Mercyhurst (17-13-4, 14-7-4 AHA) at Canisius (9-19-4, 9-13-3)

When: Friday, 7:05 p.m.

Where: Buffalo State Sports Arena, Buffalo

On the air: www.b2livetv.com (live stream), www.gogriffs.com (Internet radio, live statistics)

Up next: vs. Canisius (Saturday, 7:05 p.m.)

Fast facts: Mercyhurst enters the final weekend of the regular season with a chance to win the Atlantic Hockey Association’s regular-season championship for the first time. … The Lakers are tied for third with Bentley and Niagara at 32 points – one point behind front-running Air Force and one behind second-place Rochester Institute of Technology. Holy Cross (31 points) and Robert Morris (29) are behind the Lakers in sixth and seventh, respectively. … Mercyhurst holds tiebreakers over Air Force, Bentley and Holy Cross, but not over Niagara, RIT and RMU. … Mercyhurst would secure a bye in next weekend’s first round of the AHA playoffs and home-ice advantage for the quarterfinals in two weeks by finishing among the top four in the standings. … The Lakers can finish as low as seventh. If the Lakers finish fifth, sixth or seventh, they would play a first-round game at Mercyhurst Ice Center. … They have three of their last five games, but are 5-5-2 since recording their second four-game winning streak of the season. … They are 6-4-3 in AHA road games. … Redshirt junior G Max Strang will start tonight. … Junior F Grant Blakey (lower-body injury) won’t play this weekend. He already has missed nearly a month. … Canisius stands ninth in the conference with 21 points, three behind Connecticut. The Golden Griffins need to sweep Mercyhurst and two UConn losses to 10^th-place American International to host a first-round game against UConn. … Canisius has won six of the past nine meetings with the Lakers.

- Victor Fernandes

Eric Rex (Contributed/Canisius College, Tom Wolf Imaging)

Fairview native Eric Rex recently signed with the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads, according to the club’s website.

He capped his four-year NCAA Division I career at Canisius this past winter by setting career highs with nine goals, 18 assists and 27 points in 37 games. He had 40 goals and 40 points in 103 games at Canisius.

The Steelheads are affiliated with the NHL’s Dallas Stars and AHL’s Texas Stars.

According to a USCHO.com story, Central Collegiate Hockey Association officials will meet with representatives from Mercyhurst College and fellow Atlantic Hockey Association schools Canisius, Niagara and Robert Morris on Tuesday in Erie.

Read the full story by clicking the link.

Eric Rex (Contributed/Canisius College, Tom Wolf Imaging)

After enjoying the best season of his collegiate career, senior forward Eric Rex (Fairview) of the Canisius College hockey team is continuing his career with the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the CHL.

During his senior campaign with the Golden Griffins, Rex set career highs with 27 points, nine goals and 18 assists. His 27 points ranked third on the team and were more than double his total from his first three seasons combined.

“We are excited to have Eric join our squad,” said Killer Bees head coach Chris Brooks. “Depth is so critically important in the playoffs and I believe Eric brings that to our team.”

In his four years at Canisius, Rex totaled 40 points, 14 goals and 26 assists in 103 career games.

Rex is the third Griff to join a professional team this offseason. He joins Cory Conacher and Vincent Scarsella, who signed with the Rochester Americans (AHL) and the Elmira Jackals (ECHL), respectively.

- From Canisius College news release

Eric Rex (Contributed/Canisius College, Tom Wolf Imaging)

Fairview native Eric Rex isn’t a quitter. So he waited three long years for his chance to play regularly at Canisius. Given his success as a senior, it was well worth the wait.

He has 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) this season – three times more than his previous career high of six points and eight points more than the combined total from his first three seasons.

“It’s tough to be patient. It’s tough when you’re not playing in games, but you’re working hard in practice and working hard off the ice,” Rex, 23, said. “Now it’s just a nice feeling that it’s started to pay off. I’ve played in every game but one this year, and I’ve had success.

Rex plays his final regular-season home game Friday night against Atlantic Hockey Association foe Mercyhurst College. Then on Saturday night, he plays his final regular-season game at home, when the Golden Griffins travel to Mercyhurst Ice Center to face the Lakers.

