Game Notes
Saturday: Live Stats / Live Audio / Live Video

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – No. 20 Niagara hockey begins league play this weekend with an Atlantic Hockey Association contest against Canisius on Saturday, Oct. 12.  Saturday's game is set for 7:05 p.m. at Dwyer Arena. 
 
DON'T MISS OUT ON THE ACTION!
• Tickets are limited so call the Niagara Tickets Office (located inside Dwyer Arena) at 716-286-TIXX, visit www.PurpleEagles.com/Tickets or by emailing Tickets@PurpleEagles.com to reserve your seats today!
 
BUT IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT…
•   Saturday's game will be available via the American One Network, and will be broadcasted live on WLVL, with Jeremy White on the call.  You can follow the game via live stats as well by clicking on the appropriate link above.  
 
SEASON OPENING SERIES RECAP
•   Niagara dropped back-to-back games in the season opening series against Clarkson this past weekend.  
•   Game one saw Mike Conderman give Niagara the lead in the second frame, but Clarkson would respond with a pair of tallies, including the game-winning goal with just over five minutes remaining in the contest to halt NU's 22-game home unbeaten streak.  
•   Jackson Teichroeb kept the Purple Eagles in the game in his first contest as a Purple Eagle, stopping 39 of 41 attempts on net.
•   NU suffered a 2-0 setback during game two of the series to be swept on home-ice for the first time since the 2011-12 season when the Purps lost to Mercyhurst, 3-2 on Feb. 4, and Air Force, 2-0 on Feb. 11.  
•   Adrian Ignagni made his debut in net, making 27 stops.
 
CLEANING UP AWARDS
•   Freshman goaltender Jackson Teichroeb swept the Atlantic Hockey weekly honors to start his career as a Purp, pocketing Travel Team USA Player, Goaltender and Rookie of the Week honors.   
•  The London, Ont. native made 39 saves against the Golden Knights in his debut in Purple and White in 59:16 minutes of play.  He also picked up his first career point assisting on Mike Conderman's power play tally.

PACK YOUR BAGS
•   In terms of traveling, NU has a difficult road to start the 2013-14 season.  After playing a trio of home games the Purps will now play 13 of the next 15 games away from Dwyer Arena, with their longest stretch being eight games in a row.
•  Niagara's last lengthy road trip came during the 2010-11 season when the team went on an 11-game road trip, the longest in program history, going 3-4-4. 

SERIES HISTORY
•  The Purple Eagles and Griffs have played 30 times since first meeting in the 1997 season, and Niagara holds an 18-10-2 advantage, including a 13-8-2 advantage in DI meetings.
•  NU was 2-1 against Canisius in its three meetings last season, with the last home contest coming on Feb. 9, 2013 when Niagara beat its cross-town rival, 2-0.
•  The Purple Eagles' 2013 playoff run ended when their cross-town handed the team a 5-3 loss at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, N.Y. on March 22, 2013.  Niagara battled back from a goal down twice in the second period, but the Griffins pulled away with the game with an early third period tally that gave Canisius a two-goal advantage.
 
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GRIFFINS
•  Finished the 2012-13 season with a 19-19-5 overall mark, and a 12-13-2 AHA record which was good enough for a seventh place finish.
•  Earned program's first AHA Championship and berth in the NCAA Tournament.  After dropping Mercyhurst, 7-2, in the AHA title game, Canisius fell to top-seeded Quinnipiac, 4-3, in the East Regional Semifinal.
•  Senior Kyle Gibbons is the team's leading returner in points (43), goals (21) and assists (22).  Patrick Sullivan (8-14-22) and Mitch McCrank (5-16-21) also return to the lineup.
•  Last year's starter Tony Capobianco, who started 41 games overall as a junior, returns in goal.  He finished the season setting four school records in saves (1,256), save percentage (.929), shutouts (4) and goaltending wins (18). 
•  The team brought in five players (three forwards, two defensemen).