After sweeping its last two weekends, Niagara will take on former College Hockey of America foe Robert Morris in a home-and-home series, beginning in Pittsburgh on Friday night, before returning to Dwyer Arena on Saturday. This will be a big weekend for the fifth-place Purple Eagles, who are only two points behind the third-place Colonials in the Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA) standings.
How To Catch The Game
Saturday's contest between the Purple Eagles and the Colonials can be seen live in the Buffalo area courtesy of Time Warner Cable Sports Net. Fans wishing to tune in can catch the game on channel 13 (Standard Definition) or channel 713 (HD).
Niagara's games against Robert Morris will be also be broadcast on WJJL 1440 AM. Every game, including Niagara's games against Robert Morris can also be heard via Niagara All-Access for free, under the Multimedia tab of PurpleEagles.com.
Links for the live audio (WJJL), live video (America One), live stats and game notes are found at the top of the page.
Tickets Still Available!
Seats are still available for Niagara's home contest against Robert Morris on Saturday night. Contact the Niagara Ticket Office (located inside Dwyer Arena) at 716-286-TIXX or by emailing Tickets@PurpleEagles.com.
Get To Know Your Foe: Robert Morris
The Robert Morris Colonials enter this weekend with a 12-9-3 record, going 10-4-3 in AHA play. The Colonials are in third-place in the AHA standings. The Colonials are led by seniors Cody Crichton (6-15-21) and Trevor Lewis (7-11-18). Robert Morris also gets strong play from freshman Cody Wydo (12-5-17).
Senior Brooks Ostergard will likely earn the nod to play between the pipes, earning a 6-7-2 record with a 2.26 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage.
High “Noon”
Senior netminder
Chris Noonan has a 6-2-3 record since earning the loss in the 7-6 defeat to then-nationally ranked Colgate on Oct. 28. Noonan has a 1.67 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage in his last 11 games.
In January thus far, Noonan has a 1.24 goals-against average and a .955 save percentage with a 4-2-0 record. In home games this season, Noonan has been equally as impressive, with a 4-1-0 mark to go with a 1.32 goals-against average and a .953 save percentage.
National Noonan
Senior netminder Chris Noonan is currently in the nation’s top 10 in two statistical categories. Noonan’s season goals-against average of 1.81 is third-best in the nation, while his .937 save percentage this season is tied for tops in the nation with Troy Grosenick from Union.
January Jump
Dating back to the 2010-11 season, Niagara is 9-4-1 in its last 14 games played in January. The Purple Eagles have currently won four straight January games and have compiled a 6-1-0 record at Dwyer Arena in January games since the 2010-11 season.
Success At Dwyer Arena
Niagara is currently on a five-game unbeaten streak at home, going 4-0-1 against Canisius, Army and AIC dating back to Nov. 15, 2011. The Purple Eagles played Canisius to a 1-1 tie in November, before sweeping Army and AIC the last two weekends.
On The Island
The Purple Eagles are on a seven-game unbeaten streak (3-0-4) in games against Robert Morris at the RMU Island Sports Center, dating back to the 2008-09 season. Dating back to the 2007-08 season, Niagara holds a 4-1-4 record against Robert Morris at the RMU Island Sports Center.
Unbeaten Streak
Presently, Niagara is on a four-game unbeaten streak, having swept Army and AIC in subsequent weeks. As of Jan. 23, Niagara’s four-game unbeaten streak was tied for the fourth-longest such streak in the nation, behind Cornell (7), Ferris State (6) and Boston University (5).
“Loch” Down
Niagara freshman
Chris Lochner notched his first collegiate hat-trick, scoring three power play goals during the 6-1 win over AIC on Saturday, Jan. 21 at Dwyer Arena. Lochner’s three-goal night is the first Purple Eagle hat-trick since
Bryan Haczyk scored three in a 5-4 overtime win against Air Force on Feb. 12, 2011.
Paul Zanette was the last player with a hat-trick at Dwyer Arena, scoring three during a 4-1 victory over RIT on Nov. 19, 2010. Niagara is now 4-0-0 in its last four contests where a Purple Eagle scores a hat-trick (Haczyk twice, Zanette, Lochner).