Family and friends will be on hand to watch Rex play. “I have the support of an amazing family and great friends,” he said. “They were always there for me when I needed them.”

That support system helped Rex never waver on his commitment to Canisius. He appeared in a career-low nine games as a junior after dressing for 57 games in his first two seasons. “I’ve never really quit at anything in my life,” he said. “I never even thought about leaving or seeking other options. (Playing at Canisius) was just something that I wanted to continue pursuing and be successful at it.”

The Golden Griffins (10-16-6, 9-11-5 AHA) are last in the conference’s six-team West pod, one point behind the Lakers. But before concluding his college career, Rex wants a return trip to Blue Cross Arena in Rochester for the AHA tournament’s Final Four and the program’s first AHA championship. “We’re excited for that opportunity, for that challenge,” he said.

- Victor Fernandes

What: Mercyhurst College (13-15-4, 11-12-2 AHA) vs. Canisius (10-16-6, 9-11-5)

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

Where: Friday at Buffalo State Sports Arena; Saturday at Mercyhurst Ice Center

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

Players to watch

Mercyhurst – Sr. G Ryan Zapolski (11-12-3 record, 2.88 goals-against average, .919 save percentage, 2 shutouts), Sr. F Scott Pitt (15-18-33), So. F Paul Chiasson (16-14-31), Fr. F Taylor Holstrom (8-21-29), Sr. F Mike Gurtler (7-16-23)

Canisius – Sr. F Cory Conacher (19-13-32), Sr. F Vincent Scarsella (10-16-26), Fr. D Ben Danford (2-20-22), Sr. F Eric Rex (7-14-21), Jr. G Dan Morrison (7-13-4, 3.50, .903, 1 SO)

Fast facts

Mercyhurst – The Lakers, who are winless in their last four games (0-3-1), will clinch the fifth spot in the Atlantic Hockey Association’s West pod with a win in the regular season-ending series with the sixth-place Golden Griffins. … The Lakers will begin the playoffs on the road against the West pod’s third or fourth seed. … Redshirt sophomore F Phil Ginand (upper-body injury) is out for the season. … Senior F Steve Cameron (lower body) could miss the rest of the season. … Freshman F Nick Jones (upper body) will miss this weekend’s games. But coach Rick Gotkin hopes he will be cleared to play for the playoffs. … Junior D Patrick Goebel (upper body) rejoins the lineup after missing the past two weekends. …The school will honor seniors Cameron, Gurtler, Pitt, Zapolski, Jeff Terminesi, Ryan Raven and Jesse Echternach before Saturday’s game. … The Lakers lost 5-2 to Canisius in October, but they lead the all-time series 34-22-9. … Gurtler needs nine points to become the 15^th player in the program’s NCAA Division I history to reach 100 career points and the third this season (Pitt and Cameron). Gurtler also needs two short-handed goals to equal the program’s Division I career record of 10 set by Louis Goulet (1998-2002), now an assistant coach with the women’s team. … Zapolski, an Erie native, has 46 career wins, four shy of being the Lakers’ first goaltender to reach 50 since Peter Aubry in 2002. … The Lakers are tied for ninth nationally in scoring offense (3.53 goals per game), one spot ahead of Air Force (3.56).

Canisius – The Golden Griffins snapped a three-game losing streak (all by shutout) with a 6-3 win at Niagara on Saturday. … They were shut out in three straight games for the first time in the program’s 31-year history. … Conacher is the Division I program’s all-time leading scorer (132 points). … Danford has set a new program record for points by a rookie defenseman. … Fairview native Rex’s 21 points are eight more than his first three seasons combined. … The Golden Griffins have won four straight against the Lakers and five in a row at MIC.

