HIGH SCHOOL GAME OF THE WEEK: GREECE STORM VS. CANANDAIGUA ACADEMY

Dec 5, 2023

For 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 first High School Game of the Week features the Canandaigua Academy Braves (3-12-2 last season) facing off with the Greece Storm (14-3-2) tonight at 7:00 p.m. at Greater Canandaigua Civic Center.

In the previous meeting between the two teams, Greece Storm posted a 6-3 victory on Feb. 10 of last season, in which they outshot the Braves 45-24 and used two multi-goal periods. Neither team capitalized on the man-advantage as Canandaigua was 0-for-7.

Canandaigua enters the contest having won four of its first five games of the season and winners of three straight. The Braves currently occupy the top spot in the MCPSAC standings with eight points through five contests and have a league-leading 28 goals. They have held three of their first five opponents to one goal, including their last two.

The Braves, who showed a 3-15-2 record in 2022-23, return as majority of their lineup from last season, including Josh Barnes, Maddox Smith, and DJ Spychalski. The trio combined for 28 goals, 41 assists and 69 points last season. Along with 19 skaters, who played with Canandaigua a season ago, the goaltending tandem of Charlie Fuller and Matthew Ulirch return in 2023-24.

Smith leads the Braves this season with 12 points and seven assists while Barnes has also notched five tallies through five games. Of 21 skaters to appear in at least one game with Canandaigua, 13 have logged one or more points while 10 have found the back of the opposition’s net.

Fuller has handled all of the duties in crease for the Braves as he sports a 4-1-0 record with a 2.00 goals-against average and .903 save percentage.

The Braves are led by head coach David Taft and assistant coaches Austin Wharry, Zander Pyor, and Spencer Taft.

After beginning the season by dropping its first three contests, during which they scored two goals in each, Greece Storm has countered with a pair of wins by outscoring the opposition 16-8 during the time. The Storm return16 players and two goaltenders return from last year’s squad that went 11-9-0.

Through the first five games of the season, Spencer Griffin paces the club in goals (8), assists (10) and points (18) for the third consecutive season. Carter Griffin is second amongst all Greece skaters with five goals and nine points while Jayden Gargana (3+3) and Jack Pilgram (2+3) are halfway to double figures in points through the first month of the slate.

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.

Greece is led by head coach Rob Howell and assistant coaches Ryan Bradshaw and Tyler Hickey.

Following Tuesday’s matchup, Canandaigua Academy will faceoff with the Portside Royals for a 7:00 p.m. faceoff on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at Tuttle Ice while Greece heads to Genesee Valley to take on Brighton/HFL on Dec. 12 at 5:00 p.m.