Phil Ginand (Contributed/Mercyhurst College)

Phil Ginand is healthy enough to play hockey again – just not for the Mercyhurst College men’s team.

Ginand has signed an amateur tryout contract with the Bridgeport (Conn.) Sound Tigers, the AHL club announced Tuesday, and could make his debut Wednesday night against the Albany (N.Y.) Devils.

Three weeks ago, he suffered what Mercyhurst coach Rick Gotkin calls a season-ending concussion. He had no plans to have Ginand in the lineup for the rest of the season, Gotkin said.

“He wasn’t (medically) cleared (by) any of our people,” Gotkin said.

Ginand spoke with Gotkin late Monday night about signing with Bridgeport. Gotkin said he believes not being cleared to play for Mercyhurst played a role in Ginand’s decision.

“He told me he was feeling great and wanted to get back to playing hockey,” said Gotkin, who became aware of Ginand’s interest in pursuing a professional career two weeks ago. “I’m assuming he’s fine.”

Ginand, 22, a redshirt sophomore forward who missed all but two games last season while recovering from knee surgery, forgoes his final two years of eligibility. The Milford, Mass., native had 27 goals and 54 points in 68 career games, including 12 goals and 20 points in 27 games this season.

In January, then-senior forward Brandon Coccimiglio left school to join the ECHL’s Greenville (S.C.) Road Warriors. He now plays for the Central Hockey League’s Missouri Mavericks after brief ECHL stints with Greenville and Alaska. He has one goal and four points in 20 career games.
“At the end of the day, Phil wanted to be a professional hockey player, and I think he will be a good one,” Gotkin said of Ginand, who attended a Philadelphia Flyers rookie camp last summer.

Gotkin has lost four key forwards from his team this season – Ginand, Coccimiglio, Steve Cameron and Kyle Just. Cameron suffered what Gotkin said could be a season-ending, lower-body injury three weeks ago. Just and then-fellow freshman Jordan Tibbett left school in November after being charged with sexually assaulting a woman in a campus apartment Nov. 14.

“The guys we have (are) very resilient,” Gotkin said. “We’re trying to find a way to keep on winning.”

The Lakers face Connecticut this weekend in the Atlantic Hockey Association quarterfinals.

- Victor Fernandes

The Mercyhurst College men’s hockey team is running a bit thin at forward.

Phil Ginand, the Lakers’ third-leading goal scorer, will miss the rest of the season with an upper-body injury. Senior Steve Cameron could miss the rest of the season with a lower-body injury.

That’s 19 goals and 41 points out of NCAA Division I’s ninth-best offense, on top of the production lost with the departure of senior Brandon Coccimiglio last month and freshman Kyle Just in November.

Coccimiglio left school to pursue a professional career. Just and then-freshman goaltender Jordan Tibbett left school after being charged with sexually assaulting a woman in a campus apartment Nov. 14.

That’s bad timing for the Lakers, which are a week away from starting the Atlantic Hockey Association playoffs on the road. The Lakers (13-15-4, 11-12-2), which end the regular season tonight and Saturday against Canisius, cannot finish higher than fifth in the six-team West pod. Canisius is one point behind.

“What are you going to do? It’s kind of how the year has gone,” coach Rick Gotkin said.

Ginand and Cameron were injured two weeks ago against Robert Morris. The Lakers were forced to dress only 16 skaters, two below the maximum allowed by NCAA rules, last weekend against Air Force.

Ginand missed all but two games last season while recovering from knee surgery after finishing second among AHA freshmen in scoring two seasons ago. Cameron has 51 goals and 107 points in his four-year career, including a team-best 22 goals and 50 points as a sophomore. Earlier this season, he was the 14^th player in the program’s Division I history to reach the 100-point mark.

Cameron suffered a similar injury as junior defenseman Kevin Noble, who missed six weeks earlier this season. “It’s a long shot, but it’s not 100 percent that he won’t be back,” Gotkin said of Cameron.

- Victor Fernandes

HANOVER, N.H. – The Mercyhurst College men’s hockey team nearly pulled off a monumental upset.

