# 2021–22 Holy Cross Crusaders men's ice hockey season

The 2021–22 Holy Cross Crusaders men's ice hockey season was the 56th season of play for the program, the 24th at the Division I level, and the 19th season in the Atlantic Hockey conference. The Crusaders represented the College of the Holy Cross and were coached by Bill Riga, in his 1st season.

## Season

Under their new head coach, the Crusaders started the season poorly, winning just one of their first ten matches. The offense slowly improved as the season went along, but Holy Cross couldn't keep the puck out of their own net, allowing at least 3 goals in fifteen of their eighteen games in the first half of the year. It was no coincidence that they won all three of those games.
The second half of the year was going much like the first and Holy Cross found itself mired in at the bottom of the Atlantic Hockey standings. Throughout January, the defense played much better but the team's scoring dried up. However, the Crusaders seemed to turn things around when the defeated the top team in the conference, American International, at the end of the month. In the final four weeks of the regular season, Holy Cross won nearly as many games as they had through the first four months. While they were too far back in the standings to move up, the late surge gave the team hope that they could advance in the postseason.
Holy Cross opened at Mercyhurst and outplayed the Lakers in both games. Unfortunately, while they outshot Mercyhurst 76–35, they lost both games 1–2.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Frank Boie | Defenseman | Canada | Graduation (retired) |
| Andrew Dumaresque | Forward | Canada | Graduation (retired) |
| Logan Ferguson | Forward | Canada | Graduation (retired) |
| Conner Jean | Forward | United States | Transferred to Carleton |
| Peter Kessel | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Logan Milliken | Defenseman | Canada | Graduation (signed with Siksika Buffaloes) |
| Jake Pappalardo | Forward | United States | Graduation (signed with Tulsa Oilers) |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Daniel Colabufo | Forward | United States | 20 | Camillus, NY |
| Liam Connors | Forward | United States | 20 | Southborough, MA |
| Thomas Gale | Goaltender | Canada | 21 | Kirkland, QC |
| John Gelatt | Forward | United States | 20 | Middletown, NJ |
| Tyler Ghirardosi | Forward | Canada | 21 | Montrose, BC; transfer from Quinnipiac |
| Matthew Guerra | Forward | United States | 22 | Orlando, FL; transfer from Robert Morris |
| Jack Hillman | Defenseman | United States | 20 | Zionsville, IN |
| Mathew Shatsky | Defenseman | Canada | 20 | Winnipeg, MB |

