Saturday, Sept. 30

at Colgate

4:00 p.m.

Live Video

Live Audio

Live Stats

Game Notes

The 2017-18 Niagara hockey season starts off this Saturday, Sept. 30, as the Purple Eagles travel to Hamilton to take on the Colgate Raiders. Saturday's contest marks the first game with head coach Jason Lammers and assistant coaches Andy Boschetto and Matt Nicholson behind the bench for the Purple Eagles.

Opening faceoff between Niagara and Colgate is set for 4:00 p.m. Saturday. Live video is available courtesy of the Patriot League Network, and fans can tune in to WLVL 1340 AM to hear Paul Hamilton on play-by-play.

Purple Points
• The Niagara Purple Eagles hockey team plays the first regular-season game of the 2017-18 NCAA men's hockey season Saturday, dropping the puck at Colgate at 4 p.m.
• Saturday's contest also marks the first game under new leadership for the Purple Eagles, as Jason Lammers was announced as the third head coach in program history on April 24. Lammers is joined behind the bench by assistant coaches Andy Boschetto and Matt Nicholson.
• Niagara is 8-7-2 all-time against Colgate. The Purple Eagles' last road win over the Raiders was a 2-1 victory on Oct. 29, 2011.
• On the ice, there are plenty of fresh faces as Niagara welcomes 11 newcomers in this season's class, joining a group of 19 returning players.
• The Purple Eagles will be led by their senior class featuring forwards Stanislav Dzakhov and Derian Plouffe as well as defensemen Keegan Harper and Larry Smith. Senior defenseman James Roll joins Niagara for his senior season as a fourth-year transfer after playing the last three seasons at Lake Superior State.
• Niagara sports a 10-member junior class including nine returners and transfer goaltender David Krejcik.
• This year's freshman class includes four forwards (Eric Cooley, Zach Mills, Nic Mucci, Justin Kendall), three defensemen (Chris Harpur, Sam Fuss, Jack Zielinski)  and goaltender Brian Wilson.
• After opening the season at Colgate, Niagara plays seven of its next nine games in the friendly confines of Dwyer Arena, starting Oct. 6 against Robert Morris.

Postseason Theatrics
• To kick off the 2017 postseason, Niagara won two out of three games on the road to knock off the two-time conference champion RIT Tigers in the Atlantic Hockey First Round.
• In game one, Niagara trailed 4-2 in the third period before scoring three goals in the final four minutes, including two shorthanded, to take a 5-4 regulation victory.
• Johnny Curran assisted on the first goal in the late run before scoring the equalizer inside the final minute. With ten seconds to play, Sam Rennaker scored the game-winner on a shorthanded three-on-one rush.
• After a 5-0 setback in Game Two, Niagara took Game Three by a score of 4-1 to claim the series victory. Stanislav Dzakhov posted two goals and one assist for his first career three-point game, and  goaltender Jackson Teichroeb made 42 saves for Niagara.

Leading Returners
• The Purple Eagles return seven of their top 10 scorers for the 2017-18 season, including their two leaders from a year ago in Stanislav Dzakhov and Kris Spriggs.
• Dzakhov posted a career-high 17 points on nine goals and eight assists.
• Spriggs scored two goals and four assists in October 2016 to earn Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Month accolades. He was also named Rookie of the Week after the first weekend of the season. The Edmonton native closed his freshman season with nine goals and seven assists in 35 games.
• Defenseman Noah Delmas tied for third on the team in scoring during his freshman campaign and led the team with 15 assists.

Scouting the Raiders
• Colgate enters the 2017-18 campaign after posting a 9-22-6 record a year ago.
• The Raiders were picked to finish 11th in the ECAC Preseason Coaches' Poll and 12th in the ECAC Preseason Media Poll.
• Niagara is 8-7-2 all-time in 17 meetings with Colgate. The Purple Eagles are 3-3 in road matchups with the Raiders. 
• Sophomore Bobby McCann is Colgate's returning leader in assists (14), points (19), and shots (108).
• Sophomore goaltender Colton Point is the leading returner in goal for the Raiders. Making 10 appearances and nine starts in his freshman year, Point posted a 2-5-2 record with a 2.45 goals-against average and .918 save percentage.

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