Game Notes
Friday’s Live Stats            ¦             Friday’s Live Audio          ¦             Friday’s Live Video

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – After sweeping RIT in the Atlantic Hockey quarterfinals, the No. 14/15 Niagara hockey team continue its quest for its first AHA Tournament Title when the Purple Eagles play Canisius in the semifinal on March 22 at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, N.Y.  The puck is scheduled to drop at 4:05 p.m.

Tune In
The game versus Canisius will be broadcasted live on WJJL 1440 AM and PurpleEagles.com, with Jeremy White and Steve Warzala on the call. 
 
Live stats can be accessed by clicking the appropriate link at the Official Website of Purple Eagle Athletics, www.PurpleEagles.com.
 
The contest can also be seen live on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel. 

Tickets Are Still Available!
Tickets for the semifinal are still available so contact the Niagara Ticket Office (located inside Dwyer Arena) at 716-286-TIXX, or emailing Ticket@PurpleEagles.com to reserve your seats!

AHA Playoffs
The Purple Eagles are 4-2-0 all-time in the Atlantic Hockey playoffs.  Friday’s game vs. Canisius will tie Niagara’s farthest run in the AHA Tournament in the previous two seasons.  The last time the Purps reach the semifinals was during the 2011-12 campaign.
 
Quarterfinal Recap
The Purple Eagles claimed a spot in the AHA semifinal by sweeping RIT in the best-of-three quarterfinal series.  Niagara came out with a 3-2 victory in the opening game on March 15, followed by a thrilling 2-1 overtime win.  

The top line of Marc Zanette,  Giancarlo Iuorio and Ryan Murphy combined for eight points in two games.  Iuorio scored a pair of goals and added an assist in the opening game,  Zanette netted two points which included the game-winning score in overtime, while Murphy contributed a trio of helpers.  
 
The Niagara penalty killing unit kept the No. 2 nationally ranked power play off the scoreboard in seven attempts during game two of the series.  Carsen Chubak pushed aside 59 Tiger shots on the weekend. 
 
Scouting the Griffins
No. 7 seed Canisius enters the series with a 17-18-5 record, going 12-13-2 in AHA action.  The Griffins swept Bentley in the first round to advance in to the quarterfinals, where the team dropped Air Force in a pair of contests.   

Leading the Griffins in goals, assists and points is Kyle Gibbons with 36 points on 18 goals and 18 assists. Preston Shupe is second on the team in goals and assists, netting 26 points on 16 goals, while adding 10 helpers.  
 
In net for Canisius is Tony Capobianco who recorded a 16-18-4 mark on the season after playing in 38 games. He has a goals-against average of 2.35 and a save percentage of .929.
 
All-Time vs. Canisius
Niagara leads the all-time series over the Griffs 18-9-2, including a 13-8-2 advantage in DI meetings.  The Purps have only dropped one game to its cross-town rival in six games (4-1-1). 
 
Postseason History
Friday’s game marks the third time in the Niagara-Canisius series history that the two teams will meet in a single-elimination playoff game.  Niagara defeated Canisius by a 4-1 count on March 6, 1998 in the ECAC West Semifinals, and fell to the Griffins, 6-3, in the 2011 Atlantic Hockey Association first round.
 
Century Mark
Assistant captain Giancarlo Iuorio has joined the 100-point club during the 2012-13 season, which came at Dwyer Arena on March 15 vs. RIT, scoring two goals and adding as assist in the 3-2 victory.  Only 13 Purple Eagles have joined the illustrious group, with Paul Zanette (‘11) being the last to record a 100 points in 2011. 
 
Nationally Ranked Chubak
All eyes are on NU goaltender Carsen Chubak as his performance between the pipes has earned him the fourth best save percentage (.941) and winning percentage (.773) in the nation.  Chubak also claims the fifth best goals-against average in the country with a 1.81 mark, while holding the top spot in shutouts (6).
 
All Around Contributions
NU has six players with 20 or more points this season (Murphy 35, Iuorio 32, Zanette 27, Kevin Ryan 22, Patrick Divjak 22, Ryan Rashid 21), the most since the 2010-11 season when seven Purps earned 20 plus points.
 
Up Next For NU
Should the Purple Eagles advance from their semifinal game against Canisius, Niagara would play in the championship on March 23 against the winner of the Mercyhurst-UConn game.  If the Purps fall to the Golden Griffins, Niagara would have to sit and await its NCAA Tournament fate.  The selection show is scheduled for March 24 at 9 p.m. on ESPNU.