Golden Griffins Adds a Pair During Spring Signing Period

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Canisius College hockey coach Dave Smith announced today that Josh Heidinger (Buffalo, N.Y.) and Carl Hudson (Smooth Rock Falls, Ont.) have signed National Letters of Intent to attend Canisius beginning with the 2006-07 season. The duo joins David Kostuch (Richmond Hill, Ont.) and Jason Weeks (Seattle, Wash.) who signed in the fall.

"We feel that we've added a lot of offensive depth, which will provide competition for spots as the fall arrives," Smith said.

Heidinger currently plays with the Bozeman Icedogs of the North American Hockey League. The 5-foot-10 forward currently leads the league with 89 points and 56 assists in 53 games and is fifth with 33 goals, including eight gamewinners. The Icedogs finished the regular season with a team-record 48 wins in 58 games and are currently in the second round of the playoffs.

"We're very excited to have a highly talented, high character person from western New York," Smith said. "Josh should step right into our lineup and be a key contributor."

Hudson, a 6-foot defenseman, plays for the Hawkesbury Hawks of the Central Junior "A" Hockey League. His team won the league's playoff title for the second consecutive year, and Hudson was named the most valuable player of the playoffs. Hudson was second on his team with 22 points in 16 playoff games and led Hawkesbury with 16 assists in the postseason. During the regular season, Hudson was tied for fifth on the Hawks and tied for the team lead among defensemen with 39 points.

"Carl combines size, skating and skill," Smith said, "and will be looked upon as an anchor on the blue line."

Weeks, playing for the Texarkana Bandits of the NAHL, is second on his team with 30 goals as the Bandits are also in the second round of the NAHL playoffs. Kostuch is third on his team with 60 points and led the Markham Waxers with 10 goals in 13 playoff games in the Ontario Provincial Junior "A" Hockey League.

Canisius returns 17 players from its 2005-06 team, including the top three scorers, which finished with a 10-23-2 record.