Up next: at Atlantic Hockey Association tournament – first round (TBA)

* Radio broadcast – home game only

– 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: 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

(in order of predicted finish)

Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers

2009-10 record: 28-12-1, 22-5-1 AHA

Coach: Wayne Wilson, 12th season (216-103-25)

Players to watch: Jr. F Cameron Burt (16-31-47), Sr. F Andrew Favot (13-33-46), Jr. F Tyler Brenner (15-11-26), D Chris Haltigin (11-13-24), C Sean Murphy (6-13-19)

Outlook: The Tigers enjoyed a magical ride to the conference’s first NCAA Division I Frozen Four berth last season. If they find a replacement for graduated G Jared DeMichiel (27-10-1, 2.09, .920, 5 SO in 2009-10), they will have the inside track for another trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Mercyhurst Lakers

2009-10 record: 15-20-3, 15-10-3 AHA

Coach: Rick Gotkin, 23rd season (399-272-52)

Players to watch: R-So. F Phil Ginand (15 goals, 19 assists, 34 points in 2008-09), Sr. F Mike Gurtler (14-16-30 in 2009-10), Sr. F Brandon Coccimiglio (14-14-28), Sr. G Ryan Zapolski (15-17-3 record, 2.79 goals-against average, .918 save percentage, 2 shutouts), Sr. D Jeff Terminesi (5-13-18, plus-17)

Outlook: Ginand’s return to a lineup filled with size makes the Lakers an imposing team in the conference. They will be in contention for the conference title until the end of the season.

Air Force Falcons

2009-10 record: 16-15-6, 14-8-6 AHA

Coach: Frank Serratore, 13th season (198-212-32)

Players to watch: Sr. F Jacques Lamoureux (22-20-42), Sr. F Derrick Burnett (10-23-33), Jr. D Tim Kirby (5-19-24), So. F Kyle De Laurell (6-12-18), Jr. D Scott Mathis (2-14-16)

Outlook: Lamoureux, whose sisters, Jocelyne and Monique, won silver with Team USA at the Vancouver Olympics, leads a veteran Falcons’ team. But they need to replace their longtime starter in net, Andrew Volkening (16-15-6, 2.44, .918 in 2009-10).

Canisius Golden Griffins

2009-10 record: 17-15-5, 13-11-4 AHA

Coach: Dave Smith, 6th season (N/A)

Players to watch: Sr. F Cory Conacher (20-33-53), Sr. F Vincent Scarsella (11-30-41), So. F Preston Shupe (10-15-25), Jr. G Dan Morrison (12-11-3, 3.16, .906, 3 SO)

Outlook: Conacher, the reigning AHA player of the year, and Scarsella ignite one of the nation’s leading offenses. But the Golden Griffins need to replace two key weapons in Josh Heidinger (11-28-39 in 2009-10) and Carl Hudson (14-20-34).

Sacred Heart Pioneers

2009-10 record: 21-13-4, 16-9-3 AHA

Coach: C.J. Marottolo, 1st season (0-0-0)

Players to watch: Sr. F Patrick Knowlton (13-26-39), Jr. F Matt Gingera (11-12-23), Sr. F David Berube (10-7-17), So. D Alex Stuart (1-10-11), So. Steven Legatto (19-10-3, 3.10, .907, 2 SO)

Outlook: Marottolo takes over a program that lost four of its top five players from the 2009-10 team. But he still had Legatto, who had a standout season in net as a freshman.

Army Black Knights

2009-10 record: 11-18-7, 10-12-6 AHA

Coach: Brian Riley, 7th season (79-102-32)

Players to watch: Sr. F Cody Omilusik (18-16-34), Jr. F Mike Hull (8-20-28), D Marcel Alvarez (6-14-20), Jr. F Danny Colvin (6-12-18), Sr. G Jay Clark (11-16-5, 3.00, .908, 1 SO)

Outlook: The Black Knights lost leading scorer Eric Sefchik (11-24-35 in 2009-10). But they return enough talent, led by Omilusik up front and Clark in net, to enjoy a solid season.

Robert Morris Colonials

2009-10 record: 10-19-6, 6-10-4 CHA

Coach: Derek Schooley, 6th season (59-94-20)

Players to watch: Sr. F Nathan Longpre (14-17-31), Sr. F Chris Kushneriuk (11-18-29), Sr. D Denny Urban (10-14-24), Jr. F Trevor Lewis (5-16-21), Jr. G Brooks Ostergard (9-16-3, 3.13, .906)

Outlook: The Colonials take a veteran club into their inaugural AHA season. But in this conference, they should be middle of the pack.

