Buffalo, N.Y. – The Mercyhurst Lakers Men's Ice Hockey team saw their season come to an end with a 2-0 loss to Canisius in the first round of the Atlantic Hockey Tournament on Saturday night at the LECOM Harborcenter. Despite a strong defensive effort and a solid performance from goaltender Carter McPhail, the Lakers were unable to find the back of the net against the Golden Griffins.
How It Happened:
Canisius took the lead at 9:50 of the first period when Kyle Haskins scored an unassisted goal to put the Golden Griffins ahead 1-0. The Lakers pressed for an equalizer but were held off the scoreboard as Canisius maintained their lead into the intermission.
The second period remained scoreless, with both teams struggling to generate high-quality scoring chances. Mercyhurst had a power-play opportunity midway through the period but failed to capitalize, while McPhail made several key saves to keep it a one-goal game.
In the third period, Canisius doubled their lead at 9:37, as Grant Porter found the back of the net off an assist from Alton McDermott, making it 2-0. The Lakers had one final power play late in the game but were unable to convert. Despite pulling McPhail for an extra attacker in the final minutes, Mercyhurst couldn't break through, as Canisius goaltender Ben Bonisteel secured the shutout victory.
Notable Performances:
Special Teams:
Up Next:
With the loss, Mercyhurst concludes their 2024-25 season with a 4-27-4 record. Canisius advances to the next round of the Atlantic Hockey Tournament, where they will face Bentley.
