Niagara Tangles with Black Knights in Weekend Series
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – It’s a homecoming for the Niagara men’s hockey team as the Purple Eagles return to Dwyer Arena for the first time since a season-opening series against Clarkson on Oct. 5 and Oct. 6. NU continues its home portion of the schedule as it faces Atlantic Hockey foe the Army Black Knights on Friday, Nov. 15 and Saturday, Nov. 16. Both puck drops are scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
DON’T MISS OUT ON THE ACTION!
• Tickets are sold out for Saturday’s matchup, but there are limited tickets available for Friday’s game so call the Niagara Tickets Office (located inside Dwyer Arena) at 716-286-TIXX, visit www.PurpleEagles.com/Tickets or by emailing [email protected] to reserve your seats!
BUT IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT…
• Both contests will be available via the American One Network, and will be broadcasted live on WLVL, with Steve Warzala on the call Friday and Jeremy White stepping in the following day. You can follow the game via live stats as well by clicking on the appropriate link above.
PURPLE EAGLES BUCKLE UNDER OHIO STATE
• Last time out, Niagara was swept in a weekend series at Columbus, Ohio against the Ohio State Buckeyes to drop to 1-6-1 on the season. The Purple Eagles dropped a 4-1 decision on Nov. 8 before suffering a 6-1 defeat on the next day.
• During the first of two hockey games between the squads, a late comeback effort by NU was quickly snuffed out as OSU scored two quick late third period goals to pull away from the Purps, 4-1.
• Ryan Rashid scored the team’s only goal via an assist from Hugo Turcotte, while Jackson Teichroeb spotted 25 Buckeye shots.
• The following day Ohio State built a 2-0 lead in the first period en route to a 6-1 win over Niagara to sweep the weekend series.
• A trio of freshman combined for NU’s goal as Stephen Pietrobon deflected in a Kevin Patterson shot. TJ Sarcona was also credited with a helper. Adrian Ignagni stopped 13 shots he faced for Niagara in 23 minutes of play, while Teichroeb pushed aside 18 Buckeye shots when he took over goaltending duties.
THE LEADERS
• Mike Conderman, Ryan Rashid and Kevin Ryan lead the Purple Eagles in scoring with four points each.
• Conderman and Rashid lead the squad in goals with three, while Ryan is tied for first in assists (3) with Kevin Patterson and Hugo Turcotte.
• Ryan is first with a +3 plus/minus rating.
• Patrick Divjak leads the squad with 28 shots on goal. Turcotte is close behind with 27 looks on net.
HALF A CENTURTY MARK
• Defenseman Kevin Ryan is one point shy of cracking the 50-point mark.
• In 116 games, the senior has three goals and 46 assists for 49 points.
• His most prolific season came last year when Ryan assisted on a career-high 23 NU goals, and added a goal for 24 points en route to being named to the Third Team All-Conference.
99 GAMES OF NU HOCKEY
• Friday’s game will be senior Matt Williams’ 100th game wearing the Purple and White.
• In 99 games for Niagara, Williams has five goals and 23 assists for 28 points.
SERIES HISTORY
• The Purple Eagles and Black Knights have met 10 times since their first meeting in 1999-00.
• Niagara holds a decisive 9-1-0 record against Army, sweeping its AHA foe in the previous two seasons. The Black Knights’ last victory over NU came on Nov. 27, 2010, when Army came out with a 4-1 win at West Point, N.Y.
SCOUTING THE BLACK KNIGHTS
• Army comes into this AHA showdown with its first win under its belt after coming out with a 6-2 thumping of Sacred Heart on Tuesday, ending a six-game losing skid.
• The Black Knights currently own a 1-6-0 overall mark, while holding a 1-3-0 league record.
• The Black Knights are averaging 2.00 goals a game and are allowing 4.86, placing them 52nd and 57th in the nation, respectively.
• The power play has gone 5-for-35, while the penalty kill is 20-for28, ranking them 45th and 53rd in the NCAA, respectively.
• Junior defenseman Maurice Alvarez and freshman forward C.J. Reuschlein lead the team with four points, off three goals and an assist each. The Black Knights have received offensive contributions from fifteen other Army players, as they have pocketed at least one point on the season.
• In the net, Rob Tadazak has started in all seven games and owns a 4.45 goals-against average and a .882 save percentage.
DOWN THE ROAD
• After its weekend series vs. Army, Niagara will make the drive to Erie, Pa. to face Mercyhurst Tuesday night. The game against the Lakers will mark the start of Niagara’s eight game road swing.
• The Purple Eagles do not return home until the start of the New Year when they welcome AIC to Monteagle Ridge on Jan. 10-11.
