

| Player | Award |
| Jacob Barczewski | Atlantic Hockey First Team |
| Keaton Mastrodonato | Atlantic Hockey Second Team |
| David Melaragni | Atlantic Hockey Third Team |