(Canton, N.Y.)- The SUNY Canton men's ice hockey team played their first ever home game on campus Friday night and made quite a debut before a packed house as they blasted Lebanon Valley College 8-0.
The Roos fed off the energetic atmosphere created by the crowd that seemed to be just as happy to be in their home arena as the team did. The Roos led 1-0 after one period and then distanced themselves from the Dutchman with a four-goal second period, and then left no doubt about the outcome with three more goals in the final period.
The game was an impressive offensive display as both teams combined for nearly 100 shots. The Roos held a 56-40 advantage in that category to earn their first win of the year. Lebanon Valley fell to 0-2.
“This was just a terrific experience tonight,” said head coach Eric McCambly. “The crowd was electric right from the beginning and the fans were just phenomenal. We've always dreamed of a place like this and it's so great for the whole campus.”
Prior to the start of the game a moment of silence was held for Emma Rose and former player Corey Bercume who both passed away this year. Rose was a devoted supporter of SUNY Canton ice hockey and Bercume a two-year standout defenseman. SUNY Canton president Dr. Joseph Kennedy and his wife Dine dropped the ceremonial opening faceoff between seniors
Darren Camp (Canton, N.Y.) and
Rob Liggio (Canton, N.Y.)
The game was also a successful collegiate debut for freshman goalie
Morgan Barr (Almont, Ontario) who made 40 saves for his first career shutout.
Camp (Canton, N.Y.) got the Roos going with his first of two goals at the 17:28 mark of the first period. Liggio and junior
John Payne (Port Moody, N.Y.) assisted on the goal and the trio would hook up again midway through the third period.
Junior
Corey Frizell (Orleans, Ontario) netted two consecutive goals in the second period scoring at the 10:36 mark from freshmen
Sean Gallagher (Sandwich, Mass.) and
Jake Rakitis (Long Beach, Calif.) and again at the 10:36 mark, this time from freshman JR Lafferty (Williamstown, N.J.) and senior
Dan Cibelli (Liverpool, N.Y.).
Cibelli then scored an impressive short-handed goal just four minutes later. After a strong forecheck, Cibelli stole the puck deep in the offensive zone and made a nice move on Lebanon Valley's Dan Ramirez to score and the lead was now 4-0. Freshman
Dave Schneider (Indianapolis, Ind.) scored the final goal of the second and the Roos were ahead 5-0.
Camp made it 6-0 with his second goal following a shot from Liggio that trickled out into the crease. Camp got turned around but somehow managed to push the puck back between his legs and into the goal. Payne and sophomore
Eric Richard ( St-Hubert, Quebec) also scored in the third period.
Barr was named the 3rd star after the game, Camp was the 2nd star and Frizell the 1st star.
The two teams square off again on Saturday starting at 2 p.m. The game will follow a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 12 noon as part of the grand opening of SUNY Canton's new athletic facility.