The Lakers entered the third period of the Ledyard Bank Classic title game trailing No. 5 Boston College, NCAA Division I’s defending national champion, by a goal. But the Eagles scored twice late in regulation to hand the Lakers a 4-1 loss Friday night at Dartmouth’s Thompson Arena.

BC (13-5-0) built a 2-0 lead on first-period, power-play goals from Kevin Hayes and Brian Gibbons.

Meanwhile, senior goaltender John Muse (30 saves) silenced the Lakers through two periods. But senior defenseman Jeff Terminesi scored a power-play goal on assists from seniors forwards Mike Gurtler and Brandon Coccimiglio 3 minutes, 4 seconds into the third to slice the Eagles’ lead in half at 2-1.

Then with four minutes left in regulation, Mercyhurst (8-10-1) earned its fifth and final opportunity with the man advantage. But Gibbons scored short-handed – his second goal of the game – with 1:20 left.

Barry Almeida’s empty-net goal with 14 seconds left capped the Eagles’ win. Senior goaltender Ryan Zapolski, an Erie native, stopped 34-of-37 shots for the Lakers. Dartmouth, which lost to Mercyhurst in a shootout on Thursday, topped Colgate 4-3 in overtime in the consolation game.

- Victor Fernandes

What: Mercyhurst College (3-4-1, 3-2-0 AHA) at No. 20 Robert Morris (7-2-1, 6-2-1)

When: Today, 7:05 p.m.

Where: RMU Island Sports Center – Pittsburgh

On the air: www.americaone.com (Internet video), www.rmucolonials.com (Internet radio)

Players to watch

Mercyhurst – Sr. G Ryan Zapolski (3-1-0 record, 2.01 goals-against average, .938 save percentage, 1 shutout), Fr. F Daniel O’Donoghue (5-2-7), Sr. F Steve Cameron (2-5-7),  Fr. F Taylor Holstrom (4-2-6), Sr. F Ryan Raven (4-2-6)

Robert Morris – Sr. F Nathan Longpre (6-10-16), Jr. G Brooks Ostergard (7-2-0, 2.43, .918), Sr. F Denny Urban (3-12-15), Sr. F Chris Kushneriuk (4-6-10), So. F Adam Brace (3-4-7)

Fast facts

Mercyhurst – The Lakers have rebounded from a season-opening 0-4-1 start with three straight wins against Atlantic Hockey Association rivals Air Force and Army by a combined 14-3 score. … The Lakers and Colonials, who joins Niagara as conference newcomers this season, meet for the first time since Mercyhurst posted an 8-2 win and scoreless tie in the 2004-05 season. … Cameron has points in four of the past five games. … O’Donoghue and Raven have points in three straight games. … O’Donoghue has goals in three straight games. He recorded all seven of his points in those three games. … Raven has four goals after totaling seven in his previous two seasons. … Zapolski, an Erie native and reigning AHA goaltender of the week, has stopped 82-of-85 shots during the team’s winning streak. … Senior F Scott Pitt (2-2-4) and Cameron need five and seven points, respectively, to reach the 100 mark in their careers. … Senior F Brandon Coccimiglio has missed the past three games with an upper-body injury. … Senior F Mike Gurtler (lower-body injury) rejoined the lineup last Saturday.

Robert Morris – The AHA-leading Colonials moved into USCHO.com’s top-20 poll for the first time in program history this week. They are 18^th on the InsideCollegeHockey.com poll, the highest ranking in school history. … They are off to their best start ever. … Their only losses were by 3-2 overtime scores to Rochester Institute of Technology Oct. 29 and Holy Cross Nov. 6. … The Colonials are eighth in NCAA Division I with 3.80 goals per game. … They have outscored opponents 17-5 in the third period and 31-15 over the final two periods. … They complete the weekend with an AHA game at Canisius on Saturday. … Longpre ranks sixth nationally with 1.78 points per game. … Urban leads all defensemen at 1.50 points per game, ranks fourth overall at 1.20 assists and among the top 15 at 1.50 points.

Up next: vs. American International (Nov. 26-27, 7:05 p.m.)

