The Golden Bears opened the season on the ice over the weekend, inviting in some stiff competition to get the 2025-26 campaign underway. Despite a gritty performance, the Bears dropped their first game to Canisius, and managed a tie in game two.
Friday, December 5 – Canisius 5, Canton 2
The Golden Bears started off the season against a mature Canisius team. After a scoreless first period thanks to a stalwart period between the pipes for senior goaltender Gavin Schryver, the Bears finally relented with 11 minutes left in the second period, as Canisius scored off a faceoff play deep in Golden Bear territory. Canisius struck again later in the second on a well designed attack that got in behind the Bears’ defense.
Just a few minutes later, however, the Bears mounted a comeback and gained life once again. Senior forward David Seymour managed to turn over Canisius’ breakout and drove the puck into the corner. He found senior forward Caleb Briggs at net front, who managed to get a shot off on the waiting Canisius netminder. After an initial save, a rebound was left for junior forward Aaron Rosales, who made no mistake in burying the opportunity and putting the Bears on the scoreboard.
The Bears’ run would continue just a short time later, still in the second period. Junior forward Owen Palmer caused a turnover on his own blueline which led to an odd-man rush for he and his linemate, junior Owen Logan. Palmer dished the puck to Logan, who carried the puck in, drawing the attention of the lone defender and the Canisius backcheckers. Junior forward Robert Palmer snuck in behind the backchecking Canisius players and made himself available for a pass from Logan. Palmer’s one-timer from the top of the circle sailed into the top corner over the shoulder of the goaltender, knotting the game at two.
Despite their best efforts, the Bears could not manage another goal for the remainder of the game. Canisius would score three times in the third period, sealing the win on the first leg of their long road trip.
Schryver ended the game with 40 shots on 45 saves for the Bears.
Saturday, December 6 – Canton 4, Pittsford 4
On Saturday afternoon, it would be the Bears who squandered a multi-goal lead. Pittsford, who had played St. Lawrence Central the night before, came to the Pavilion looking to wrap up the second game of their weekend trip and head back to Rochester with tallies in the win column.
The Bears struck in the first period. Senior defenseman Carter Premo wrangled a rimmed puck along the side boards and took advantage of his teammates crashing the net. After swinging around behind the cage, O. Palmer found his way to the net front, where he manage to tip Permo’s shot and slip the puck between the legs of the goaltender.
Canton would score again moments later after R. Palmer caused a turnover near the red line. Logan picked the puck up and carried it just over Pittsford’s blue line before sliding it to O. Palmer, who took a couple of strides before tucking the puck into the top corner over the goaltender’s blocker.
A net front scrum would lead to Canton’s third and final goal of the first period. Senior defenseman Lucas Clausen threw the puck to a largely unobstructed crease, where Pittsford’s goalie bobbled the shot. Crashing Golden Bears were able to create enough havoc, and Rosales shoveled home the rebound.
The second period went as poorly as the Bears could hope for. A period of extended zone pressure for Pittsford got the Bears out of sorts in their own end. After some speed below the goal line captivated the attention of the defending Bears, Pittsford managed to find their man on the back post, beating junior goaltender Griffin Coakley’s outstretched pad.
Pittsford would score again shortly thereafter on an individual effort from a crashing forward, who managed to walk one of Canton’s defensemen before stepping around a sprawling Coakley.
Pittsford’s third goal was once again a back-door effort, as the Bears keyed in on a puck carrier who managed to thread a pass to an awaiting forward.
The period ended with a 3-3 score, setting up for a thrilling third.
Canton would strike late but strike first in the final frame. A turnover on Canton’s own blue line provided an opportunity for Logan to streak through the middle of the ice and capitalize on a breakaway, just sliding the puck past the skate of the goaltender.
However, Pittsford did not relent. With their goalie pulled, the team in blue mounted an aggressive forecheck and kept pressure on the Bears. After missing multiple opportunities to clear the puck, Canton shrunk in on itself and allowed Pittsford to move the puck to their defensemen. A shot from the point just missed the net, but a waiting Pittsford forward was waiting to bury a sharp angled rebound with just 40 seconds left in the contest.
The teams could not decide a winner via overtime, and the contest ended deadlocked at 4.
Coakley ended the game with 37 saves for the brown and gold.
