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NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The sixteenth-ranked Niagara hockey team will finish the 2012 portion of the home schedule with Western New York rival RIT on Wednesday, Dec. 12 at Dwyer Arena.  The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:05 p.m. 
 
How To Catch The Game
Niagara’s game versus RIT will be broadcasted live on WJJL 1440 AM and PurpleEagles.com, with Paul Hamilton on the call. 

Wednesday’s game will also be available on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel, with Kevin Sylvester and Andrew Peters combining for the call. 
 
Tickets Are Still Available
Tickets are still available for Wednesday’s contest.  For ticket information, please call the Niagara Tickets Office (located inside Dwyer Arena) at 716-286-TIXX, visit www.PurpleEagles.com/Tickets or by emailing Tickets@PurpleEeagles.com.
 
Teddy Bear Toss
Niagara will be hosting its Teddy Bear Toss during Wednesday’s game, benefiting the Carly’s Club for Kids & Cancer Research at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.  Fans that bring a new, stuffed animal to the game will receive a discounted ticket, and will be able to toss them onto the ice following the Purple Eagles’ first goal of the game.  There will also be teddy bears for purchase provided by the Beverly Hill Teddy Bear Company. 
 
Last Time Out 
Niagara swept the Sacred Heart Pioneers in a weekend series to keep a clean slate in conference play.  After dropping the Pioneers, 5-3 on Nov. 30, NU had to come back from two goals down the following day to earn a 5-2 win.  The comeback happened from a five-goal effort in the second period, with the game-winning tally coming off the stick of Mike Benedict. 

In the pair of contests, the top line of Giancarlo Iuorio,  Marc Zanette and Ryan Murphy combined for 12 points, including notching six of the Purple Eagles’ 10 tallies. 

Carsen Chubak wrapped up the weekend with 45 saves.
 
Eleven-Game Unbeaten Streak
NU has gone eight consecutive games without a loss on the scoresheet, and is currently on an eleven-game unbeaten streak, going 9-0-2 in its last eleven contests.  The unbeaten streak is the longest in the nation.
 
Scouting The Tigers
RIT enters Wednesday’s game with a 2-8-3 record, going 1-5-2 in AHA play.  The Tigers are currently in 10th place with four points. 

The Tigers are led by Adam Mitchell (6-7-13), while getting strong play from Jeff Smith (6-5-11), Greg Noyes (5-6-11) and Chris Saracino (3-8-11).

Josh Watson will likely earn the nod to play between the pipes, earning a 3.19 goals-against average and an .899 save percentage.
 
2012 AHA Semifinal Rematch
Niagara suffered a 2-1 overtime setback to RIT in the AHA Semifinals at Blue Cross Arena on March 16. 

Chris Lochner tallied the game-tying goal at the 14:40 mark of the third period, sending the contest into sudden death overtime.

Stingy Eagles
The Purple Eagles are a perfect 9-0-0 in Atlantic Hockey Conference action.  They have outscored their opposition 34-8 in those nine games – leading the nation for the fewest goals allowed during conference play this season.

Niagara is one of two teams in NCAA Division I hockey, along with Quinnipiac, that are currently undefeated in conference play. 

The Bobcats are 8-0-0 in the ECAC conference, while the Purple Eagles hold a 9-0-0 mark in the Atlantic Hockey Association.
 
Brickwall Defense
Niagara’s penalty killing unit is ranked seventh in the nation, successfully stopping 67 of the 74 man-disadvantages, for a 90.5 percent success rate.
 
Up Next For NU
The Purple Eagles close out the year with a non-conference bout against the Bowling Green Falcons on Dec. 29.