- Victor Fernandes

What: Army (2-4-0, 1-3-0 AHA) at Mercyhurst College (1-4-1, 1-2-0)

When: Friday and Saturday, 7:05 p.m.

Where: Mercyhurst Ice Center

On the air: www.americaone.com (Internet video), www.wmce.com (Internet radio)

Players to watch

Mercyhurst – Sr. G Ryan Zapolski (1-1-0 record, 3.54 goals-against average, .911 save percentage), Fr. F Taylor Holstrom (2-2-4), Sr. F Ryan Raven (3-1-4), Sr. F Steve Cameron (1-2-3), So. F Paul Chiasson (2-1-3)

Army – Sr. F Cody Omilusik (3-0-3), So. F Andy Starczewski (2-3-5), Jr. F Bryant Skarda (3-1-4), Jr. D Marcel Alvarez (1-3-4), Sr. G Jay Clark (1-4-0, 2.97, .911)

Fast facts

Mercyhurst – The Lakers snapped an eight-game winless streak dating to last February with a 6-2 win at Air Force last weekend. … On that night, Rick Gotkin (400-276-53 record in 23 seasons) became the 36^th NCAA men’s hockey coach to reach the 400-win mark. “That number is more a reflection of our program than it is of me,” he said. … Senior Fs Cameron (flu), Brandon Coccimiglio (upper-body injury) and Mike Gurtler (lower-body injury) didn’t travel to the game at Air Force. Cameron and Gurtler will play this weekend. Coccimiglio remains out of the lineup. … These teams meet for the only time this season. … The Lakers are unbeaten in six straight games against the Black Knights (4-0-2) and hold a 23-9-2 series lead. Mercyhurst has won 16-of-18 meetings at MIC (16-1-1). … Freshman F Daniel O’Donoghue (2-2-4) scored his first two career goals against Air Force. … Senior F Scott Pitt (1-2-3) needs six points to reach 100 in his career. … Zapolski, an Erie native, made 32 saves against the Falcons.

Army – The Black Knights have responded to a season-opening, four-game losing streak (including Atlantic Hockey Association losses to Holy Cross, Colgate and Canisius) with consecutive wins against Canisius and Massachusetts, a Hockey East Association school. … Army concludes a season-high, five-game road trip this weekend. They begin a six-game home stand Nov. 19. … So G Ryan Leets earned the win and had an assist against UMass last weekend in his first career start and second career game. … Junior Bill Day scored a goal against UMass in the former defenseman’s first game at forward.

Up next: at Robert Morris (Nov. 19, 7:05 p.m.)

- Victor Fernandes

What: Mercyhurst College (0-4-1, 0-2-0 AHA) at Air Force (1-4-0, 1-2-0)

When: Today, 9:05 p.m.

Where: Cadet Arena – Colorado Springs, Colo.

On the air: www.americaone.com (Internet video), www.goairforcefalcons.com (Internet radio)

Players to watch

Mercyhurst – Sr. G Ryan Zapolski (0-1-0 record, 2.81 goals-against average, .917 save percentage), So. F Phil Ginand (1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points), Fr. F Taylor Holstrom (2-2-4), Sr. F Brandon Coccimiglio (2-1-3), So. F Paul Chiasson (2-1-3)

Air Force – Sr. F Jacques Lamoureux (3-5-8), So. F John Kruse (3-4-7), Sr. F Derrick Burnett (1-5-6), So. F Kyle DeLaurell (1-5-6), Fr. G Jason Torf (0-3-0, 3.42, .881)

Fast facts

Mercyhurst – The Lakers are winless in their last eight games (0-7-1) dating back to the 2009-10 season. They last won on Feb. 26 at Connecticut. … Each time, they failed to earn coach Rick Gotkin (399-276-53 record in 23 seasons) his 400^th career win. With a win, he becomes the 36^th NCAA men’s hockey coach to reach the 400-win mark. He would be the 24^th coach to reach that plateau while spending 10 or more years at the Division I level and the 11^th to earn 400 wins at the same school. … The teams have split the all-time series 6-6-2, but the Lakers have a 4-1-1 mark at Cadet Arena. … Zapolski, an Erie native, made his regular-season debut with 40 saves in a 5-3 loss at Niagara last weekend. … Frontline forwards Coccimiglio, Steve Cameron, Mike Gurtler and Scott Pitt have combined for 20 career points against the Falcons. … The Lakers play the next three games against the service academies. They face Army in a two-game series at Mercyhurst Ice Center next weekend.

