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Hitting The Open Trail
Niagara continues on its 11-game road trip, the longest in program history, by participating in the 2011 Mariucci Classic, hosted by the University of Minnesota. Niagara will take on the No. 2/2 Gophers on Dec. 30, while playing either Northeastern or Princeton on New Year’s Eve. Niagara wraps up its 11-game sojourn with a two-game AHA series against UConn on Jan. 6-7. Niagara is 3-1-3 so far on this road trip.
Niagara’s 11-game road trip is tied for the longest road trip in the nation with Alabama-Huntsville, who will be on the road from Nov. 11 through Dec. 17.
How To Catch The Game
Niagara's games at the 2011 Mariucci Classic will be broadcast on WJJL 1440 AM. Every game, including Niagara's games at the 2011 Mariucci Classic can also be heard via Niagara All-Access for free, under the Multimedia tab of PurpleEagles.com.
Links for the live audio feed and live stats are located at the top of the page. The live stats links will be added shortly as they become available.
Holiday Tournaments
The 2011 Mariucci Classic marks the first time Niagara has played in a holiday tournament since it participated in the 2010 Shillelagh Tournament.
Niagara has played in four holiday tournaments that took place in December in the program’s history, earning a 4-4-0 record in those contests.
Unbeaten Streak
Niagara is 3-0-3 in its last six games, dating back to a 3-2 win over Sacred Heart on Nov. 26. Niagara is currently tied for the third-longest unbeaten streak in the nation with Colgate, Northeastern and Union. Defending national champion Minnesota-Duluth currently leads the nation with a 14-game unbeaten streak.
The six-game unbeaten streak is the longest such streak for the Purple Eagles since the 2007-08 season, when Niagara had a nine-game unbeaten streak (6-0-3).
Climbing The Ladder
Dating back to Niagara’s Nov. 15 AHA contest against Canisius, the Purple Eagles have secured at least a point in their last seven AHA games. Niagara has earned 10 out of a possible 14 points during that span. Niagara’s seven-game AHA unbeaten streak (3-0-4) trails only Robert Morris (6-0-2) for longest streak in the AHA this season.
The 1999-00 team holds the Niagara record for longest conference unbeaten streak in a season, going 15-0-2 in the CHA. Including the 2000-01 team, Niagara topped out its unbeaten steak at 19 games.
Get To Know Your Foe: Minnesota
The No. 2/2 Minnesota Golden Gophers are 14-5-1, with a 11-3-0 WCHA record. Minnesota is 3-1-1 in their last five games. The Golden Gophers are led by sophomore Nick Bjugstad (16-11-27) and sophomore Erik Haula (9-16-25). Minnesota also gets solid play from freshman Kyle Rau (12-10-22).
Kent Patterson will likely earn the nod to play between the pipes, earning a 14-5-1 record with a 2.04 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage.
Get To Know Your Foe: Northeastern
The Northeastern Huskies are 7-7-2, with a 4-7-2 Hockey East record. The Huskies have won their last six games. The Huskies are led by junior Steve Quailer (6-10-16) and freshman Ludwig Karlsson (6-8-14).
Chris Rawlings will likely start for the Huskies, earning a 7-6-2 record with a 2.30 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage.
Get To Know Your Foe: Princeton
The Princeton Tigers are 4-9-2, with a 3-7-1 ECAC record. The Tigers are led by sophomore Jack Berger (6-5-11) and sophomore Andrew Calof (4-6-10).
Sean Bonar gets most of the action for the Tigers, with a 2.96 GAA
Tight Games
Thirteen out of Niagara’s last 15 games have been decided by a goal or less. Eight of Niagara’s first 16 games have entered overtime, with Niagara playing to six ties.
