NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Following a weekend split against cross-town rival Canisius, the Niagara hockey team stayed put at No. 14 in this week’s USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll, while maintaining a No. 15 position in the USCHO.com Division I poll.
Niagara founds its way into the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll last week for the first time since the 2006-07 season when NU spent one week at No. 15 (Jan. 29). This is the longest the team has earned a top-15 ranking since the 1999-00 season when the squad was ranked for three straight weeks.
The Purple Eagles’ 15th ranking in the USCHO.com poll extended the program record to 12 consecutive weeks on the poll. The NCAA Tournament Pairwise Comparison Ratings has the Purps tied for 10th with Minnesota State.
The Purple Eagles lost 2-0 on the road, before rebounding with a 2-0 victory against the Golden Griffins in front of sold-out crowd on Saturday evening to earn a first-round bye in the playoffs. The win also helped the team remain unbeaten this season on home-ice for a nation-best 18 games, four shy of the program’s record of 22 games achieved between Feb. 11, 2006 and Nov. 17, 2007.
Niagara is now 18-5-5 overall this year, and 17-2-2 within the Atlantic Hockey, which puts them 10 points ahead of second-place Mercyhurst.
The Purple Eagles are next in action Feb. 15-16 when they host Robert Morris at Dwyer Arena on Friday before traveling to Pittsburgh, Pa. to wrap up the regular season series. Both games are scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m.
