2013-14 Schedule | Hockey Ticket Home Page

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Niagara hockey head coach Dave Burkholder has announced the Purple Eagles' 2013-14 schedule. 

"We have certainly found out in our three years in Atlantic Hockey how grueling the league schedule is," Burkholder said. "Every point is of great importance for the playoff seeding. That being said, we also always try and make sure we challenge ourselves to the utmost with the allowable non-conference games. Everyone associated with Niagara Hockey is excited to play this demanding schedule."

The Purple Eagles open the season with a two-game home tilt against Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference's Clarkson University on Saturday, Oct. 5 and Oct. 6 before hosting their first Atlantic Hockey opponent in cross-town rival Canisius on October 12.

A five-game road trip begins on Oct. 19 when Niagara travels to Moon Township, Pa. to take on Robert Morris before meeting Denver league opponent Air Force on Oct. 25 and 27, respectively.   After a weekend off, the Purps travel to Ohio State on Nov. 8-9 with a pair of Big Ten conference games.  NU then hosts AHA foe Army for a two-game set with a pair of 7:05 p.m. starts on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15-16. 

The team's longest road trip of the season starts with a bout against Mercyhurst on the first of two Tuesday evening games (Nov. 19), followed by a  game against Michigan to be played at Yost Arena on Nov. 22.  The Purple Eagles close out the second month of the season with ECAC opponent Cornell on Tuesday, Nov. 26 in the team's final non-conference matchup of the season.

December begins with a conference tilt against UConn on Dec. 6-7 before Niagara takes part in the 10-day outdoor hockey event hosted by Frontier Field to close out the 2013 portion of the schedule.  The Purps will face AHA opponent R.I.T on Saturday, Dec. 14 in an outdoor contest. 

Niagara ends its eight game road trip with a trip to South Waltham, Mass. to take on Bentley (Jan. 3-4) for the first of 18 straight conference matchups.  The squad then returns to Monteagle Ridge for five-straight games at Dwyer Arena, starting on Jan. 10-11 when they host AIC, with both games set for a 7:05 p.m. start.  Holy Cross comes into town for two games (Jan. 17-18). 

The Purple Eagles will take part in the season's first home-and-home series when they host the Tigers on Jan. 24, and travel to R.I.T.'s home ice the following day before meeting  Sacred Heart for two-game set on Jan. 31-Feb. 1.  The Battle of the Bridge matchup will wrap up with a pair of contests that begin on Thursday, Feb. 6 at Niagara and conclude the following day at the Buffalo State Sports Arena.  The remaining two home-and-home series will take place against Robert Morris (Feb. 13 and 15) and Mercyhurst (Feb. 21-22).  The Purple Eagles close-out the 2013-14 regular season at home against Air Force (Feb. 28-March 1).        

The 2014 Atlantic Hockey playoffs begin on Friday, March 7, with the top four teams receiving byes, while the other eight teams compete in a best two-out-of-three series.  The quarterfinals (March 14-16) are best two-out-of-three series, while the semifinals (March 21) and AHA Championship game (March 22) will take place at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, N.Y.

"There are no easy games at this level and we are testing ourselves with some of the best college hockey has to offer," Burkholder said.

Niagara returns 20 players from last year's roster that went 23-10-5, capturing the AHA Regular Season title and the program's fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Tickets for the 2013-14 season are on sale now. For more information, please contact the Niagara Ticket Office at (716) 286-TIXX (8499), tickets@purpleeagles.com or visit www.PurpleEagles.com/Tickets.