Niagara Purple Eagles

2009-10 record: 12-20-4, 6-10-2 CHA

Coach: Dave Burkholder, 10th season (156-141-32)

Players to watch: Sr. F Bryan Haczyk (9-13-22), Sr. F Paul Zanette (11-10-21), So. F Marc Zanette (7-13-20), Jr. G Chris Noonan (7-9-1, 3.20, .909)

Outlook: The Purple Eagles join former College Hockey America counterpart Robert Morris in the now 12-team AHA. With the departure of leading scorers Chris Moran (9-33-42 in 2009-10), Ryan Olidis (14-19-33) and Tyler Gotto (11-14-25), their first season could be difficult.

Bentley Falcons

2009-10 record: 12-19-4, 10-15-3 AHA

Coach: Ryan Soderquist, 9th season (99-154-28)

Players to watch: So. F Joe Campanelli (10-15-25), So. F Dan Koudys (6-14-20), So. F Brett Hartung (10-5-15), Jr. G Kyle Rank (8-12-3, 3.33, .895)

Outlook: The Falcons relied on several underclassmen last season. Those players are back to lead the way again this year.

Holy Cross Crusaders

2009-10 record: 12-19-6, 10-13-5 AHA

Coach: Paul Pearl, 16th season (226-226-54)

Players to watch: So. F Rob Linsmayer (4-15-19), Jr. F Jay Silvia (10-4-14), Jr. D Mike Daly (3-10-13), So. G Thomas Tysowsky (11-17-6, 2.43, .910, 2 SO)

Outlook: The Crusaders need to replace three of their top four scorers – Jordan Cyr (14-16-30), Everett Sheen (9-11-20) and Brodie Sheahan (10-4-14). That should be difficult, since the team scored only 87 goals in 37 games last season.

Connecticut Huskies

2009-10 record: 7-27-3, 6-19-3 AHA

Coach: Bruce Marshall, 23rd season (301 wins)

Players to watch: Sr. F Andrew Olson (9-10-19), So. F Sean Ambrosie (7-11-18), Sr. F Jason Krispel (3-12-15), So. G Garrett Bartus (5-14-1, 3.26, .900)

Outlook: Marshall recorded his 300th career win last season. But the Huskies didn’t win many more games. Offense was a culprit, as they scored 59 goals in 37 games.

American International Yellow Jackets

2009-10 record: 5-24-4, 5-19-4 AHA

Coach: Gary Wright, 27th season (264-466-55)

Players to watch: So. F Adam Pleskach (15-9-24), Sr. F Steve McLeod (9-13-22), Sr. F Tom Mele (9-8-17), Jr. F Nielsson Arcibal (3-12-15), So. G Ben Meisner (4-12-2, 3.66, .901, 3 SO)

Outlook: The Yellow Jackets return 17 letterwinners from the 2009-10 team. But that team struggled in many facets of the game. Don’t expect much different this season.

- Victor Fernandes

The Mercyhurst College men’s hockey team has been picked to finish second this season in the Atlantic Hockey Association Preseason Coaches Poll, released Tuesday afternoon at AHA Media Day in Rochester, N.Y.

The Lakers earned 101 points and two of the possible 12 first-place votes.

RIT, which made history last season as the first AHA team to advance to the NCAA Men’s Frozen Four, was picked as the early favorite to win the conference this season with 118 points and eight first-place votes.

Air Force was tabbed third with 98 points, followed by newcomers Robert Morris (82) and Niagara (82) in a tie for fourth, with the Colonials garnering the final two first-place nods. Both teams enter their first season as full-fledged AHA members after leaving College Hockey America.

Canisius, (63) Sacred Heart (61), Holy Cross (60), Army (48), Bentley (47), Connecticut (21) and American International (11) rounded out the poll in spots 6 – 12. The Lakers officially open the 2010-11 season when they face Michigan on Oct. 2 in Ann Arbor, Mich. Game time is slated for 7:35 p.m.

- From Mercyhurst news release