Air Force – The Falcons snapped a season-opening, four-game losing streak with a 12-0 Atlantic Hockey Association win against American International on Oct. 23. … They are halfway through a six-game home stand which includes games against Rochester Institute of Technology, AHA champion and Frozen Four participant last season, No. 5 Yale and Colorado College, a perennial power in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. … Frank Serratore’s 215 wins rank atop the program’s all-time list. … The Falcons have struggled to find a replacement for graduated G Andrew Volkening. … Lamoreux’s twin sisters, Monique and Jocelyne, won silver with Team USA at the Vancouver Olympics.

Up next: vs. Army (Nov. 12-13, 7:05 p.m.)

The Erie Otters are close on the scoreboard. But they are falling behind in the standings.

The Otters fell to Oshawa 4-2 in front of 2,865 at Tullio Arena Saturday night, their second straight loss and ninth in the past 10 games. Erie (4-11-1-0) also has nine times by two goals or fewer.

“At least we’re in every game,” winger Shawn Szydlowski said. “At least we’re not getting blown out.”

The Generals (8-3-1-2), the highest-scoring team in the Eastern Conference and second highest overall, wasted little time in gaining the lead. Andy Andreoff scored his seventh goal of the season, off an assist from Lucas Lessio, to take a 1-0 lead 1:49 into the opening period. Meanwhile, the Otters’ power play, which ranks among the league leaders, failed on all three chances with the man advantage in the period.

The Otters finally solved Generals backup goaltender Kevin Bailie midway through the second period, as the No. 1 line of Mike Cazzola, Greg McKegg and Szydlowski combined to tie the score at 1. The Generals regained the lead at 2-1 on Andreoff’s second goal of the night 1:05 after Szydlowski’s goal. But rookie Macaulay McDonnell tied the score at 2 with 5:10 left in the period.

In the period’s waning moments, the Otters failed to capitalize on a puck in the crease. On Oshawa’s ensuing rush down ice, Jeff Brown pushed a rebound in the crease past Otters goaltender Ramis Sadikov for Brown’s first goal of the season and a 3-2 Generals’ lead.

That lead stood up in the third period, as Bailie faced only six shots he faced to earn his first win of the season. The Otters failed on three power-play opportunities in the third, including an early 5-on-3 for nearly two minutes, and finished the game 0-for-7.

With Sadikov on the bench for an extra attacker during a 6-on-4 power play late in the game, Generals winger Alain Berger sealed the Otters’ fate with a short-handed, empty-net goal.

Andreoff and Berger (goal, assist) led the Generals’ attack. Sadikov made 27 saves for the Otters.

* News and notes: Otters winger Anthony Luciani will have the cast on his injured right wrist removed on Tuesday. He hopes to learn a return date on that day. … The Generals played without leading scorer Christian Thomas (11 goals, 19 points), who was suspended because of a match penalty for slew footing on Friday against Belleville. … Aaron Beaton, a longtime Otters and Mercyhurst College fan who died Sept. 25 because of complications from a stroke, was honored in a pregame ceremony. Members from local youth, high school and college teams, including Lakers forwards Meghan Agosta and Brandon Coccimiglio, formed a circle at center ice and raised their sticks in the air during a moment of silence.

- Victor Fernandes

SUMMARY

Generals 4, Otters 2

Oshawa  1  2  1  —  4

Erie  0  2  0  —  2

1^st Period — 1. Oshawa, Andy Andreoff 7 (Lessio), 1:49. Penalties — Sabourin (O) hooking, 3:13; Lessio (O) cross checking, 10:30; Szydlowski (E) hooking, 12:40. Penalties — McKegg (E) no goal, 11:02; Valentine (O) hooking, 17:04.

