WINTHROP, Mass. – Niagara hockey senior forward Derian Plouffe earned the first Travel Team USA Player of the Week award of the 2017-18 season, as announced by the Atlantic Hockey Conference (AHC) on Tuesday.
 
Plouffe scored a power-play goal and tallied a team-best six shots on goal in Niagara's season opener at Colgate on Sept. 30. A slick setup from defenseman Noah Delmas gave Plouffe a one-time shot that tied the game at 1-1 in the second period, but Colgate responded by scoring twice later in the second period on the way to a 5-1 victory.
 
This is the second career weekly honor for Plouffe, who earned Player of the Week accolades on Nov. 22, 2016 after scoring four points (3+1) in a three-game week that saw the Purple Eagles earn conference wins over Mercyhurst and Sacred Heart. Last season, Plouffe tallied eight points (4+4) in 12 games. Through six conference games, he led Niagara in goals (two), assists (three), and plus/minus (plus-7) before missing the remainder of the season due to injury.
 
The Niagara hockey team is back at Dwyer Arena this weekend, with the first home game of the season set for Friday, Oct. 6 against the Robert Morris Colonials. Opening faceoff is slated for 7:05 p.m. For ticket information, please contact the Niagara Ticket Office at (716) 286-TIXX (8499), tickets@niagara.edu or visit www.PurpleEagles.com/Tickets. 
 
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