The Niagara hockey team will be in search of its first road and non-conference win of the 2013-14 season as the Purple Eagles travel to Ann Arbor, Mich. on Friday, Nov. 22 to faceoff against the University of Michigan Wolverines. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:07 p.m.
This contest will be game four of five in 11 days for the Purple Eagles, with the last stop being at No. 18 Cornell. Niagara, which is 0-5-1 on the road, continues its journey in second place in the Atlantic Hockey Association, at seven points; they do not play again at Dwyer Arena until Jan. 10-11. The Purps are 3-7-1 in their first 11 games.
Michigan welcome NU to the Yost Ice Arena with a 7-2-1 overall record. The Wolverines’ will be looking to pocket their second consecutive victory after pushing past Nebraska-Omaha, 4-3 on Nov. 16.
KEEP UP WITH THE ACTION
• Friday’s contest will be broadcasted live on WLVL and on Purple Eagles All-Access, with Jeremy White on the call. You can follow the game via live stats as well by clicking on the appropriate link above.
MERCYHURST DOUBLES UP NIAGARA
• The Purps were handed their second loss in conference play, falling to Mercyhurst, 4-2 on Tuesday at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.
• The teams headed into the final frame knotted at two, and the shot count was just as close with NU holding a slim 22-21 advantage, but a pair of Mercyhurst tallies in the third doomed the Purple and White.
• Niagara received goals from Chris Lochner and Isaac Kohls, while Mike Conderman pocketed a two-point evening on a pair of helpers.
• Goaltender Jackson Teichroeb snuffed 28 Mercyhurst looks on net.
• The Purple Eagles went 1-for-3 on the power play, and kept the Lakers scoreless on the man-advantage (0-for-2), but allowed a shorthanded tally.
THE LEADERS
• Ryan Rashid, Mike Conderman and Hugo Turcotte lead the Purple Eagles in scoring with eight points each. Rashid and Turcotte have four goals and four assists apiece, while Conderman has netted a trio of goal and added five helpers.
• Conderman leads the squad in assists with five.
• Ryan is first with a +8 plus/minus rating.
• Patrick Divjak leads the squad with 43 shots on goal. Turcotte is close behind with 41 looks on net.
SCORING TOUCH
• After only three points in the first nine games, Hugo Turcotte registered five points in the pair of games vs. Army (Nov. 15-16) that earned him Travel Team USA Player of the Week honors by the Atlantic Hockey Association.
• The sophomore center scored his first career hat trick in the 8-3 victory over Army (Nov. 16) and added an assist after contributing a goal the day before.
• The three goal outburst on Saturday was the first hat trick since Giancarlo Iuorio (’13) netted three against Robert Morris on Feb. 15, 2013.
D PROVIDING O
• So far this season the NU defense has contributed 25 of the Purple Eagles’ 82 points off seven goals and 18 assists.
• Senior Kevin Ryan and freshman Vincent Muto lead the way with five points each (2-3-5), while sophomore Matt Dineen (1-3-4) and freshman Kevin Patterson (0-4-4) are not far behind with four points.
• During Niagara’s 8-3 victory over Army (Nov. 15), the NU blueliners put up seven points for the Purple and White, including the first four goals.
• During the 2012-13 season, the Purps’ defensemen combined for 63 points (12g, 51a) in 38 games.
SERIES HISTORY
• The Purple Eagles and Wolverines have met eight times since their first meeting in 1998-99. Michigan have won six straight vs. Niagara and boast a 1-7-0 record all-time against the Purps.
• The Purple Eagles opened the 1998-99 season against then-defending national-champions Michigan Wolverines. Michigan won Friday night’s contests, 6-5 in OT, but Niagara won Saturday’s game by a 2-1 score.
SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES
• The University of U-M currently own a 7-2-1 overall record, and have yet to see action in the B1G conference.
• The Wolverines are averaging 2.8 goals a game and are allowing 2.0, placing them 31st and sixth in the nation, respectively.
• The power play has gone 11-for-40, while the penalty kill is 42-for-50, ranking them fourth and 23rd in the NCAA, respectively.
• The Wolverine offense is led by Andrew Copp who has a team-high five goals and 10 points, also adding five assists in 10 games. Phil Di Giuseppe (4-4-8) and JT Compher (2-6-8) have also pocketed points up top for Michigan.
• In the net, freshman Zach Nagelvoort and sophomore Steve Racine have both seen ample town in between the pipes. Nagelvoort currently sits in sixth in the nation in goals-against average (1.71), and in save percentage (.940) after seven games. Racine holds a 2.44 GAA and a .931 save percentage in four games.
DOWN THE ROAD
• After its Friday night game vs. Michigan, NU will continue its eight game road swing with a bout against No. 18 Cornell at James Lynah Rink.
• The Purps do not return home until the start of the New Year when they welcome AIC to Dwyer.
