2004-05 Canisius Season Preview

September 29, 2004

An overall record of 10-16-8 may look a bit deceiving at first glance. But, with 11 overtime games, including a 1-0 overtime win in the Atlantic Hockey quarterfinals over Quinnipiac, the Canisius College ice hockey team showed determination and grit, two qualities that will carry over to the new season. The 2004-05 edition of the Golden Griffins brings back 22 letterwinners and eight of the top ten scoring leaders. Add in five talented newcomers and head coach Brian Cavanaugh believes he has the team’s tools in the shed to make a run at the Atlantic Hockey crown.

The solid nucleus of returning talent has Cavanaugh entertaining positive thoughts on the prospects of a winning season for the Blue and Gold. However, after 23 years behind the bench of the Griffs, Cavanaugh knows that as the Griffs improve, so does the talent throughout the league.

“We need to continue the momentum of playing winning hockey that we ended last season with,” Cavanaugh said. “Winning four of our last six games before the playoffs gave us confidence and we played with just that, confidence. Other teams also had that success and we need to get off to an early start this season to accomplish that.”

GOALTENDERS

The cornerstone of the Griffs’ defensive unit is senior Bryan Worosz, a three-year starter in net for the Blue and Gold. Needing 197 saves to become the program’s all-time save leader, Worosz has proved his meddle between the posts for Canisius and will see the majority of the minutes in net again this season. Worosz posted a career-best 2.75 GAA last season, ranking fourth in the conference. With a pair of shutouts against Quinnipiac and a 31-save effort in a draw with UMass Lowell, Worosz showed his ability to step up in big games and Cavanaugh will be looking for his senior to do more of the same this season.

“Bryan really stepped up his game on several occasions last season,” Cavanaugh said. “We need him to play consistently every night and take his game to the highest level in this his senior season.”

Joining Worosz in net will be sophomore Max Buetow, who posted a 2-3-1 in his freshman campaign. Buetow can expect to see more action in his second year and Cavanaugh hopes that a year of seasoning is all the netminder needed to polish his game to the Division I level.

“Max comes back a year more experienced and a year more confident,” Cavanaugh said. “He will see a good amount of time in net this season and hope that the bright spots of last season turn into a full year of solid play from weekend to weekend.”

Joining Worosz and Buetow is senior Jeremy Redquest. Although he saw no action last season, he pushed Worosz and Buetow in practice and provided valuable backup throughout the season. He returns for his third season in the Blue and Gold.

DEFENSE

Canisius returns four members of the starting defensive unit, losing graduated seniors Joe D’Urzo and Daryl Pierce, a pair of defensemen with over 100 games of experience each. Stepping into the void will be a pair of assistant captains, senior Josh Zavitz and junior Tim Songin. Perhaps two of the top blueliners to wear the Blue and Gold, Zavitz and Songin are the anchors of the unit that will be the solid backbone of the squad. Between the two of them, they have played in 141 of the 142 games over the past two seasons.

“Josh and Tim are a pair of players that typify everything you want in a defenseman,” Cavanaugh said. “They practically never miss a game, play solid two-way hockey and are exceptional leaders on and off the ice. To have both of them on the team at the same time is a blessing for our team.”

Senior and 2004 Hockey Humanitarian finalist Mark Persick adds experience and poise to the group, while junior Brandon Irish-Baker and sophomore Bret Norris will see increased minutes during the season. Newcomers Craig Nooyen and Matt Ruberto will be pushed into action from day one and be expected to contribute immediately.

“We have a fine group of defensemen this season,” Cavanaugh said. “The return of Persick, Irish-Baker and Norris give us experience on the blueline and Nooyen and Ruberto add a youthful and physical presence in the unit.”

FORWARDS

The Griffs return eight of their top 10 scorers from last season, all of them forwards. Even more importantly, Canisius will get back senior captain Fred Coccimiglio who only played in four games last season, before suffering a season-ending wrist injury. Coccimiglio, the leader of the Griffs on the ice and in the locker room, hopes to regain the scorer’s touch he had his freshman and sophomore campaigns.

“Freddie is one of the finest players I have ever had the pleasure of coaching,” Cavanaugh said. “To have him back from an injury for his senior season will mean a great deal for this team both on and off the ice.”

Returning for their sophomore season will be three of the Griffs’ five top scorers from a season ago, Michael Cohen, Billy Irish-Baker and Joey Coccimiglio. Cohen, who led the team in points with 25 and assists with 14, will look to avoid the sophomore jinx now that he is on the radar screen of every opponent. Irish-Baker and Coccimiglio came on strong in the second half of the season and will be counted on to jump to the next level and provide more offensive production.

Seniors Ryan Corcoran and Todd Bowler are proven scoring threats, posting 18 and 17 points respectively last season. A physical style of play can be expected from juniors Jaymie Harrington and Jon Durno, while classmates Chris Angelo and Josh Henry bring a more finesse style of play to the ice. James LeCuyer, David Ovcjak and Dan Bognar add depth to a forward unit that will have 18 players fighting for a spot on the first day of practice.

“We have a large number of forwards on the roster for the second-straight season,” Cavanaugh said. “This situation creates a tremendous practice environment and will force each and every player on the roster to give 100 percent each and every day on the ice in order to crack the lineup on gameday.”

Joining the group of returnees are three talented newcomers: Joel Kitchen, Mike Ruberto and Greg Brown. Kitchen, a product of the successful Aurora Tigers program of the OPJHL, shows leadership potential at a young age and is a solid and slick skater. Ruberto is a gifted and tough player who led the NAHL in scoring last season with the Cleveland Barons and will make and impact right away. Brown is a very physical player who will be tough along the boards and is not afraid to go into the corners.

SCHEDULE

As in the past, Canisius continues to play one of the most challenging non-conference slates in Atlantic Hockey. The Griffs open the 2004-05 season at the Nye Frontier Classic in Anchorage, Alaska. The Blue and Gold will open with host Alaska Anchorage and face either Minnesota or Massachusetts the following day. The Griffs also return to North Dakota for a two-game series with the Fighting Sioux in December. Single games with Cornell and Niagara dot the schedule, while weekend series with CHA members Robert Morris and Wayne State fill the month of October. Canisius will also host the U.S. Under-18 National Team for a pair of exhibition games in the month of January.

“Our non-conference schedule is one of the toughest we have ever faced,” said Cavanaugh. “The entire Atlantic Hockey membership has improved their respective non-conference schedules and that just makes each team and the entire conference better with each season. We feel that our schedule will well prepare us for the difficult conference slate.”

Atlantic Hockey will be a tight race for the conference crown as several teams have the look of a champion at the start of the season. Defending champion Holy Cross, Mercyhurst, Sacred Heart and Quinnipiac all return strong squads with one common denominator: solid goaltending.

“Many of the teams in Atlantic Hockey have a strong tradition of great goaltending that has propelled them to success over the past few seasons,” Cavanaugh said. “This season is no different and hopefully we have the tools necessary to compete and contend with the upper echelon of our conference and are competitive with our non-conference schedule.”

With a vast majority of its offense returning and a goaltender entering his senior season with something left to prove, Canisius may have all the tool necessary to deliver a championship season in the program’s 25th year of varsity hockey.