Box Score
Minneapolis, MN – Junior Olivier Bouchard (Quebec City, QUE) snapped out of a four-game scoring drought with a two-goal effort to lead Union to a 2-0 win over Canisius in the consolation game of the Dodge Holiday Classic at Mariucci Arena. The win snapped a three-game skid by the Dutchmen (10-8-2), who remained unbeaten against the Golden Griffins (5-12-1) in six meetings, while handing them their sixth straight loss.
Feeling no ill effects from its opening game of the tournament, Union came out more poised against Canisius, disrupting the passing and shooting lanes on the back-check to help create early offensive opportunities. That effort paid off as the Dutchmen made good on one of those chances at 9:07 of the first period.
Bouchard scored his ninth goal of the season off a rebound shot in front for the 1-0 advantage. Mike Harr (Norwood, MA) sent the puck up from the Union zone to T.J. Fox (Oswego, NY) along the left boards. Fox fought through a check and fired a shot from the top of the face off circle. Canisius goaltender Dan Giffin made the initial save but could not hang on and Bouchard was right there to cash in on the open net.
Earlier in the period freshman Brendan Milnamow (Wilton, CT) barely missed on a power play chance from the point. The puck trickled through Giffin's pads but he got enough on it to redirect the shot wide.
The Griffins netminder showcased some nice glovework in the second period, thwarting two prime scoring opportunities by Union, the first coming at 13:27. With Giffin at the top of his crease Fox sent a pass down low to Bouchard at the side of the net. Bouchard found himself with another open net but Giffin dove back and smothered the puck. Seconds later he came up big again reaching behind his back as he lay on the ice to stop a shot by Fox.
Canisius countered with a chance to tie the game on a shorthanded chance in the closing seconds of the period. A breakdown in the Union power play gave the Golden Griffins a two-on-one opportunity but goaltender Kris Mayotte (Pittsburgh, PA) stopped Joel Kitchen. It was one of just three shots on goal during the period for Canisius, who was outshot by Union 20-3. Kitchen led another two-on-one chance to start the third period but his shot from the left side was glove-saved by Mayotte.
Giffin bested his second period performance in the third at 7:46. A shot by Fox from the left deflected off Bouchard and on goal. Giffin reached back and stopped the puck on the goal line.
Canisius had a chance to tie the game less than a minute later but came up empty. At 8:25 they produced another two-on-one. Michael Cohen received a pass on the weak side from Kitchen right in front of the Union goal. Staring at an open net, Cohen misfired and put the puck wide.
The Golden Griffins pulled their goaltender with just over a minute to play and Bouchard capped off the scoring with an empty net goal at 19:41. He was assisted by Scott Seney (Silver Spring, MD), who dug the puck out of the corner in the Canisius zone and sent a pass on the tape. The assist was Seney's 12th of the season. He has now scored at least one point in six of his last seven games.
Union outshot Canisius 36-12, setting a new Division I record for fewest shots allowed in a game. The previous mark was 13 back on November 11, 2003 at home against Bentley.
Mayotte made 12 saves for his fourth shutout of the season. He is currently tied for first in the nation in shutouts with Michigan State's Dominic Vicari.
Giffin finished with 34 stops for Canisius in the loss.
Union returns home for its next four games and will face ECACHL foe Harvard to kick off the New Year on Friday, January 6 at 7:00 p.m.
