NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The No. 15 Niagara hockey team takes part in a two-game league series with Mercyhurst, Friday-Saturday, Feb. 22-23, at 7:05 p.m. each night. The opening game will take place at Dwyer Arena during Senior Night with the regular-season series wrapping up the following day at Mercyhurst Ice Center.
Tune In
The pair of games vs. Mercyhurst will be broadcasted live on WJJL 1440 AM and PurpleEagles.com, with Paul Hamilton on the call for Friday’s game and Jeremy White on the call for Saturday.
Live stats can be accessed by clicking the appropriate link at the Official Website of Purple Eagle Athletics, www.PurpleEagles.com.
Friday’s game will also be available on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel with Dave Miller and Andrew Peters on call, and Katie Rizynk on the sideline.
Fan Appreciation Weekend
The Niagara University Department of Athletics will host “Fan Appreciation Weekend” at the game on Friday!
Free bags of popcorn will be available to the first 1,000 fans in attendance, and assorted official NHL hats will be available to the first 150 fans to enter Dwyer Arena. Additionally, all merchandise will be discounted at 15 percent off at the official merchandise table. All fans in attendance will be eligible to win various prizes including gift cards, merchandise and an Adirondack-style hockey stick chair, donated by Fox’s Lawn Furniture in East Aurora, N.Y.
So don’t miss out on the action! Please call the Niagara Ticket Office (located inside Dwyer Arena) at 716-286-TIXX, visit www.PurpleEagles.com/Tickets or by emailing [email protected].
Honoring the Seniors
Friday’s game marks the final scheduled regular season home game for six seniors who are completing their hockey careers as Purple Eagles. NU has six seniors on the squad, including two of the Top 5 scorers. This season the group of Jason Beattie, C.J. Chartrain, Jeff Hannan, Giancarlo Iuorio, Dan Weiss and Marc Zanette have combined for 100 goals and 187 assists in 650 games.
Raise The Banner
The weekend split with Robert Morris, and other conference results propelled the Purple Eagles to their first Atlantic Hockey Regular Season Championship. This is the team’s first AHA regular-season title since the program entered into the conference in 2010-11, and its first conference crown since the 2006-07 season when NU earned the former College Hockey America regular-season title.
The team will be honored after Friday’s game as AHA Commissioner Robert DeGregorio will be presenting the Purple Eagle with the regular season trophy.
Playoff Picture
Niagara’s weekend spilt with Canisius (Feb. 7 & 9) was enough to clinch a first-round playoff bye for the Purple Eagles. The Purps will host a team yet to be determined in a best-of-three series from March 15-17.
Home Sweet Home
The 4-3 victory on Feb. 15 extended NU’s current home ice unbeaten streak to 19 games, dating back to NU’s 3-3 draw against Air Force on Feb. 11, 2012. The streak is three short of the program record of 22. NU is the only team in Division I hockey to go 22 consecutive games without a loss between Feb.11, 2006 and Nov. 17, 2007.
Scouting The Lakers
Mercyhurst is 14-3-3, and 12-9-2 in the AHA with two weeks remaining in the regular season. The Lakers hold the third spot in the standings with 26 points and four games left.
The team is led by Ryan Misiak (13g; 19a)and Matthew Zay (12g; 20a) who are top on the team with 32 points. Chris Bodo is tops in goals with 14, while Paul Chiasson has added 13 tallies along with 10 assists for 23 points.
Max Strang has been the go-to goaltender for the Lakers. He owns a 2.49 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage.
Last Meeting On The Ice
Niagara earned its first win of the season against the Lakers on Oct. 13, 2012. Matt Williams tallied the game-winning goal midway through the second period. Williams also added an assist in the Purp’s initial goal scored by Giancarlo Iuorio. Carsen Chubak pushed aside 25 Mercyhurst shots.
Up Next For Niagara
The Purps wrap up the regular season with a double dip against the Air Force Falcons on Friday-Saturday, March 1-2. Both contests in Colorado Springs, Colo. will begin at 9:05 p.m. eastern.
Get Your Tickets for Postseason Action!
Tickets for all three games of the quarterfinal round of the AHA Playoffs are on sale so contact the Niagara Ticket Office (located inside Dwyer Arena) at 716-286-TIXX, visitwww.PurpleEagles.com/Tickets or emailing [email protected] to reserve your seats today!
