BUFFALO, NY - Hockey fans were on their feet. Just 22 seconds into the game, off a rush, Canisius forward Shane Conacher ’17 slipped a puck past the Ohio State net-minder.
The crowd of nearly 2,000, clad in Canisius blue and gold, erupted.
That goal put more than the first point on the scoreboard; it showed that the Golden Griffins were finally home.
It was nearly one year ago, October 31, 2014, that Canisius christened its new home in HARBORCENTER in downtown Buffalo. This new season, which opened October 10 against Penn State, marks the first full year the Ice Griffs will play in the $172 million hockey and entertainment complex. Expectations are great and appreciation is even greater.
“We play with passion, energy and an enthusiasm that the team draws from the crowd – that is what home ice advantage is,” Head Coach David Smith says. “My goal and the goal of the program is to make Golden Griffins’ games at HARBORCENTER a destination on Friday and Saturday nights. Let’s turn the music up, get the kids excited about the fast pace of the game and make it a special place.”
In many ways, it already is. Attendance numbers during the first season at HARBORCENTER jumped 50 percent from the previous season, to an average of 1,100 per game. The fan experience is further enhanced with a Tim Hortons and 716 Food and Sport. The hockey-themed sports bar serves concessions during games.
For Smith, his players and the Canisius community, HARBORCENTER is a coveted college venue. The complex features two NHL-sized rinks and Impact Sports Performance, a 4,500-square-foot, state-of-the-art hockey training facility that enables Canisius to recruit, train and develop elite players from around the country and the world.
“This is a huge leap forward for us,” Smith says. “We are able to get into homes of the top recruits now because we have such a unique facility.”
As the primary tenant of HARBORCENTER, Canisius plays all home games on the feature rink with a capacity crowd of 1,800. HARBORCENTER is the first-of-its-kind partnership between the National Hockey League and a college.
“Having a strong Division I hockey team play at HARBORCENTER helps the Buffalo Sabres organization to grow hockey in the community,” says Michael M. Gilbert ’90, vice president for public and community relations for the Buffalo Sabres. “Practically speaking, it’s convenient for our scouts to go over and watch Canisius games, and it benefits the college players because they all want to make it to the NHL someday.”
Shane Conacher is no exception. He plans to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Cory ’11, who spent several years in the NHL before recently signing a two-year contract with the SC Bern of the Swiss National League.
“A few times, the Sabres practiced before or after us,” Shane Conacher says. “We were able to watch the practice and interact with the players. It’s pretty cool to see first-hand what the pro-hockey world is all about.”
The professional hockey environment includes a top-notch locker room, made possible by donor support. The 1,300-square-foot space features a dry area, lounge, separate changing rooms, coaches’ suites and six high-definition televisions.
“It really changes the mindset of a player when he has his own space,” Ralph Cuddemi ’16 says. “The team now spends more time together, whether it’s on the ice or in the lounge. We have coffee, play Xbox or watch game videos. The new space has definitely bonded us as a team.”
Photos of Canisius hockey alumni cover the locker room walls, reminding current players about the hockey legacy of Canisius.
“To look around and see the faces of the players who built this program, it inspires us,” Cuddemi says. “We wouldn’t have this incredible home rink without their hard work.”
Attorney Joseph R. Casacci ’80 is one of those trailblazers. He was the Ice Griffs’ first varsity captain and lobbied the college to upgrade the team from club to varsity.
“Back when we were paving the way, our dream was to have a home rink,” Casacci says. “It’s important for the current players to have an appreciation of the hard work and sacrifices made by the players who came before them, and to recognize that it is an honor and a privilege to play for Canisius University.”
HARBORCENTER hosts international hockey tournaments and the NHL Combine which involves physical testing of more than 100 NHL prospects and will host the NHL draft in 2016. These high-profile events place Canisius University in the national sports spotlight.
“When people walk through the door at HARBORCENTER, they immediately know it is the home of Canisius University hockey,” Gilbert says. “They realize it is the same facility where the Buffalo Sabres operate. That can only raise awareness for the Golden Griffins.”
“HARBORCENTER is in every conversation about hockey right now,” says Griffs Hockey Coach Dave Smith. “Word is quickly spreading about the beauty and uniqueness of our facility. It’s like a small fire that is quickly spreading and it’s great to be part of it.”
