By Nick Veronica

Canisius hockey opens the 2014-15 season with two games at the First Niagara Center and ushers in the HarborCenter era against Ohio State on Halloween, according to today’s schedule announcement.

Because HarborCenter may not be completed by the start of the season, Canisius opens with a two-game series against Western Michigan at the First Niagara Center on Oct. 10 and 11, with both games starting at 7:35 p.m.

The Griffs then have two weekends of conference games on the road before the inaugural HarborCenter series against Ohio State — coach Dave Smith’s alma mater — on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Canisius played Ohio State for the first time in school history last season, losing 3-0 and 3-1 in Columbus.

Canisius will not face Niagara at the HarborCenter this year, traveling to Dwyer Arena for games on Jan. 22 and 24. The Griffs face RIT at the HarborCenter on Nov. 14 and 15. Canisius plays both teams only twice this season instead of four times (an option under the new 11-team scheduling format), but with Niagara and RIT being two of the better AHA teams, four fewer games against them may end up helping Canisius in the standings.

Canisius travels to Maine for its final nonconference action, Jan. 2 and 3.

The Atlantic Hockey playoffs begin March 6. The championship weekend at Blue Cross Arena is March 20 and 21.

Here’s a nifty infograph from GoGriffs:

Full schedule:

Oct. 5 Toronto (Exhibition), TBA 6:35 p.m.
Oct. 10 Western Michigan, First Niagara Center 7:35 p.m.
Oct. 11 Western Michigan, First Niagara Center 7:35 p.m.
Oct. 17 Army, West Point, N.Y. 7:05 p.m.
Oct. 18 Army, West Point, N.Y. 7:05 p.m.
Oct. 24 AIC, Springfield, Mass. 7:05 p.m.
Oct. 25 AIC, Springfield, Mass. 7:05 p.m.
Oct. 31 Ohio State, HarborCenter 7:35 p.m.
Nov. 1 Ohio State, HarborCenter 7:35 p.m.
Nov. 7 Sacred Heart, Milford, Conn. 7:05 p.m.
Nov. 8 Sacred Heart, Milford, Conn. 7:05 p.m.
Nov. 14 RIT, HarborCenter 7:35 p.m.
Nov. 15 RIT, HarborCenter 7:35 p.m.
Nov. 21 Mercyhurst, Erie, Pa. 7:05 p.m.
Nov. 22 Mercyhurst, HarborCenter 7:35 p.m.
Nov. 28 Air Force, HarborCenter 2:05 p.m.
Nov. 29 Air Force, HarborCenter 7:35 p.m.
Dec. 5 AIC, HarborCenter 7:35 p.m.
Dec. 6 AIC, HarborCenter 7:35 p.m.
Jan. 2 Maine, Maine 7:05 p.m.
Jan. 3 Maine, Maine 7:05 p.m.
Jan. 9 Holy Cross, HarborCenter 11:05 a.m.
Jan. 10 Holy Cross, HarborCenter 7:35 p.m.
Jan. 16 Bentley, HarborCenter 7:35 p.m.
Jan. 17 Bentley, HarborCenter 7:35 p.m.
Jan. 22 Niagara, Lewiston, N.Y. 7:05 p.m.
Jan. 24 Niagara, Lewiston, N.Y. 7:05 p.m.
Feb. 6 Robert Morris, Pittsburgh, Pa. 7:05 p.m.
Feb. 7 Robert Morris, Pittsburgh, Pa. 7:05 p.m.
Feb. 13 Army, HarborCenter 7:35 p.m.
Feb. 14 Army, HarborCenter 7:35 p.m.
Feb. 20 Mercyhurst, Erie, Pa. 7:05 p.m.
Feb. 21 Mercyhurst, HarborCenter 7:35 p.m.
Feb. 27 Air Force, USAF Academy, Colo. 9:05 p.m.
Feb. 28 Air Force, USAF Academy, Colo. TBA