Canisius Unveils 2017 Schedule

The Canisius Golden Griffins are the 66th team in our 2017 schedule preview. The Griffins finished 4-8 overall, and 3-3 in MAAC play. Canisius lost to eventual MAAC champion Quinnipiac, 13-7, in the MAAC semifinals. Let’s dive into their schedule.

CANISIUS

The Golden Griffins have not one, not two, but THREE GAMES IN FEBRUARY! That’s three more games than they had last February! The season will begin on February 18 against Dartmouth in Victor, New York. That’s the second part of a doubleheader that also features defending NEC champion Hobart taking on Siena earlier that day. Canisius then travels west to Denver to participate in the Pioneer Face-Off Classic. They’ll play defending SoCon champion Air Force on the 25th, followed by Denver on the 26th.

Canisius begins their March slate in Ohio against newcomer Cleveland State on March 4. They take on defending NEC champion Hobart on the 14th up in Geneva. The team’s home opener is also their MAAC conference opener, as they host Marist on March 18, before quickly turning around to host Albany three days later. Conference play continues on March 25 as they take on Manhattan in Riverdale, followed three days later with a home matchup against Binghamton to conclude the month of March.

The Golden Griffins open up April in Detroit, Michigan to take on Detroit Mercy on April 8. The team might make a stop at the brand new IHOP/Applebee’s restaurant beforehand.

Please make it happen.

Canisius returns to the Demske Sports Complex to take on Siena on April 15. They’ll have their final nonconference game of the regular season on April 18 in Moon Township against Robert Morris. MAAC conference play wraps up on April 21 in New Jersey against Monmouth, followed by the regular season finale at home on April 28 against defending MAAC champion Quinnipiac.

Randy Mearns loses some key contributors from last season. Beginning at attack, Vince Gravino was one of seven players to start in all 12 games last season. Leading goal scorer Connor Kearnan and Ryan McKee are back after starting most or all of last year’s game. Mario Caito played in eight games and started in one at attack last year, and there’s two freshmen that are also at attack. In the midfield, points leader Jeff Edwards is back for his senior year, as well as Lewis Vaccaro. Nick Tuttle and Mike Perrino are notable losses from last year. This means guys such as Steven Coss and Cody Filson will have to step up big time, as a good chunk of the team’s midfield bench is also gone. Logan Monroe is the only returning starter on defense, with Rich Stapleton and Brendan Barren both gone. Trevor Hamm is the other sophomore, while four incoming freshmen will make the defense very young and inexperienced. Marcus Willock and Blake Rickan will be back as the top two LSMs, with Kieran O’Hagan, Michael Sanzone, and Keith Pravato as the defensive midfielders. Junior Liam Ganzhorn returns between the pipes as the probable starting goaltender, while Steven Coss will resume his role as the primary face-off taker.

To see every team’s schedule and which one’s we’ve highlighted, check our our master schedule list.