2^nd Period — 2. Erie, Shawn Szydlowski 7 (McKegg, Cazzola), 10:40. 3. Oshawa, Andreoff 8 (McDowell, Jensen), 11:45. 4. Erie, Macaulay McDonnell 3 (Holden, Broll), 14:50. 5. Oshawa, Jeff Brown 1 (Jenner, Berger), 18:53. Penalties — Cook (E) 5-min. fighting, 2:44; Clark (O) 5-min. fighting, 2:44; Valentine (O) slashing, 5:28; McKegg (E) holding the stick, 5:37.

3^rd Period — 8. Oshawa, Alain Berger 7 (Labardo), 18:39 (sh-en). Penalties — Clark (O) tripping, 6:19; Valentine (O) checking from behind, 6:29; Suellentrop (O) hooking, 17:30.

Shots on goal — Oshawa, 8-11-12—31; Erie, 10-11-6—27.

Goaltenders — Oshawa, Kevin Bailie 1-1-0-1 (27 shots, 25 saves); Erie, Ramis Sadikov 4-8-1-0 (30 shots, 27 saves).

Power plays — Oshawa (0-2), Erie (0-7).

Referees — Joel Washkurak, Dave Lewis. Linesmen — Mike Harrington, Sean Pindar.

Attendance — 2,865.

Three stars

* Andy Andreoff, Generals (2 goals) ** Macaulay McDonnell, Otters (goal) *** Adam Pelech, Otters (defense)

What: Canisius (1-1-0, 0-0-0 AHA)

at Mercyhurst College (0-2-1, 0-0-0)

When: Tuesday, 7:05 p.m.

Where: Mercyhurst Ice Center

On the air: www.wmce.com (Internet radio), www.b2livetv.com (Internet video)

Players to watch

Mercyhurst – So. F Phil Ginand (1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points), So. F Grant Blakey (1-0-1), Sr. F Brandon Coccimiglio (1-0-1), Sr. F Mike Gurtler (0-1-1), Fr. So. F Paul Chiasson (1-1-2)

Canisius – Sr. F Cory Conacher (3-2-5), Sr. F Vincent Scarsella (1-3-4), So. D Wes Love (1-1-2), Sr. F Eric Rex (1-1-2), Jr. G Dan Morrison (1-1-0 record, 2.93 goals-against average, .939 save percentage)

Rick Gotkin (Contributed/USCHO.com)

Fast facts

Mercyhurst – The Lakers begin their Atlantic Hockey Association schedule with the first of three meetings against the Golden Griffins. These teams conclude the regular season with a home-and-home series Feb. 25-26. … The Lakers look to rebound from a pair of one-goal losses at home to Western Michigan this past weekend. … The 1-0 loss on Saturday was their first shutout loss at home since a 7-0 loss to Air Force on Feb. 9, 2008. … The Lakers have another chance to earn coach Rick Gotkin (399-274-53 record in 23 seasons) his 400^th career win. With a win, he becomes the 36^th NCAA men’s hockey coach to reach the 400-win mark. He would be the 24^th coach to reach that plateau while spending 10 or more years at the Division I level and the 11^th to earn 400 wins at the same school. … Ginand, who has returned from last November’s season-ending knee surgery, scored a goal against WMU – his first

Cory Conacher (Contributed/Canisius College)

goal and point since Oct. 24, 2009, against Army. … Freshman G Jordan Tibbett (0-2-1, 1.96, .944) earned the start in both games against WMU in place of suspended senior Ryan Zapolski and ahead of junior Max Strang.Tibbett, who stopped 62-of-66 shots, ranks among the top 15 nationally in goals-against average and save percentage. … The Lakers, which have faced Canisius more than any other school in their history, hold a 34-21-9 advantage in the all-time series.

