Games 9 & 10
Sacred Heart vs. Canisius
Friday, November 10 - 7 p.m.
Saturday, November 11 - 7 p.m.
Martire Family Arena - Fairfield, Conn.
Live on FloSports

THE CHAMPS ARE HERE
The Sacred Heart University men's ice hockey team gets its crack at the defending Atlantic Hockey champions this weekend, as Canisius comes to town for a two-game set, marking the only regular-season meetings of the year between the two sides. Fans are encouraged to wear white on Friday night, as we look to white out Martire Family Arena once again, and Friday will also feature a t-shirt giveaway. In conjunction with a University-wide effort, SHU Hockey will also be hosting a canned food drive at both games this weekend. Puck drop both nights is 7 p.m. in Fairfield and the games will be available live on FloSports. Nick Licalzi has the call on Friday night, while Randy Brochu takes the reins on Saturday. Tim Clifton '23 will provide color commentary both days.

LAST WEEKEND
The Pios played a sleepy Sunday night game on Long Island in a non-conference contest against LIU. The two teams traded shorthanded goals in the first period, but would combine for just 38 shots on the night. Liam Izyk had the lone goal for SHU, which both recorded and allowed its first shorthanded goal of the season, in a span of less than five minutes. Braeden Tuck provided the primary assist, which gives him points in six straight (3-6-9).

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
The defending league champion, Canisius heads into just its second weekend of Atlantic Hockey play this week, and makes its first league road trip of the season. The Golden Griffins posted a 5-3 win over Holy Cross in their home opener last Friday, and then played to a 3-3 tie and fell in the shootout (2-0) after raising their championship banner on Saturday. Canisius was swept in non-conference road series at Miami (Ohio) and Michigan State to open the season. First year Matteo Giampa already has 10 points (4-6-10) in six games and had 1-5-6 over the weekend against Holy Cross.

PREVIOUSLY AGAINST CANISIUS
SHU treked out to Buffalo for a pair against the Golden Griffins on the penultimate weekend of the 2022-23 regular season back in February. A wild Friday-night affair was tied at 3-3 halfway through, before Canisius used a power-play goal from Daniel DiGrande and a shorthanded tally from Keaton Mastrodonato to forge ahead on the way to a 6-4 victory. SHU fell behind 2-0 on Saturday, but roared back with goals from Tim Clifton and Hunter Sansbury to force overtime, where Braeden Tuck found the winner in the final 30 seconds.

ALL-TIME AGAINST CANISIUS
The two teams have met 69 times, in a series which dates back to the MAAC Hockey days, with Canisius owning a 34-26-9 advantage. However, Sacred Heart has had the better of the Golden Griffins on home ice (17-13-7) and holds a slim advantage across 50 Atlantic Hockey contests as well (21-20-9). This weekend marks the first games between the two at Martire Family Arena.

UP NEXT
The Pios are idle next week and travel to newly-returned AHA foe Robert Morris for a pair on Thanksgiving weekend. Puck drop is 6 p.m. on Nov. 24 and 1 p.m. on Nov. 25 at RMU Island Sports Center in Moon Township, Pa.