The Niagara men’s hockey program has announced its 34-game schedule for the 2012-13 season that will encompass 15 home dates and 27 Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA) contests.
The Purple Eagles will participate in four home-and-home matchups against RIT, Canisius, Robert Morris and Mercyhurst in the second half of the season and two-game sets against 2012 NCAA Tournament participants Michigan State and Air Force.
“We have an opportunity both within our Atlantic Hockey schedule and our non-conference schedule to really make some noise nationally,” head coach David Burkholder said. “We owe it to the Niagara University community, alumni, fans and players to compete against the best college hockey has to offer. My staff and I feel we have accomplished that goal.”
Niagara’s 17th season of intercollegiate hockey begins at Dwyer Arena when it plays host to Central Collegiate Hockey Assocation (CCHA) foe Bowling Green State University (Oct. 6). The Purple Eagles travel to Colgate (Oct. 9) before opening up AHA play against Mercyhurst on Oct. 13.
The Purple Eagles will set out on a four-game road trip, traveling to East Lansing for a puck drop against Michigan State (Oct. 19-20) and then closing out October with a series against Clarkson University (Oct. 26-27).
Niagara competes against nine-straight AHA opponents to open up November, beginning with a home series against UConn (Nov. 2-3) before taking to the ice against Army (Nov. 9-10) at West Point, N.Y. The Purple Eagles cross the Grand Island Bridges to take part in the first of three Battle of the Bridge contests against Canisius on Nov. 16, before heading back to Dwyer Arena for their longest homestand of the season starting with Robert Morris (Nov. 17).
November ends and December begins with a home series against Sacred Heart University (Nov. 30-Dec. 1). Niagara has a short break before RIT visits Dwyer Arena on Dec. 12. Niagara closes out the first half of the season in Ohio, taking on BGSU (Dec. 29).
Entering the New Year, the next five of the Purple Eagles seven games take place on the road. Niagara welcomes Air Force (Jan. 4) and then head to Massachusetts for a conference matchup against American International College (Jan. 11-12) before traveling to Holy Cross on Jan. 18 and Jan. 19. The longest road trip of the season ends with a home-and-home series against RIT, starting in Rochester on Jan. 25 and wrapping up the following day at Dwyer Arena.
The Purple Eagles begin the second month of 2013 hosting Bentley University (Feb.1-2) and continue their battle for the Canal Cup against the Golden Griffins the following weekend in a home-and-home-series, with the first game in Buffalo (Feb. 7) and the second game at Dwyer Arena (Feb. 9).
Of Niagara’s six remaining games, four will be played on the road. The Purple Eagles take part in two home-and-home arrangements against Robert Morris (Feb. 15-16) and Mercyhurst (Feb. 22-23), before closing out the 2012-13 season with two games against Air Force in Colorado (March 1-2).
The 2013 Atlantic Hockey playoffs begin on Friday, March 8, with the top four teams receiving byes, while the other eight teams compete in a best two-out-of-three series. The quarterfinals (March 15-17) are best two-out-of-three series, while the semifinals (March 22) and AHA Championship game (March 23) will take place at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, N.Y.
Niagara returns 22 players from last year’s roster that went 17-11-9 and advanced to the AHA Semifinals.
Tickets for the 2012-13 season are on sale now. For more information, please contact the Niagara Ticket Office at (716) 286-TIXX (8499), [email protected] or visit www.PurpleEagles.com/Tickets.