## Roster

As of August 31, 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 | TV | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Exhibition ||||||||||
| October 2 | 7:30 PM | at #10 Boston University* | Walter Brown Arena • Boston, Massachusetts (Exhibition) | | | L 1–6 | 1,922 | |
| Ice Breaker Tournament ||||||||||
| October 8 | 7:30 PM | vs. #18 Northeastern* | DCU Center • Worcester, Massachusetts (Ice Breaker Game 1) | | Radomsky | L 0–3 | 1,627 | 0–1–0 |
| October 9 | 7:30 PM | vs. #6 Boston College* | DCU Center • Worcester, Massachusetts (Ice Breaker Game 2) | NESN | Gordon | L 1–6 | 2,052 | 0–2–0 |
| Regular Season ||||||||||
| October 15 | 7:05 PM | at Mercyhurst | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | | Radomsky | T 4–4 $^{SOL}$ | 813 | 0–2–1 (0–0–1) |
| October 16 | 3:05 PM | at Mercyhurst | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | | Gale | L 2–5 | 512 | 0–3–1 (0–1–1) |
| October 21 | 7:05 PM | Bentley | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | | Radomsky | L 2–4 | 537 | 0–4–1 (0–2–1) |
| October 22 | 4:05 PM | at Bentley | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | | Gale | W 3–2 | 1,761 | 1–4–1 (1–2–1) |
| October 26 | 7:00 PM | at #5 Quinnipiac* | People's United Center • Hamden, Connecticut | | Gale | L 2–5 | 2,502 | 1–5–1 |
| November 4 | 7:30 PM | at #17 Notre Dame* | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | NBCSN | Radomsky | L 2–5 | 2,480 | 1–6–1 |
| November 5 | 7:30 PM | at #17 Notre Dame* | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | NBCRN | Gale | L 1–4 | 4,521 | 1–7–1 |
| November 12 | 7:05 PM | Mercyhurst | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | | Radomsky | L 2–3 | 435 | 1–8–1 (1–3–1) |
| November 13 | 5:05 PM | Mercyhurst | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | | Radomsky | W 5–4 $^{OT}$ | 302 | 2–8–1 (2–3–1) |
| November 19 | 7:05 PM | at RIT | Gene Polisseni Center • Henrietta, New York | | Radomsky | L 2–3 | 2,027 | 2–9–1 (2–4–1) |
| November 20 | 5:05 PM | at RIT | Gene Polisseni Center • Henrietta, New York | | Gordon | L 3–4 | 1,853 | 2–10–1 (2–5–1) |
| November 23 | 7:00 PM | at Merrimack* | J. Thom Lawler Rink • North Andover, Massachusetts | | Gordon | L 2–3 | 214 | 2–11–1 |
| November 26 | 2:05 PM | Brown* | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | | Radomsky | W 5–1 | 261 | 3–11–1 |
| November 27 | 7:00 PM | at New Hampshire* | Whittemore Center • Durham, New Hampshire | | Radomsky | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 2,919 | 3–12–1 |
| December 3 | 7:05 PM | Niagara | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | | Radomsky | L 1–3 | 322 | 3–13–1 (2–6–1) |
| December 4 | 7:05 PM | Niagara | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | | Radomsky | W 3–2 | 245 | 4–13–1 (3–6–1) |
| January 4 | 7:05 PM | Vermont* | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | | Gale | W 4–3 | 483 | 5–13–1 |
| January 7 | 7:05 PM | American International | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | | Gordon | L 0–2 | 0 | 5–14–1 (3–7–1) |
| January 8 | 5:05 PM | American International | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | | Gordon | L 2–5 | 0 | 5–15–1 (3–8–1) |
| January 14 | 7:05 PM | Canisius | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | | Radomsky | T 1–1 $^{SOL}$ | 77 | 5–15–2 (3–8–2) |
| January 15 | 7:05 PM | Canisius | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | | Radomsky | L 1–2 | 89 | 5–16–2 (3–9–2) |
| January 21 | 7:05 PM | at Army | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | | Radomsky | W 3–1 | 1,302 | 6–16–2 (4–9–2) |
| January 22 | 4:05 PM | at Army | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | | Radomsky | L 1–4 | 1,538 | 6–17–2 (4–10–2) |
| January 28 | 5:05 PM | at American International | MassMutual Center • Springfield, Massachusetts | | Radomsky | L 1–3 | 191 | 6–18–2 (4–11–2) |
| January 29 | 12:05 PM | at American International | MassMutual Center • Springfield, Massachusetts | | Radomsky | W 5–4 | 191 | 7–18–2 (5–11–2) |
| February 4 | 7:00 PM | Sacred Heart | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | | Radomsky | W 1–0 | 197 | 8–18–2 (6–11–2) |
| February 5 | 7:00 PM | Sacred Heart | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | | Radomsky | L 1–4 | 798 | 8–19–2 (6–12–2) |
| February 11 | 9:05 PM | at Air Force | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | | Gordon | W 3–2 | 1,327 | 9–19–2 (7–12–2) |
| February 12 | 7:05 PM | at Air Force | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | | Radomsky | W 3–2 | 1,542 | 10–19–2 (8–12–2) |
| February 18 | 7:00 PM | Army | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | | Radomsky | L 1–2 | 207 | 10–20–2 (8–13–2) |
| February 19 | 7:00 PM | Army | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | | Radomsky | L 1–3 | 350 | 10–21–2 (8–14–2) |
| February 25 | 7:00 PM | at Bentley | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | | Radomsky | W 3–2 $^{OT}$ | 1,250 | 11–21–2 (9–14–2) |
| February 26 | 7:00 PM | Bentley | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | | Gordon | W 2–1 | 650 | 12–21–2 (10–14–2) |
| Atlantic Hockey Tournament ||||||||||
| March 4 | 7:05 PM | at Mercyhurst* | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania (First Round game 1) | | Radomsky | L 1–2 $^{OT}$ | 687 | 12–22–2 |
| March 5 | 7:05 PM | at Mercyhurst* | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania (First Round game 2) | | Gordon | L 1–2 | 704 | 12–23–2 |
| Holy Cross 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 |
| Ryan Leibold | F | 35 | 10 | 16 | 26 | 24 |
| Nick Hale | D | 35 | 4 | 18 | 22 | 20 |
| Jack Ricketts | C | 35 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 28 |
| Matt Guerra | F | 35 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 45 |
| Lucas Thorne | C | 35 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 6 |
| John Gelatt | F | 36 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 8 |
| Anthony Vincent | F | 31 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 21 |
| Matt Slick | D | 37 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 16 |
| Alec Cicero | F | 35 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 23 |
| Alex Peterson | F | 35 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 34 |
| Grayson Constable | F | 32 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 23 |
| Mike Higgins | D | 36 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 23 |
| Tyler Ghirardosi | F | 23 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 34 |
| Bobby Young | C | 31 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 12 |
| Liam Connors | F | 22 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Jackson MacNab | RW | 35 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Jake Higgins | D | 33 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 20 |
| Matt Shatsky | D | 34 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Matt Radomsky | G | 24 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Thomas Gale | G | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Michael Kane | F | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Erik Gordon | G | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Hillman | D | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Daniel Colabufo | F | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Jack Robilotti | D | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 |
| Bryce Dolan | D | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Total | | | 77 | 127 | 204 | 407 |

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut Outs | SV % | GAA |
| Matt Radomsky | 26 | 1436 | 8 | 14 | 2 | 59 | 566 | 1 | .906 | 2.47 |
| Erik Gordon | 12 | 429 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 19 | 172 | 0 | .901 | 2.65 |
| Thomas Gale | 9 | 338 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 171 | 0 | .891 | 3.72 |
| Empty Net | - | 40 | - | - | - | 9 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 37 | 2244 | 12 | 23 | 2 | 108 | 909 | 1 | .894 | 2.89 |

## 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 | Ref |
| Ryan Leibold | Atlantic Hockey Third Team | |