The Niagara hockey team will begin its longest road trip of the season on Tuesday night with a game in Erie, Pa against the Mercyhurst Lakers. The puck is schedule to drop at 7:05 p.m.
The Purple Eagles will play three games in eight days, with additional stops at Michigan and Cornell; they do not play again at Dwyer Arena until Jan. 10-11. Niagara, which is 0-4-1 on the road, starts its journey in second place in the Atlantic Hockey Association, at seven points. The Purps are 3-6-1 in their first 10 games, snapping a five-game winless streak (0-4-1) after picking up a pair of victories over Army this past weekend.
GET OUT THE BROOMS
• Niagara snapped a four-game losing streak on Friday as the Purple Eagles shutout Army 5-0 and came out firing on all cylinders the following day, dropping the Black Knights by a score of 8-3.
• The sweep marked the third consecutive season the Purple Eagles have won both games against Army in the season series.
• During Friday’s game, the Purple Eagles collected goals from TJ Sarcona, Isaac Kohls, Stephen Pietrobon, Sam Alfieri and Hugo Turcotte, while NU goaltender Jackson Teichroeb pushed aside 21 Black Knight shots for his first collegiate victory and blank slate.
• The next day sophomore Hugo Turcotte registered his first career hat trick and added an assist, while the Niagara blueliners put up seven points for the Purple and White, including the first four goals
• Freshman Vincent Muto scored a pair of goals and added an assist, co-captain Ryan Rashid contributed two assists and a goal, Patrick Divjak and Isaac Kohls added a trio of helpers.
• Adrian Ignagni made the start in goal for NU, making 16 stops for his second victory of the year.
THE LEADERS
• Ryan Rashid and Hugo Turcotte lead the Purple Eagles in scoring with eight points each off four goals and four assists apiece.
• Turcotte, TJ Sarcona, Isaac Kohls and Kevin Patterson lead the squad in assists with four.
• Ryan is first with a +9 plus/minus rating.
• Patrick Divjak leads the squad with 40 shots on goal. Turcotte is close behind with 37 looks on net.
HALF A CENTURTY MARK
• Defenseman Kevin Ryan cracked the 50-point mark during the 8-3 victory over Army on Nov. 16.
• In 118 games, the senior has four goals and 46 assists for 50 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.
• Chris MacKenzie (‘00) holds the all-time NU record for points by a defenseman in a career with 97 (1996-00).
SERIES HISTORY
• The Purple Eagles and Lakers have met 16 times since their first meeting in 1996-97.
• Niagara holds an 11-4-1 record against Mercyhurst, sweeping its AHA foe in the previous season. The Lakers’ last victory over NU came on Feb. 4, 2013, when Mercyhurst came out with a 3-2 win at Dwyer Arena.
• After their matchup during the 2001-02 season, the teams went nine years without a meeting before taking to the ice on Oct. 29, 2010 when NU joined the Atlantic Hockey Association.
SCOUTING THE LAKERS
• Mercyhurst will be a well-rested team on Tuesday as the Lakers had the past 10 days off. The team holds a 3-6-1 overall record, and a 2-1-0 conference mark.
• The Lakers’ last game came against Canisius on Nov. 9 where they dropped a close 4-3 decision to the Griffs. The squad had a one-goal lead heading to the third period, but Canisius scored a pair of goals in the final period to hand the loss.
• The Lakers are averaging 3.0 goals a game and are allowing 3.70, placing them 26th and 53rd in the nation, respectively.
• The power play has gone 9-for-53, while the penalty kill is 43-for-51, ranking them 38th and 21st in the NCAA, respectively.
• Matthew Zay leads the offense with 10 points off four goals and six assists. Daniel O’Donoghue is tops on the team with six goals (6-3-9), while Nick Jones leads the Lakers with eight helpers (1-8-9).
• In the net, Jimmy Sarjeant has started in six games, while Jordan Tibbett has started in four. Sarjeant leads the way with 203 saves for a .923 save percentage and a 2.68 goals-against average, while Tibbett has made 120 stops for a .863 save percentage and a 5.21 GAA.
DOWN THE ROAD
• After its Tuesday night game vs. Mercyhurst, NU will continue its eight game road swing with a bout against No. 2/5 Michigan at Yost Arena.
• The Purple Eagles do not return home until the start of the New Year when they welcome AIC to Monteagle Ridge.
