Live Video & Audio | Live Stats | Game Notes (Niagara) | Game Notes (RIT)

The Purple Eagles hockey team returns to Dwyer Arena this weekend for its first two-game home series since Oct. 28 and 29. After closing the month of November with a record of 2-2-1 in its last five games, Niagara takes on the RIT Tigers at 7:05 p.m. on both Friday, Dec. 2 and Saturday, Dec. 3.

Friday's game will be locally televised on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel and can be seen live in the Buffalo and Rochester markets on channels 52 and 323, with Dave Miller and Chris Panek calling the game. The game will be replayed state-wide at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3 and at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 4.

Fans can also watch both of this weekend's contests on AtlanticHockey.tv. Paul Hamilton has the play-by-play call on 1340 AM WLVL.

On Saturday, Niagara will be partaking in a Teddy Bear Toss to benefit the Niagara Falls Firefighters Christmas Toy Fund. Fans are highly encouraged to bring a teddy bear or other soft, plush toy to the game and throw it on the ice when the Purple Eagles score their first goal of the game. Any other toys appropriate for children ages 12 and under can be placed in collection bins outside the Dwyer Arena ticket office. Any toy donation includes $5 off the ticket price to Saturday's game or to a future Niagara hockey game this season.

What to Watch For
• The Purple Eagles hockey team returns to Dwyer Arena for the first time since Nov. 15 this weekend, hosting a pair of games against the RIT Tigers.
• Niagara is 15-7-12 all-time against RIT. The Purple Eagles went 1-2-1 in last season's four matchups, earning a 2-0 road shutout win on Dec. 11, 2015 and a 4-4 tie on home ice on Feb. 19, 2016.
• Last weekend, the Purple Eagles tied AIC 0-0 on Nov. 25, the third scoreless tie in program history. 
• In that scoreless tie, Jackson Teichroeb made 26 saves for his second consecutive shutout, the first time in four seasons a Niagara goaltender has not allowed a goal in two straight games.
• AIC defeated Niagara 3-1 in the second game of the weekend on Nov. 26. Stanislav Dzakhov scored a power-play goal as Niagara tied a season-high with nine power-play chances.
• RIT enters this weekend's series on a three-game winning streak. The Tigers got a last-minute goal from Erik Brown to defeat Mercyhurst 4-3 on Nov. 23.
• After recording 32 points in 39 games as a sophomore last season, Myles Powell is leading the Tigers in scoring this year with 13 points through 14 games.
• Mike Rotolo has played in all 14 of RIT's games this season, making 13 starts. He has a 2.64 goals-against average and .896 save percentage.

Teichroeb Takes Charge
• Niagara senior goaltender Jackson Teichroeb has emerged between the pipes for the Purple Eagles over the last two weeks.
• Making his first start since Oct. 29, Teichroeb made 37 saves in a 4-0 shutout win over Sacred Heart on Nov. 19. The very next game, he turned away 26 shots in a scoreless tie at AIC.
• Teichroeb now has seven career shutouts, ranking third in program history behind only Greg Gardner (16) and Juliano Pagliero (8).
• Teichroeb became the seventh goaltender in the NCAA this season to record back-to-back shutouts. The last time a Niagara goaltender did it was in 2012, when Carsen Chubak earned three straight shutouts, part of a program-best shutout streak of 252:59.
• Including the consecutive shutouts, Teichroeb amassed a shutout streak of 159:15 dating back to his start Oct. 29 versus Ohio State. It was the season's fourth-longest streak in the NCAA.
• In Atlantic Hockey play this season, Teichroeb has a 2.70 goals-against average and .908 save percentage.

Rookies Continue Strong Starts
• Three of Niagara's four leading scorers this season are freshmen. Derek Brown leads the team with nine points (3+6), while Kris Spriggs (3+4) and Noah Delmas (0+7) rank third at seven points.
• Brown's nine points are tied for the most by a Niagara rookie in the first two months of the season over the past 10 years, joining Nick Farmer (2015-16; 2+7 in 12 GP) and Scott Arnold (2010-11; 8+1 in 15 GP).
• Brown and Delmas have each had a team-high four-game point streak this morning. Brown scored two goals and three assists from Oct. 22 to Nov. 3, while Delmas had an assist in four straight games from Nov. 4 to Nov. 19.

Scouting the Tigers (6-7-1, 6-5-0 Atlantic Hockey)
• Niagara plays its only two games of the 2016-17 season against RIT on home ice this weekend.
• The Purple Eagles went 1-2-1 against the Tigers last season. Jackson Teichroeb led Niagara to a 2-0 shutout win at RIT on Dec. 11, 2015, and Niagara came back to earn a 4-4 tie against RIT at home on Feb. 19, 2016.
• Niagara holds the lead in the all-time series over RIT with a record of 15-7-12. The Purple Eagles are 13-5-10 since RIT moved to Division I in 2005.
• RIT comes to Dwyer Arena on a three-game winning streak, which has propelled the Tigers into a tie with Army for first place in Atlantic Hockey.
• In their lone outing last week, Erik Brown scored in the final minute to give RIT a 4-3 win at Mercyhurst on Nov. 23.
• After recording 32 points in 39 games as a sophomore last season, Myles Powell is leading the Tigers in scoring this year with 13 points through 14 games.
• Brown leads RIT with a team-high eight goals, while blueliner Brady Norrish is tied for second in the AHC with 11 assists.
• Mike Rotolo has played in all 14 of RIT's games this season, making 13 starts. He has a 2.64 goals-against average and .896 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.