HIGH SCHOOL GAME OF THE WEEK: PITTSFORD VS. CANANDAIGUA
Jan 9, 2024For the next several weeks, the Rochester Americans will once again be front and center on the local high school hockey scene as part of a weekly series that features the latest news and notes, scores and stats of select Section V games around the Greater Rochester Area.
The week’s High School Game of the Week features the Pittsford Panthers (8-1-1) facing off with the Canandaigua Academy Braves (6-3-2) tonight at 6:00 p.m. at The Blue Cross Arena.
The Panthers enter Tuesday’s matchup holding the top spot in Class A and being the only team in the division with one regular-season loss. Seven of their eight wins have come on home ice while their eight wins overall are tied for second in the standings. Pittsford’s 57 goals scored are most in the standings while their 21 goals against are second-fewest.
Except for a 5-2 defeat to start the season and a 5-5 tie last Friday, Pittsford won eight straight contests, which included a pair of contests where they outscored the opposition by a combined 26-4.
Pittsford is looking for its third straight win against Canandaigua following a 5-1 score last season and a 6-3 victory in 2021-22. During the two previous contests, the Panthers outshot the Braves 82-37.
Of the 23 players on Pittsford’s roster, 15 have scored at least one goal while 20 have posted a point or more through the first 10 games of the 2023-24 campaign.
Brady McMahon tops the Panthers in both assists (18) and points (23) while Keegan Garver has a team-high 14 goals. Bradley Pollard (15), Drew Ricketts (11), David Pollard (10) and Keegan Ahern (10) all have reached double figures in points, respectively.
Stratos Triantafilou (1-2-0) and Ryan Corey (1-0-0) have alternated appearances in the crease as they have combined for a 2-3-0 record and 150 saves. Triantafilou has a 3.92 goals-against average in 131 minutes while Corey has played 107 minutes in two appearances.
Wilson Szydlo boasts a 5-0-0 record to go with one shutout and his 1.45 goals-against average through his first seven appearances. Aden Brown (219:43) and Hayden Shelton (17:00) each have also seen time in the crease with Brown posting a 3-1-1 mark in five contests while Shelton has not had a decision.
Pittsford is led by head coach Steve Thering and assistant coaches Rory Foster, Tom Maier, and Terry Shafer.
Canandaigua enters the contest looking to get back to its winning ways after starting 7-0-1 through the first eight games. Despite being winless in their last three games (0-2-1), the Braves have held 10 of their 11 opponents overall to three or fewer goals.
After combining for 28 goals, 41 assists and 69 points last season Maddox Smith, Josh Barnes, and DJ Spychalski all currently are first, second and third in points for Canandaigua through 10 games. Smith paces the club in goals (8) and points (16) while Spychalski has a team-high 10 points to go with 14 points. Barnes’ (14) points and seven goals are second. Brody Spinosa (11) is the fourth player to reach double digits in points.
The goaltending tandem of Charlie Fuller and Matthew Ulirch return in 2023-24 with Fuller handling all the duties in the crease for the Braves as he sports a 6-3-2 record.
The Braves are led by head coach David Taft and assistant coaches Austin Wharry, Zander Pyor, and Spencer Taft.
After tonight, Canandaigua Academy will face-off with Batavia Notre Dame United at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 11 at McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena in Batavia. Pittsford heads to Tim Horton’s Iceplex to take on Batavia Notre Dame United on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 12:00 p.m.