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.

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

Fairview native Eric Rex has always felt at home in Mercyhurst Ice Center.

But that feeling has rubbed off on the rest of the Canisius College hockey team.

The Golden Griffins extended their win streak at MIC to five straight games with a 5-2 Atlantic Hockey Association win against Mercyhurst in front of 793 Tuesday night. “It’s exciting every time I come here,” said Rex, a senior forward who had a goal and assist. “It’s even better when we leave with a win.”

Canisius won five of six meetings with the Lakers last season, including all four in Erie. The Golden Griffins’ final two wins – in the AHA Tournament quarterfinals – ended the Lakers’ season.

Both teams are evenly matched, Rex said. Their styles are similar, too. Yet Canisius (2-1-0, 1-0-0 AHA) has enjoyed the upper hand. “It comes down to who wants it more in the end,” Rex said.

Lakers coach Rick Gotkin praised his team’s effort. The Lakers (0-3-1, 0-1-0) held two of the nation’s top offensive performers – seniors Cory Conacher and Vincent Scarsella – to a combined one point and the Golden Griffins’ normally dangerous power play to an 0-for-6 outing.

“We had too many mental lapses,” Gotkin said. Rex’s line capitalized on the Lakers’ miscues.

Rex and freshmen Ryan Bohrer and Kyle Gibbons combined for three goals and five points in their first game as linemates. Gibbons recorded the first two goals and three points of his collegiate career.

Gibbons turned an errant pass in the Lakers’ zone into a momentum-changing goal 9 minutes, 16 seconds into the opening period. That goal tied the score at 1 seven minutes after Lakers senior Ryan Raven opened the scoring with a short-handed goal.

“I feel like we clicked well,” Gibbons said. “Hopefully we’ll stay together and do well in the future.”

Gibbons scored again late in the second, with Rex earning an assist, 28 seconds after Matt Zuke snapped the 1-1 tie. Mercyhurst moved within 3-2 on freshman Taylor Holstrom’s power-play goal 4:25 into the third. But Rex scored with 8:55 left to regain a two-goal lead. He has two goals and four points in three games last season. That surpasses his total from last season (two goals, two points in nine games).

“They clearly were the better team,” Gotkin said. “We’ve just got to find a way to get better.”

The Lakers are struggling mightily on offense. Since totaling four goals in a season-opening tie against then-No. 4 Michigan, they have scored five goals in the past three regular-season games.

“I don’t think we’re getting some bounces out there. Pucks aren’t going in for us right now,” senior forward Mike Gurtler said. “I think guys are pressing. We’ve got to start finding the back of the net.”

Gurtler gave credit to the Golden Griffins for their play. But the Lakers’ struggles against them begins at home – as in their dressing room. “I don’t think it’s so much their team,” he said. “It’s more our team, what goes on her with us. We need to get better.”

* News and notes: Lakers goaltender Ryan Zapolski, an Erie native, completed his five-game suspension for violating team rules. The senior goaltender should play in Sunday’s exhibition game against the United States National Team Development Program’s Under-18 team. … Rex and Goebel were teammates with the Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets, a now-defunct team from the United States Hockey League. … The Golden Griffins arrived late because of a blown bus tire. The start of the game was delayed by 10 minutes. … Brennan Serville, a defenseman in Canisius’ 2011 rookie class, appears on NHL Central Scouting’s North American players to watch list for the 2011 draft. Serville, a defenseman, plays for the Stouffville Spirit in the Ontario Junior Hockey League.

VICTOR FERNANDES can be reached at 870-1716 or by e-mail.

SUMMARY

Canisius 5, Mercyhurst 2

Canisius  1  2  2  —  5

Mercyhurst  1  0  1  —  2

1^st Period — 1. Ryan Raven 2 (Jones), 2:18 (sh). 2. Canisius, Kyle Gibbons 1 (unassisted), 9:16. Penalties — Gurtler (M) boarding, :19; Carkin (M) high sticking, 4:25; Kenney (C) obstruction-hooking, 7:10; Mercyhurst, too many men (served by Coccimiglio), 16:12.

2^nd Period — 3. Canisius, Matt Zuke 1 (Rauch), 14:07. 4. Canisius, Gibbons 2 (Parker, Rex), 14:35. Penalties — Noble (M) interference, :39; Bohrer (C) hooking, 4:12; Goebel (M) roughing, 14:48.

3^rd Period — 5. Mercyhurst, Taylor Holstrom 2 (Cameron, Pitt), 4:25 (pp). 6. Canisius, Eric Rex 2 (Danford, Gibbons), 11:05. 7. Canisius, Scott Moser 1 (Conacher, Rauch), 18:19. Penalties — Moser (C) interference, 2:56; Conacher (C) interference, 12:14; Coccimiglio (M) hooking, 19:49.

Shots on goal — Canisius, 4-16-12—32; Mercyhurst, 10-15-12—37.

Goaltenders — Canisius, Dan Morrison 2-1-0 (27 shots, 25 saves); Mercyhurst, Jordan Tibbett 0-3-1 (32 shots, 27 saves).

Power plays — Canisius (0-6), Mercyhurst (1-4).

Referees — Steve Marofsky, Peter Feola. Linesmen — Zach Roberts, Chris Woodworth.

Attendance — 793.

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