Niagara will welcome the Air Force Falcons, holders of first place in the AHA to Dwyer Arena this weekend for a pivotal two-game series. The Purple Eagles are currently tied for third place with 27 points, just two points behind the visiting Falcons.
How To Catch The Game
Niagara's games against Air Force will be broadcast on WJJL 1440 AM. Every game, including Niagara's games against Air Force 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 series against Air Force on this weekend. Contact the Niagara Ticket Office (located inside Dwyer Arena) at 716-286-TIXX or by emailing Tickets@PurpleEagles.com.
Move On Up!
Fans who head over to our Facebook page and tag themselves and four friends are eligible for a printable voucher which unlocks a five-dollar ticket. Once they are all redeemed at Dwyer Arena at the day of the game, they are entered into a drawing to enjoy a free seat upgrade for the group, into the Premium Club.
For more details, click
here.
Get Checked!
Niagara Athletics, in conjunction with Mount Saint Mary's Hospital will be selling "Get Checked" t-shirts, as a way for the department to rally around sophomore forward
Scott Arnold and his
story.
The "Get Checked" shirts are black, with "Get Checked, Beat Cancer" on the front of it. The back of the shirts feature the slogan "Don't Let Testicular Cancer Hit You." The shirts will be sold at the three remaining home games and any possible playoff games for $10 dollars, with everything earned donated to Mount Saint Mary's Hospital.
Get To Know Your Foe: Air Force
The Air Force Falcons enter this weekend with a 14-7-6 record, going 12-4-5 in AHA play. The Falcons currently lead the AHA with 29 points.
The Falcons are led by juniors Kyle De Laurell (14-17-31) and John Kruse (11-12-23). Air Force also gets strong play from freshman Cole Gunner (4-19-23).
Sophomore Jason Torf will likely earn the nod to play between the pipes, earning a 3-2-1 record with a 2.07 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.
New Flight Pattern
Niagara hasn’t hosted Air Force in a two-game series since the 2005-06 season (Feb. 2006). Much like the 2011-12 season, the Falcons visited Dwyer Arena on Feb. 10 and Feb. 11. Niagara dropped a 3-2 decision on Feb. 10, while downing the Falcons the next night, 6-2.
Niagara vs. The Service Academies
Since the 2002-03 season, the Purple Eagles are 17-7-0 against teams representing the Service Academies (Army & Air Force), going 8-3-0 at home in those games.
“Loch” Down
Niagara freshman
Chris Lochner has scored seven goals in his last five games, earning him a five-game goal scoring and point scoring streak. The streak started on Jan. 21, when he scored his first collegiate hat-trick, scoring three power play goals during the 6-1 win over AIC on Saturday, Jan. 21 at Dwyer Arena. The freshman would follow his AHA Rookie of the Week performance with a goal in each victory against Robert Morris a week later. Against Mercyhurst, he notched two goals, an assist and three points.
The freshman currently leads the team with six power-play markers. Five of his last six tallies have come on the man-advantage.
Murphy’s Law
Sophomore forward
Ryan Murphy had a big game during Niagara’s 6-1 win over Mercyhurst on Feb. 3. Murphy recorded a career-high two goals and a career-high three points in the victory. The next game, Murphy scored a goal and an assist during the 3-2 loss to the Lakers, earning an overall weekend of three goals, two assists and five points.
National Noonan
Senior goalie
Chris Noonan is currently in the nation’s top-15 in three statistical categories. Noonan’s season goals-against average of 1.73 is second-best in the nation, his .941 save percentage this season is best in the nation and he is tied for 15th place in goalie winning percentage (.656).
