GRIFFS FALL TO DUTCHMEN IN THIRD PLACE GAME AT THE DODGE HOLIDAY CLASSIC

MINNEAPOLIS – A first-period goal by Union’s Olivier Bouchard held up as the Dutchmen defeated the Golden Griffins 2-0 Friday at the Mariucci Arena in the third-place game of the Dodge Holiday Classic hosted by the University of Minnesota.

Canisius goalie Dan Giffin (Milton, Ont.) stopped 34 of the 35 shots he faced – including all 20 in the second period. Bouchard added an empty-netter with 19 seconds remaining to provide the final margin.

Union controlled most of the first period and held Canisius (5-12-1) to a season-low two first-period shots. The Dutchmen’s goal came at 9:08 when Bouchard beat Canisius goalie Giffin to score his ninth goal of the season, which is tied for the team lead.

During a scoreless second period, the Griffs had to kill seven Union power plays, which spanned 12:20 of the period, including a 1:15 stretch of 5-on-3 near the end of the period. Giffin made a number of highlight-reel saves to keep the Dutchmen (10-8-2) from adding to their 1-0 advantage.

Union and Canisius played a more even third period as both teams had seven shots, which included the referee using a video replay of a save made by Giffin of a shot by T.J. Fox to confirm the ruling on the ice of no goal at the 7:46 mark.

Giffin fell to 1-5-0 while Union goalie Kris Mayotte (10-7-1) made 12 saves en route to the shutout victory.

The loss extended Canisius’ losing streak to six games, which is the longest since the Griffs lost six from Oct. 11-26, 2002. Canisius finished December winless for its first winless month since October 2003 (0-4-3).

Canisius returns to the ice next weekend when the Griffs resume their Atlantic Hockey schedule with a weekend set at American International. That series begins a stretch where the Blue and Gold play six of their next eight league games on the road.