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NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – No. 15 Niagara will travel to Worcester, Mass., to play two games versus Holy Cross at Hart Center on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 18-19, at 7:05 p.m.
 
Tune In
Niagara’s game versus Holy Cross will be broadcasted live on WJJL 1440 AM and PurpleEagles.com, with Jeremy White on the call. 

Live stats can be accessed by clicking the appropriate link at the Official Website of Purple Eagle Athletics, www.purpleeagles.com.
 
Last Time Out
Purple Eagles completed the weekend sweep over American International over the weekend, dropping the Yellow Jackets 3-2 in the opening game and solidifying the sweep with a 3-1 win the following day.

Chris Lochner contributed two goals in the pair of games, while Dan Kolenda (1-1-2), Mike Benedict (0-2-2) and Ryan Rashid (1-1-2) each contributed two points for the weekend.

Carsen Chubak totaled 49 saves in 120 minutes of action. 
 
Purps In The Polls
NU secured its highest ranking of the season at No. 15 in the most recent USCHO.com Division I poll

The Purps jumped up two spots to the 15th position, establishing a new program record with eight consecutive weeks on the poll, which was previously owned during the 2006-07 campaign where the Purps were ranked for seven straight weeks (Jan. 2-Feb. 12, 2007).

Before this week’s ranking, the team’s highest position came this season during the week of Dec. 10 and for two consecutive weeks during the 2006-07 season (Jan. 22 & Jan. 29) when the team pulled down a No. 16 ranking.

The USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine College Hockey Poll has the Purps at the top receiving votes with 32, while the NCAA Tournament Pairwise Comparison Ratings has NU slated at 14th.
 
Bring On League Play
Dating back to Niagara’s Feb. 11 AHA game against Air Force, the Purps have secured at least one point in their last 21 AHA contests.  NU has earned 37 out of a possible 42 points during that span.  The team’s 13-game AHA unbeaten streak (12-0-1) is tops in the league.

The 1999-00 team holds the NU record for longest conference unbeaten streak in a season, going 15-0-2 in the CHA.  Including the 2000-01 team, Niagara topped off its unbeaten streak to 19 games. 
 
Three Game Win Streak
After dropping a 3-0 decision to Bowling Green on Dec. 29, the Purps are on their second win streak of the season, going 3-0 in the last trio of contests.
 
Scouting The Crusaders
Holy Cross goes into the weekend with a 11-7-2 overall record, and 7-4-2 in the AHA.

The Crusaders are led offensively by Kyle Fletcher (8-10-18).  Forwards Adam Schmidt (10-7-17) and Brandon Nunn (8-7-15) have also contributed points for the team.

Matt Ginn has been the go-to goalie for Holy Cross.  In 18 games, the sophomore has earned a .909 save percentage and a 2.92 goals-against average.
 
All-Time vs. Holy Cross
These pair of contests will mark the ninth and tenth meetings between the teams, in a series that dates back to 1999.  Niagara leads the all-time series 6-2-0. 

The first two contests between the two programs as members of Atlantic Hockey came during the 2010-11 season.
   
Last Meeting On The Ice
The Purple Eagles split a two-game series with Holy Cross last year, as they won at home on Nov. 4, 2011, 4-2, and then lost the following day by a 4-3 score.
 
Up Next For Niagara
After the weekend series against the Crusaders, the Purps wrap up their five-game road trip on Jan. 25 with Western New York rival RIT.  Both teams meet up the following day at Dwyer Arena to wrap up the home-and-home series.