Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
2-2-0, 2-2-0AHA
Canisius
2-2-0, 1-1-0AHA
Gahagen, Black Knights Blank Canisius
October 18, 2014 | Hockey
Oct. 18, 2014
WEST POINT, N.Y. - Behind 28 saves from goaltender Parker Gahagen, the Army hockey team shut out visiting Canisius, 3-0, on Saturday night at Tate Rink. It was the third-straight season the Black Knights have blanked the Griffs.
Army (2-2-0, 2-2-0 AHA) responded after a tough loss last night with a great effort in its first shut out of the season. C.J. Reuschlein, Brendan McGuire and Maurice Alvarez each scored for the Black Knights, while Alvarez and McGuire recorded multi-point games with a goal and an assist each. Rookie Tyler Pham continued his hot start with another assist and has points in all four games for Army.
The Golden Griffins (2-2-0, 1-1-0 AHA) got 27 saves from Keegan Asmundson, but couldn't solve Gahagen. They managed 28 shots on net and had three power play chances. "It feels great to get a win tonight," said Gahagen. "It was a great feeling to get the shutout, but it was a good team win for us. It was good to get that first shutout off my shoulders."
The Black Knights struck first with Reuschlein banging in a rebound 32 seconds into the game to give Army a 1-0 lead. McGuire skated the puck around the net and found Alvarez for a one-timer at the face-off dot. Asmundson made the stop, but couldn't control the rebound and Reuschlein put it home for his second of the year.
The second period didn't have any scoring, but it didn't lack any action. Each netminder stood tall and kept the puck out of the net. Both teams had chances on the power play in the second, including back-to-back man advantage opportunities for the Golden Griffins in the final five minutes. The Black Knights were able to kill both penalties off and entered the second intermission with the one-goal lead.
Army increased its advantage early in the final frame with McGuire jamming home his own rebound, 1:22 into the third. Clint Carlisle shoveled a drop pass to McGuire in the slot and he fired a wrister on net that Asmundson pushed aside. McGuire stuck with the play and beat the diving goaltender on the rebound to give Army some breathing room at 2-0.
Alvarez put the game out of reach with a power play goal with 13:54 on the clock. It was another rebound tally with Pham putting the initial shot on net. Conor Andrle found Pham at the point with a cross-ice pass. The rookie fired a shot that Asmundson stopped, but Alvarez got a piece of the puck as he was being hauled down in the crease. It was his first of the season and it gave Army the 3-0 win.
The Black Knights improved on special teams with a power play on three chances and kept Canisius off the board after two goals with the man advantage last night. Army also held a slim 30-28 shot advantage in the game.
"Tonight we got a great team win," head coach Brian Riley said. "Canisius is a good team and going into the third we just wanted to make sure we played our game and make it easier by not taking any penalties."
The Black Knights return to Tate Rink for another Atlantic Hockey two-game series with Robert Morris coming to West Point, beginning on Friday night at 7:05 p.m.
To order your tickets, visit www.goARMYsports.com/tickets, call 1-877-TIX-ARMY or stop by the Army Ticket Office located at Gate 3 of Michie Stadium. Visit goARMYsports.com/tickets for more information.
Game Notes: Reuschlein scored his second goal of the season and first since the season opener ... McGuire scored points in both games this weekend ... this was the 47th meeting between the two schools ... Gahagen made his 15th career start in net for the Black Knights ... Pham has a four-game point streak to start the season ... Army shuts out Canisius for the third-straight season and third time in six games.