Canisius – The Golden Griffins ended Mercyhurst’s 2009-10 season with a two-game sweep at MIC in the AHA quarterfinals. … They won five of six meetings with the Lakers last season, including all four at MIC. … They haven’t played since splitting a two-game series at WMU on Oct. 8-9. … They continue a season-opening, five-game road trip. They play at Sacred Heart this weekend. … Conacher leads the nation with 2.50 points per game and is tied for first with 1.50 goals per game. He finished tied for first in points (53) and second in points per game (1.51) last season. … Scarsella is tied for fifth with 2.00 points per game and 1.50 assists per game. … Rex, a Fairview native, already has matched his offensive totals from last season (two goals, two points in nine games). … The Golden Griffins were picked to finish sixth in the AHA preseason poll, four spots behind the Lakers.

Up next: vs. U.S. National Under-18 Team (exhibition – Sunday, 7:05 p.m.)

- Victor Fernandes

What: Western Michigan (1-1-0) at Mercyhurst College (0-0-1)

When: Friday and Saturday, 7:05 p.m.

Where: Mercyhurst Ice Center

On the air: www.wmce.com (Internet radio), www.b2livetv.com (Internet video)

Players to watch: Mercyhurst – So. F Phil Ginand (0 goals, 1 assist, 1 point), So. F Grant Blakey (1-0-1), Sr. F Brandon Coccimiglio (1-0-1), Sr. F Mike Gurtler (0-1-1), Fr. G Jordan Tibbett (0-0-1 record, 1.70 goals-against average, .957 save percentage); Western Michigan – Sr. C Max Campbell (2-1-3), Jr. F Greg Squires (1-1-2), So. D Matt Tennyson (1-1-2), Fr. F Chase Balisy (0-2-2), So. G Nick Pisellini (1-0-0, 1.91, .889)

Rick Gotkin (Contributed/USCHO.com)

Fast facts

Mercyhurst – The Lakers look to avenge a two-game series loss in Kalamazoo, Mich. last October (5-1 and 4-3). … They have won one of four career meetings with the Broncos, a 7-4 victory in 2003. … The Lakers begin their home schedule by hosting a school from a power conference for the first time since beating then-No. 7 Princeton (ECAC) 6-4 on Nov. 29, 2008. … The Lakers were 8-7-1 at home last season. … With a win, coach Rick Gotkin (399-272-53 record in 23 seasons) becomes the 36^th NCAA men’s hockey coach to reach the 400-win mark. He would be the 24^th coach to reach that plateau while spending 10 or more years at the Division I level and the 11^th to earn 400 wins at the same school. … Tibbett makes his first collegiate start in goal. He stopped 22-of-23 shots in relief of junior Max Strang in a 4-4 tie against then-No. 4 Michigan on Oct. 2. Tibbett stopped 12-of-12 shots a night later in an exhibition win against Queen’s (Ontario) University. … Senior goaltender Ryan Zapolski is serving a five-game suspension for violating team rules. He’s eligible to return for the Oct. 24 exhibition game against the United States National Team Development Program’s Under-18 team. … The Lakers are holding several fundraising events this weekend to benefit the Marley and Alexa Beaton Education Trust Fund. Their father, Aaron, a longtime Lakers and Erie Otters fan and a key sponsor of the Erie Lady Lions’ Timbit program, died on Sept. 25 because of complications from a stroke. Proceeds from ticket sales, raffles and donations will be placed into the fund. … Blakey faces his former teammates (Squires and freshman F Shane Berschbach) and coach/general manager (Jeff Blashill) from the United States Hockey League’s Indiana Ice.

Western Michigan – The Broncos split a season-opening, two-game series against Canisius, the Lakers’ rival in the Atlantic Hockey Association, on home ice last weekend. They lost the opener 5-3 before rebounding with a 3-2 overtime win. … Blashill takes over a program that finished 8-20-8 overall and last in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (4-17-7) last season. … The Broncos were picked to finish 10^th out of 11 teams in the CCHA’s preseason poll. … Their top three scorers (Squires, Campbell and junior F J.J. Crew return from an offense that didn’t have a double-digit goal scorer last season.

Up next: vs. Canisius (Tuesday, 7:05 p.m.), vs. U.S. National Under-18 Team (Oct. 24, 7:05 p.m.)