NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara hockey team secured its highest ranking of the season at No. 15 in the USCHO.com Division I poll after sweeping American International College last weekend.
The Purple Eagles jumped up two spots to the 15th position, establishing a new program record with eight consecutive weeks on the poll, which was previously owned during the 2006-07 campaign where the Purps were ranked for seven straight weeks (Jan. 2-Feb. 12, 2007).
Before today’s ranking, the team’s highest position came this season during the week of Dec. 10 and for two consecutive weeks during the 2006-07 season (Jan. 22 & Jan. 29) when the team pulled down a No. 16 ranking.
The USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine College Hockey Poll has the Purps at the top receiving votes with 32, while the NCAA Tournament Pairwise Comparison Ratings has NU slated at 14th.
After pocketing two wins against the Yellow Jackets this past weekend, the Purple Eagles remained unbeaten in Atlantic Hockey play with a 13-0-1 mark to remain tops in the conference, while owning a 13-3-4 overall record. The Purps are one of two teams in NCAA Division I hockey, along with Quinnipiac (10-0-1 ECAC), that are currently unbeaten in conference play.
Niagara travels to Worcester, Mass. to battle the Holy Cross Crusaders in the team’s second-straight weekend series that begins on Friday, Jan. 8, and wraps up the following day. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:05 p.m. at the Hart Center for both contests.
