Friday at RPI: Live Audio | Live Video | Live Stats | Game Notes (Niagara) | Game Notes (RPI)
Saturday at Union: Live Audio | Live Video | Live Stats | Game Notes

This weekend, the Purple Eagles hockey team heads on its first road trip of the 2016-17 season. Niagara opens its six-game non-conference slate Friday evening against the RPI Engineers at 7 p.m. From there, Niagara stays in the Albany area and takes on the Union Dutchmen in a 4 p.m. Saturday matinee. This weekend marks Niagara's first meeting with RPI since 2010 and its first with Union since 2011.
 
Jeremy White has the play-by-play call both Friday and Saturday on 1340 AM WLVL. Video streams and live stats are also available for both road contests.
 
What to Watch For
• The Niagara Purple Eagles kick off their 2016-17 non-conference schedule with a pair of road contests this weekend.
• Niagara starts the series at the Houston Field House on Friday night, taking on the RPI Engineers in a 7 p.m. contest. From there, Niagara takes on Union in a 4 p.m. matinee on Saturday afternoon.
• The Purple Eagles and Engineers will face off for the first time in six years. Niagara holds a 4-2-0 lead in the all-time series, but RPI won the last matchup 4-3 in overtime on Oct. 23, 2010.
• Union and Niagara last played on Oct. 21, 2011, and the Purple Eagles battled to a 3-3 tie with the 12th-ranked Dutchmen on home ice.
• The week's action began on Tuesday for the Purple Eagles, who mounted a strong comeback at Mercyhurst before falling 4-2 on the road.
• Tanner Lomsnes scored a 5-on-3 power-play goal for Niagara at Mercyhurst. The Purple Eagles' power play sits at 3-for-20 (15.0 percent) through three contests.
• Derek Brown scored the first goal of his collegiate career as well on Tuesday, burying a rebound shot from Sam Rennaker and Vinny Muto with 14:44 left in regulation.
• Joe O'Brien stopped 36 of 40 shots against in his first start of the season.
 
Strong Start for Spriggs
• Kris Spriggs earned the first weekly award for a Purple Eagle this season, as he was named Travel Team USA Rookie of the Week on Oct. 11 by Atlantic Hockey.
• In the opening weekend, Spriggs tied with Niagara's Noah Delmas for the conference rookie scoring lead. He led all freshmen with 10 shots on goal in the weekend and added a plus-2 rating.
• Delmas and Spriggs still share the rookie scoring lead entering Tuesday's game at Mercyhurst.
 
The Power of Niagara
• Niagara has started the 2016-17 season with power-play goals in three straight games.
• Niagara last tallied power-play goals in three consecutive games from Jan. 9 to 16, 2016 in one game against Mercyhurst and two against Canisius.
• Eight of Niagara's nine power-play points this season have come from freshmen and sophomores. Sophomore forward Tanner Lomsnes leads Niagara with two points (1+1) on the man advantage.
• Sophomore forward Sean King scored his fourth career power-play goal on Oct. 8 versus Holy Cross, tying junior Derian Plouffe and senior TJ Sarcona for the team lead.
• Through three games, the power-play units have shown strong improvements from a season ago. Niagara's power play went 12-for-132 (9.1 percent) during the 2015-16 campaign.
 
Dominating the Dot
• Niagara has won the faceoff battle in all three games this season and boasts a .521 faceoff percentage (110-for-211) to date.
• TJ Sarcona has a .632 faceoff percentage (36-for-57) after winning 12 of 13 draws at Mercyhurst on Tuesday, Oct. 18.
• Derian Plouffe, one of the NCAA's leaders in faceoff percentage a season ago, is second on the team having won 30 of 55 faceoffs in three games (.545 faceoff percentage.).

Facing the Nation
• Atlantic Hockey teams have fared well against non-conference opponents this season, with a 6-7-5 record outside of the league.
• Air Force (2-1 vs. No. 5 Boston College) and Holy Cross (2-1 OT vs. No. 11 Providence) have earned upset wins over ranked opponents. Bentley also earned a 1-1 tie against No. 16 Northeastern.
• Air Force, Holy Cross, Army, and RIT all received votes in the latest USCHO.com poll.

Defend Dwyer Arena
• The Purple Eagles' next two home games take place on Friday, Oct. 28 and Saturday, Oct. 29 against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Both games are set for a 7 p.m. opening faceoff.
• Tickets are available on Ticketmaster, by phone at (716) 286-TIXX (8499), or in person at the Dwyer Arena box office.

Stay connected with the Purple Eagles through social media. Follow Niagara Athletics on Twitter @NUPurpleEagles and for hockey updates, follow @NiagaraUHockey. Check in with the Purple Eagles on Facebook/PurpleEagles and on Instagram @NUPurpleEagles.