The St. Joe’s Federation hockey team had another successful week, defeating school rival Canisius and large school opponent Lancaster. The wins give the Marauders an impressive 15 victories on the season. Thursday night’s victory over Canisius resulted in a 3-2 win, while on Saturday afternoon, St. Joe’s blanked Lancaster, 8-0.

On Thursday night, the Marauders used a quick start and a shorthanded goal to gain a very important victory over Canisius. After a strong forecheck to start the game, senior Rob Amos scored 1:11 into the first period to give St. Joe’s a 1-0 lead. Juniors Zach Klapp and Dimitri Gogos assisted on the Amos tally.

After Canisius tied it at 1 early in the second, senior Justin Frentzel responded with a shorthanded goal. It was the second shorthand goal for the Marauders in as many games. Frentzel out raced the Canisius defenseman for the puck and then let a laser of a slap shot go top corner for the go-ahead goal.

“We’ve discussed in the locker room the option to be more aggressive on our penalty kill,” St. Joe’s head coach Rich Crozier said. “What a big goal Justin scored for our hockey team. A strong effort and an excellent shot by this young man came at the perfect time in the game. Justin is a very talented hockey player and a great addition to our team this season.”

With nine seconds left in the third period, senior Connor Hagner stripped a Canisius defender of the puck and scored to give St. Joe’s a 3-1 lead. Canisius would score with no time remaining on the clock to make the final score 3-2. Marc Mallare gained the victory by making 19 saves. St. Joe’s outshot Canisius 31-21, including 12-3 in the first period.

“What a nice win for our hockey team,” Crozier said. “Any time St. Joe’s beats Canisius in anything that is a great accomplishment. This game has a lot of meaning for our seniors who have had great success over them for the past two years. The St. Joe’s-Canisius rivalry has a special meaning and we feel very fortunate to defeat them once again.”

Saturday afternoon’s game saw a Marauders team score four goals on their first six shots en route to an 8-0 domination over Lancaster. Senior Will Mangione led the way with hat trick, while senior Tyler Mills had a goal and two assists.

“I was worried that the emotional win against Canisius on Thursday may have caused us to be flat on Saturday,” Crozier said. “Well, was I ever wrong. We scored four goals on eight shots in the first and never really slowed down. We got back to over swarming forecheck and our overall team speed was too much for them to handle. I was very proud of our effort.”

Mangione started the scoring early when he tallied on the opening shift of the game after Klapp took the puck hard to the net. Mangione grabbed the rebound and popped it home. Mangione’s second goal of the game came on his second shift when he ripped a low wrist shot glove side. Klapp and Frentzel assisted.

The Marauders fourth goal came off the stick of junior Dimitri Gogos. Gogos grabbed a rebound off a nice low shot from defenseman, Mike Iannello. St. Joe’s fifth goal was scored on a breakaway. Connor Hagner scored his second goal in as many games, when he received a beautiful pass from Mills and beat the goalie blocker side.

Mangione’s hat trick came late in the second period when he received a pretty pass from sophomore Dennis Gilbert. Mangione walked the defenseman and buried the shot five-hole to give St. Joe a 6-0 lead.

St. Joe’s seventh goal came on the power play when sophomore John Schmitt ripped a slap shot from the point. Hagner and Gilbert assisted. Mills capped the scoring off again on the power play when he fired a shot just under the bar to give St. Joe’s a decisive, 8-0 win.

Nick George picked up his eighth victory of the season with a 14-save shutout. St. Joe’s out shot Lancaster 30-14, including a 15-2 advantage in the second period.

Crozier was impressed by the play of some of his younger players in Saturday’s game, including Schmitt, Gilbert and James Bassett.

“I really want to applaud the play of some of our younger players,” Crozier said. “With the luxury of returning 16 players from last year’s team, the new players may have been a little intimidated joining our team this season. These young men have done a great job transitioning into their roles, adapting to the way we do things and contributing to our 15 victories so far this season.”

The Marauders picked up their 16th win of the season with a 10-2 drubbing of Niagara Falls on Monday night at Hyde Park. Gogos was the star of the game as he had a hat trick and added an assist for a four-point night. Schmitt continued his solid play with two goals.

The Marauders will face Lockport at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Northtown Center’s Olympic Rink.

(Reporter Mike Migliore contributed to this article)