Canisius Men's Hockey is ousted by Holy Cross, propelling Holy Cross into the AHA Semifinals.

Holy Cross Men's Ice Hockey Advances to Atlantic Hockey Championship Game

After a thrilling overtime victory against Canisius in the quarterfinals, the Holy Cross men's ice hockey team is advancing to the Atlantic Hockey Championship Game. The Crusaders will host AIC in the semifinals this weekend, with a chance to secure a spot in the championship game on March 23.

The Crusaders came off a 5-2 win over Mercyhurst, while Holy Cross's opponent, Canisius, won 5-1 against Bentley. The Golden Griffins and the Crusaders faced each other in the quarterfinals, in a rematch of last year's championship game, where Canisius won 3-0.

Holy Cross started the game behind, with Canisius scoring the first goal of the game and leading 1-0 at the end of the first period. However, the Crusaders responded with a goal to make it a one-goal game going into the third period. The game remained tight, with neither team scoring in regulation time.

The game went into overtime, where the Crusaders' perseverance paid off. Sophomore Jack Seymour scored the game-winning goal in the second overtime, securing a 4-3 victory for Holy Cross. The Crusaders also showed their resilience in the third period, tying the game at 3-3 with a goal by Junior Liam McLinskey. Freshman Jack Stockfish also contributed to the Crusaders' victory, scoring a power play goal to give Holy Cross a 4-3 lead, their first of the game.

Holy Cross's head coach, Bill Riga, has led the team to this point, with the Crusaders currently in second place in Atlantic Hockey after a third straight conference sweep against Sacred Heart. The team qualified for the Atlantic Hockey Championship, and they will be looking to make a deep run in the playoffs.

The first game of the semifinal series for Holy Cross will be at 7pm on Friday, March 15 at the Hart Center. Game 2 will be on Saturday, and Game 3 will be on Sunday, if necessary. The other semifinal game is between first-place RIT and Niagara. The two series winners will meet for the Atlantic Hockey Championship on March 23.

AIC swept Air Force with scores of 3-1 and 3-2 in the playoffs, and they will provide a tough challenge for the Crusaders. However, with their recent form and determination, Holy Cross will be confident of their chances in the semifinals and the championship game. The Crusaders ended their regular season with a 5-1 loss to Bentley, marking the end of a 7-game winning streak. But they have shown that they are a team that can bounce back from adversity, and they will be looking to continue their winning ways in the playoffs.

The Atlantic Hockey playoffs are set for both men and women's hockey, and the Crusaders will be aiming to bring home the championship trophy for the first time in their history. With their talented roster and experienced coaching staff, Holy Cross has a real chance of making history this season. The Crusaders' journey to the championship game has just begun, and they will be hoping to continue their winning ways and secure a place in the history books.

Canisius Men's Hockey is ousted by Holy Cross, propelling Holy Cross into the AHA Semifinals.