In a small sample size, Miami has dominated Canisius more than practically any other NCAA opponent.
The RedHawks are 8-0 all-time vs. the Golden Griffins, outscoring them 38-6 in those contests.
These teams had not met since 2013 until last season, when Miami visited Canisius for the first time ever. The RedHawks notched their won, 5-3 and 2-0 in Buffalo last October, completing their only road sweep since Jan. 2-3, 2021 at Western Michigan.
The Golden Griffins are in Oxford for the first time in 10 years, and VFTG takes a brief look at the series:
WHO: Canisius Golden Griffins (0-0) at Miami RedHawks (1-1).
WHERE: Cady Arena (3,019), Oxford, Ohio.
WHEN: Friday and Saturday – 7:05 p.m.
ALL-TIME SERIES: Miami leads, 8-0.
STREAMING: NCHC.tv ($).
MIAMI RADIO: None.
NOTES: Canisius advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nine years after beating Niagara in a best-of-3 series and shutting out Holy Cross in the ACA title game.
Minnesota quickly deposed of the Golden Griffins, 9-2 in the opening round of the D-1 championships, but overall Canisius has to consider 2022-23 a success.
The Golden Griffins finished a game over .500 and won 20 games, a high-water victory mark under eighth-year coach Trevor Large.
Goaltending was a key reason for Canisius’ success last season, as the team recorded a .912 save percentage. Unfortunately for the Golden Griffins, neither of their 2022-23 regular netminders are back this fall.
Fifth-year senior and UAH and New Hampshire transfer David Fessenden is expected to log significant minutes in goal this season. He played in 25 games for UNH last year and finished with a .912 save percentage.
Junior Austin Houston (from Canton, Ohio) has six seconds of Division I experience, and freshman Ethan Robertson has not played above the NAHL level.
Canisius also lost both of its 35-point producers from last season, although David Melaragni is back after leading all Golden Griffins defensemen with 25 points in 2022-23. Blueliner Jackson Decker also reached the 20-point mark (3-17-20).
Senior Randy Hernandez (8-13-21) is the lone returning Canisius forward to record at least 20 points last campaign.
Senior and team captain Max Kouznetsov has 48 points in three seasons and is an excellent two-way forward.
— An interesting name on the Canisius roster is Jackson Nieuwendyk, son of NHL Hall of Famer Joe Nieuwendyk. Jackson — a freshman — is coming off a big year with BCHL Penticton (which produced Curtis McKenzie) and is looking to make an impact for the Golden Griffins.
— One takeaway from last season’s games in Buffalo was Canisius lacked team speed. Miami seemed to skate circles around the Golden Griffins all weekend.
— A potentially major storyline for the RedHawks this weekend is in net. Freshman Bruno Bruveris is expected to be eligible for this weekend’s series and barring a setback, he should make his MU debut.
Bruveris had a solid season at USHL Cedar Rapids last season, winning 23 games and thriving down the stretch and in the playoffs.
Logan Neaton played both ends of last weekend’s series and was good overall.
— While these are the first official games of the season for Canisius (the Griffs did beat Niagara in an exhibition), Miami split at Ferris State last weekend.
— The RedHawks are looking for their first home-opener victory under fifth-year coach Chris Bergeron. MU has tied Ferris State and Bowling Green the past two seasons, lost to Western Michigan during the COVID season and fell to the Falcons in 2019-20.
Miami’s last win in its first home-ice game of the season was in 2018 vs. Alabama-Huntsville, a team that is now dormant.
— Yeah, beer! Miami announced here that alcohol will be sold at Cady Arena for the first time in rink and program history starting tonight.
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