Millcreek Township native Bryan Sienerth, who played for the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite’s Under-16 hockey club this past season, has verbally committed to Miami University, a NCAA Division I school in Oxford, Ohio. Sienerth, 17, chose the RedHawks over scholarship offers from Dartmouth and Mercyhurst.
Sienerth also had interest from other schools both in and out of the Ivy League. “I pretty much fell in love (with the school) as soon as I got there,” Sienerth said of Miami. He credited advice from Justin Mercier, a Millcreek Township native and former Miami standout who has played professionally in the NHL (Colorado Avalanche) and overseas, for helping him make his decision. “Everything fell into place,” Sienerth said.
Sienerth would join the RedHawks as part of the incoming freshman class for the 2015-16 season or 2016-17 season, depending on how well he plays in the next two seasons. He will play for the Penguins Elite’s Under-18 team next season, and possibly some games for the Sioux Falls (S.D.) Stampede, which selected Sienerth in the eighth round of the United States Hockey League draft last month. He hopes to play full time for Sioux Falls in the 2014-15 season.
The Erie Otters chose him in the 13th round of the 2012 OHL Priority Selection. He attended training camp in Ancaster, Ontario, last August as well as the club’s rookie development camp a month ago. He hasn’t ruled out the OHL in the future, since NCAA players can leave school to play at the major junior level.

- 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.

The Mercyhurst College men’s hockey team has signed goaltender Jordan Tibbett from the United States Hockey League‘s Youngstown (Ohio) Phantoms. Read more by clicking the link.

Rick Gotkin (Contributed/USCHO.com)

Nine student-athletes have agreed to continue their playing careers with the Mercyhurst College men’s hockey team this fall, head coach Rick Gotkin announced today. The class of 2014, consisting of six forwards and three defensemen, will join 17 players returning from a team that finished 15-20-3 in 2009-10.

Erik Kaminski
Assistant Director of Athletic Communications
Mercyhurst College
501 E. 38th Street
Erie, Pa. 16546
Phone: (814) 824-3338
Mobile: (412) 302-1278
Fax: (814) 824-2591
Website: www.hurstathletics.com

John Rosso (Contributed/Mercyhurst College)

Mercyhurst College Director of Athletics Joe Kimball announced Monday the hiring of John Rosso as a men’s hockey assistant coach. Rosso, who joins the head coach Rick Gotkin and the Lakers after serving in the same capacity with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League, replaces Brian Burke, who resigned in June to take over as head coach of Victory Honda in Michigan.

“We’re really excited to welcome John Rosso to the Laker family,” said Gotkin. “With his coaching and recruiting background, we know he will make an immediate impact on our players and the program, and continue to attract the kind of student-athletes that we like to recruit here at Mercyhurst.”

Rosso, a native of Hopkins, Minn., brings an extensive hockey background to the men’s hockey program, serving as an assistant coach and recruiting scout in the USHL, the North American Hockey League, Central Collegiate Hockey Association and Western Hockey League.

Most recently, Rosso helped Sioux Falls to a 27-24-9 record and a fifth-place finish in the Western Division this past season, falling just one point shy of clinching a playoff berth. He also served as the team’s top scout, recruiting and coaching 29 players that received NCAA Division I scholarships.

Prior to joining the Stampede in 2008, Rosso spent three seasons with the Alexandria Blizzard (NAHL), working under head coach and general manager Brad Willner. In his final season, the Blizzard compiled a 29-25-4 regular season record, won the Central Division playoffs and earned a spot in the Robertson Cup Finals.

Rosso got his start in coaching at his alma mater, the University of Nebraska-Omaha, in 2004, serving as a volunteer assistant coach. The Mavericks excelled with him on staff, building a 19-16-4 record and reaching the CCHA Super Six for the first time in four years.

A 2001 graduate of UNO, Rosso earned a degree in history while playing four years of hockey under head coach Mike Kemp. Rosso’s first season as a Maverick in 1997 was a memorable one, as the school reinstated hockey after a 21-year hiatus. Three years into his career the Mavericks made the move to the CCHA and, that same year, reached the conference final after a stunning 7-4 upset of Michigan in the CCHA Final Four. During his career, Rosso was honored with several awards including the UNO Student Achievement and Most Improved Player Awards.

After graduation, Rosso spent three years working as a recruiting scout with the Waterloo Blackhawks (USHL) in 2002, Portland Winterhawks (WHL) in 2003 and Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) in 2004 before returning to Omaha.

- From Mercyhurst College news release

Harborcreek Township native Billy Wager, 15, wasn’t selected in the North American Hockey League‘s Entry Draft.

The NAHL, a Tier II Junior A league with 28 teams across North America, conducted its 16-round draft on Wednesday. Wager, a goaltender, also was bypassed in the Ontario Hockey League and United States Hockey League drafts earlier this month.

Harborcreek Township native Billy Wager wasn’t selected in the United States Hockey League’s Futures Draft on Tuesday – nearly three weeks after being bypassed in the OHL Priority Selection.

Wager, 15, a sophomore at Harbor Creek High School, attended the inaugural USHL Combine last weekend in Orland Park, Ill. An Indiana Ice official contacted the family on Sunday about Wager’s interest in the USHL, the nation’s top junior league that features 16 teams located mainly in the Midwest.

Wager expressed his interest, his father, Bill, said, even though he likely would spend the next year or two developing his goaltending skills at the Under-18 or North American Hockey League level.

But every team passed on Wager in the Futures Draft, which consisted of prospects born in 1994. The USHL Entry Draft, which features players born between 1990 and 1993, is set for today.

Wager could be selected in the NAHL Entry Draft on May 26. He also has received offers from a few U-16 clubs. For now, Wager will focus on earning a spot with a U-18 AAA club.

A coach from Victory Honda, an AAA organization based in Plymouth Township, Mich., drove to Toronto a week ago to watch Wager play with the East Coast Selects in the Toronto Prospects Tournament. Victory Honda officials haven’t finalized their goaltending situation, Bill Wager said.

The Cleveland Barons invited Wager to participate in the team’s mini-camp this weekend. But he already committed to attend a tryout with the Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets this weekend.

- Victor Fernandes

– Victor Fernandes