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ROCHESTER, N.Y. — It’s not often a player who only has one year left of eligibility decides to transfer. But, when you have already graduated and are looking for something new, you do what Charles Williams did.
Williams spent fours years at Ferris State as a goaltender, competing in three of those years. When he graduated, he was looking for something new, and found Canisius, attending graduate school for his final year of eligibility. It has paid dividends for both player and school.
“He’s a great kid,” Canisius coach Dave Smith said, following the Griffs 2-1 win over RIT on Saturday. “He loved his time at Ferris State. Charles was just looking for something new. He had been fine there. Just didn’t get the opportunity he had hoped for. So he took his degree. We got a phone call from their coach. We don’t have many seniors. His work ethic, his maturity, his character before he even steps on the ice is why we recruited him. The opportunity to get an experienced goaltender who had a great history prior to college and was decent in college is why we brought him in.”
Canisius assistant coach Trevor Large is a Ferris alum who knows their coach very well. With no hard feelings all around, phone calls were made to help Williams move to a new opportunity.
“A funny story,” Williams said. “Coach Large played at Ferris State. The coach reached out and the connection there helped me out a lot.”
In the four years at Ferris, Williams played in just 20 games, going 5-8-1 with one shutout, 3.00 goals against average and .899 save percentage.
So far at Canisius, he has played in seven of the Golden Griffins’ nine games, going 4-2-1 (the only losses to ranked teams), one shutout, 2.11 GAA and .944 save pct.
This includes a weekend sweep at RIT, winning yesterday, 1-0, and again tonight, 2-1. Like the night before, he faced over 40 shots, as he stopped 43 of 44. Williams also had to withstand two late RIT power plays, including a major penalty against Canisius with 1:38 left in regulation.
“He was outstanding,” RIT coach Wayne Wilson said of Williams. “Hats off to him.”
For the weekend, Williams stopped 84 of 85 shots.
The lone goal against Williams came in the second period when Caleb Cameron rifled one in from the high slot.
That was sandwiched around Canisius scores in the first and third. Casey Jerry notched his first collegiate goal, walking it in on the right side with time to pick his spot. Joshua Gabriel got the game winner at 2:07 of the final period, backhanding a loose rebound in front of the net.
“A whole team effort,” Williams said as RIT took even more shots on net but Canisius defenders were constantly going down to block them.
“I think Charles played extremely well,” Smith said in perhaps the understatement of the night.
“I graduated from Ferris and I was just looking for an opportunity,” Williams said of his move to Canisius.
That opportunity is working out perfectly so far for Charles Williams and the Canisius Golden Griffins.
Atlantic Hockey roundup
Air Force 3, Army West Point 1
Dan Bailey scored the game winner at 15:31 of the third period to give Air Force a 3-1 win against their service academy rivals, Army West Point. Tyler Pham had tied the game on an unassisted shorthanded goal early in the third after Erik Baskin initially scored in the second. Matt Serratore got the game clinching empty netter.
No. 11 Ohio State 4, Robert Morris 4 (OT)
After a victory on Friday against nationally ranked Ohio State, Robert Morris had to settle for a 4-4 tie against the Buckeyes. The Colonials’ Luke Lynch scored two non-traditional goals to tie the game after falling behind 4-2. Lynch scored on a penalty shot late in the second and then got a shorthanded tally late in the third.
New Hampshire 3, Mercyhurst 0
Mercyhurst managed only 14 shots on goal as they fell to New Hampshire, 3-0. Colin DeAgustine made 38 saves as he kept the Lakers in the game until late in the third period when the Wildcats scored two power play goals to put it away.
