Spectators might remember the 20 penalties in Monday’s game more than the final score. It was characteristic of a rivalry game, but for Canisius and Timon, it was almost expected. The rivalry and history is strong between the two schools. Players on both teams play for their schools and communities as well as just their teammates.
“We knew it was gonna be a hard game,” Canisius senior forward Joe Cooley said. “Fierce competitors, so we knew we had to just go out there and battle.”
“They’re always physical, so I think we started off slow but we came back in the third period,” added junior forward Logan Gare.
In the midst of the penalties, the Crusaders scored seven goals (only one of them on the power play) and the Tigers scored one. Three of Canisius’ goals, along with an assist, were scored by Cooley, and Gare added two goals and two assists as well.
Cooley’s first goal came 2:48 into the first period. Timon’s Joe Shanley tied the game at one just 22 seconds later, but Cooley scored his second of the game to give the Crusaders the lead for good less than two minutes later.
Captain Kevin Bennett added another in the second, and the Crusaders came out even stronger in the third. They outshot Timon 14-8 in the period (and took just four penalties), and both of Gare’s goals, along with Cooley’s third to complete the hat trick, came in the third. Matt Kreuzer also scored for Canisius. Senior goaltender Ryan O’Donnell finished the game with 21 saves.
The Crusaders hope to play every period as they did the third on Monday night as they look ahead to the rest of the season, especially Saturday’s game against Williamsville North.
“It’s a big one. It’s the first Monsignor Martin game for us,” said Cooley. “Just gotta work hard for all three periods. We gotta come out strong, which is what we did in the third period.”
“I think it’ll help us coming up Saturday against North,” Gare said. “Come out strong in the first and second periods. We would have done a lot better.”
As for the physical nature of the game — “It’s just hockey,” Cooley said. “It’s how it’s gonna be, so we’re prepared for that.”
“I think we gave it back to ’em too sometimes,” added Gare.