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The Purple Eagles hockey team heads to Massachusetts on Thanksgiving weekend for the first two of four matchups this season against the American International Yellow Jackets. Niagara and AIC face off on Friday, Nov. 25 at 2:05 p.m. before concluding the series with a 5:05 p.m. contest on Saturday, Nov. 26. Niagara won two of three games last week to move to 2-3-1 in Atlantic Hockey competition (2-8-2 overall). Last season, the Purple Eagles took three wins in four games against the Yellow Jackets, including a road sweep with wins of 2-0 and 4-3 on Feb. 5 and 6, 2016. AIC (2-5-5, 2-4-4 Atlantic Hockey) began this week with a 7-3 loss to Sacred Heart Pioneers on Tuesday, Nov. 22.

Both games can be live streamed through AtlanticHockey.tv, and Jeremy White will have the play-by-play call on 1340 AM WLVL.

Last Time Out
• Niagara split its weekend series at Sacred Heart last weekend, falling 4-3 on Nov. 18 before rallying with a 4-0 victory on Nov. 19.
• Derian Plouffe led Niagara in the series with two goals (one shorthanded) in the 4-3 Friday loss, adding an assist in Saturday's shutout win. He was one of four Purple Eagles to finish the weekend with a plus-3 rating.
• Jackson Teichroeb made 37 saves for his sixth career shutout in Niagara's 4-0 victory at Sacred Heart. Teichroeb's 37 saves were his most in a shutout in regulation time; he stopped 38 pucks in a 1-0, double-overtime win over AIC in the first round of the 2014 Atlantic Hockey postseason.
• Johnny Curran scored two of Niagara's goals in the 4-0 victory, his second two-goal game of the season. He leads Niagara through 12 games with six goals and three power-play goals this season.

Plouffe Named Player of the Week
• Derian Plouffe was selected by Atlantic Hockey on Tuesday as the Travel Team USA Player of the Week. It was the first time in three years that a Niagara player earned that accolade.
• Plouffe scored three goals, one assist, and a plus-6 rating in three games last week as Niagara earned its first two wins of the season.
• The junior center started the week with one goal and a plus-3 rating as Niagara defeated Mercyhurst 5-4 on Nov. 15.
• Plouffe totaled two goals (one shorthanded), one assist, and a plus-3 in two games at Sacred Heart on Nov. 18 and 19.
• Plouffe is currently second on Niagara in scoring with four goals and four assists in 12 games played.

Heating Up
• Niagara's offense averaged four goals per game in three contests last week, earning two wins.
• The Purple Eagles are scoring 2.58 goals per game through 12 games this season, after averaging 1.92 goals per game last season and 2.18 in the 2014-15 campaign.
• With 20 goals scored in six conference games, Niagara's 3.33 goals per game in Atlantic Hockey play ranks as the third-best mark in the conference.

Take One For The Team
• Niagara blocked a season-best 28 shots in a 5-4 victory over Mercyhurst on Tuesday, Nov. 15. Defenseman Devin Campbell led the way with five, a single-game high for the Purple Eagles.
• On the season, Tyler Hayes is tied for third in Atlantic Hockey at 24 blocked shots, followed by Vinny Muto who is tied for sixth at 22.

Scouting the Yellow Jackets (2-5-5, 2-4-4 Atlantic Hockey)
• American International enters its weekend series against Niagara ranked seventh in Atlantic Hockey, one of three teams with eight points in conference play.
• The Yellow Jackets are 0-2-4 in their last six games, most recently suffering a 7-3 setback to Sacred Heart on Tuesday, Nov. 22.
• Niagara leads the all-time series with AIC, 11-4-0. 
• Niagara went 3-1-0 against AIC last season, earning a 5-4 overtime win at home on Nov. 20, 2015 before sweeping a road series with wins of 2-0 and 4-3 on Feb. 5 and 6, 2016.
• The Yellow Jackets have been extremely efficient on the power play this season, leading Atlantic Hockey with 15 power-play goals and a 28.3 percent conversion rate.
• AIC also matches Niagara with three shorthanded goals scored this season.
• Three of the Yellow Jackets' top five scorers are freshmen: Dominik Florian (12 GP, 7-4-11), Blake Christensen (12 GP, 4-5-9), and Martin Mellberg (12 GP, 4-3-7).
• Freshman Zackarias Skog has started nine of AIC's 12 games in goal, including each of the last five. He sports a 1-4-4 record, 3.15 goals-against average, and .904 save percentage.

Stay connected with the Purple Eagles through social media. Follow Niagara Athletics on Twitter @NUPurpleEagles and for hockey updates, follow @NiagaraUHockey. Check in with the Purple Eagles on Facebook.com/PurpleEagles and on Instagram @NUPurpleEagles.