MICHAEL
COHEN
Canisius
So. | F | Williamsville, N.Y.
Cohen,
a Western New York native, made a big splash for the Griffins
as a freshman.
Key
Statistics: Easily led Golden Griffins with 25 points
(11g, 14a) last season. His 11 goals were second most on the
team. Finished at +1, making him one of only six Canisius
players to be on the positive side of the plus/minus rating.
Ranked 14th nationally in points per game by a rookie (0.78).
What
He Does: Even as a freshman, Cohen did a little bit
of everything. He played on both wings, killed penalties,
and his rifle of a shot earned him a spot at the point on
the Griffs’ power play. One of the most gifted players
on the roster, Cohen can speed around his share of defensemen
and get in front of the net – his favorite place to
be. Additionally, coach Brian Cavanaugh was impressed by Cohen’s
durability when opponents began playing physically against
him near the end of the season.
The
Bigger Picture: Cohen probably could have played
for a stronger program had he seasoned himself in juniors
for a year or two. But he “wanted to get things moving
a little bit” with his life, so, as an 18 year old,
he jumped straight from Berkshire (Mass.) Academy to Canisius,
where he knew he could get plenty of ice time right away.
The decision has worked well so far for the Buffalo-area native.
His friends and family get to see him play, the local media
shine the spotlight his way and he’s one of the most
important members of what could be a surprise team in Atlantic
Hockey this year.
Canisius
coach Brian Cavanaugh on Cohen: “He’s
a great asset for us – a real feather in our cap to
have a guy that really dominated high school hockey in Western
New York (at Williamsville North) for three years. We’re
going to get him as much ice time as we possibly can and surround
him with as many offensive players as possible. That will,
hopefully, give us the scoring we need this year.”
