PURPLE EAGLES MEN'S HOCKEY
WEEK NINE	Colgate Raiders (3-8-2, 1-3-2 ECAC) at Niagara Purple Eagles (7-8-1, 7-4-1 AHA)
GAME 17	Friday, Dec. 7 | 7 PM
GAME 18	Saturday, Dec. 8 | 7 PM
LOCATION	Dwyer Arena – Niagara Univ., NY
TICKETS	Ticketmaster.com
RADIO	1340 AM / 105.3 FM WLVL
LIVE VIDEO	StretchInternet.com
LIVE AUDIO	PurpleEagles.com
LIVE STATS	Sidearm

The Niagara men's hockey team returns to Dwyer Arena this weekend to host Colgate in the final non-conference games of the season. Friday's game is being billed as "Blackout The Barn," and fans can receive a free t-shirt with the purchase of a ticket. Saturday is Scout Day, featuring an on-ice parade and a commemorative patch for all scouts in attendance. Following Saturday's contest, there will also be an open skate with the team.

Series Preview

• The Purple Eagles and Raiders are gearing up for their second meeting in as many years. Niagara opened up the 2017-18 season in Hamilton, New York with a 5-1 loss to Colgate on September 30.
• The last time the Raiders paid a visit to Monteagle Ridge was October 29, 2011, on the back end of a home-and-home. The Purple Eagles took down the visitors, 2-1, to split the series.
• This series marks the first time that either school will host a full two-game set with the other.
• In 18 total meetings, the teams have split the series evenly, going 8-8-2 against each other.
• Niagara owns the longest win streak in the rivalry's history, taking three straight decisions between January 3 and December 11, 2010. Currently, Colgate enters this weekend having won the last two meetings.

 
Niagara Notes (7-8-1, 7-4-1 AHA)

• Niagara is returning home from a four-game road swing that saw them go 1-3. The Purple Eagles defeated Army, 3-1, on November 23 but dropped the following night's contest before being swept by Western Michigan last weekend.
• Niagara remains one of the most balanced scoring teams in the country. They are one of only two teams where every skater that has appeared in a game has recorded at least one point, the other being No. 9 Penn State. The team's 23 skaters with at least one point each is tied with Army for the most in DI hockey.
• Of Niagara's 23 skaters, all but three have tallied at least one goal. Their 20 goal scorers continues to be a national best. Their three non-scorers is also the best rate among Division I teams, with Wisconsin and No. 19 Arizona State (four each) just trailing the Purple Eagles.
• After being swept in Kalamazoo, Niagara fell to 1-6-0 when trailing at the first intermission and 0-8-0 when trailing at the second. On the flipside, the Purple Eagles have not lost when leading after 20 minutes (2-0-1) and are 5-0-0 when up after 40.
• Noah Delmas was named Atlantic Hockey's Player of the Month after posting 11 points (4 G, 7 A) in the team's nine November games. His efforts helped the team go 5-2-1 against conference opponents, including a six-game unbeaten stretch that saw Delmas put up a career-best four consecutive multi-point games. Entering this weekend, Delmas is tied for seventh nationally among defensemen with 16 points (7 G, 9 A) this season.
• Ludwig Stenlund earned an AHA award as well on Wednesday, as he was named November's Rookie of the Month. Stenlund finished November with eight points (3 G, 5 A) in nine games. Stenlund's five assists in November were tied for the most from any freshmen in Atlantic Hockey.
• Stenlund and fellow freshman Dylan Mills are Atlantic Hockey's top scoring rookies. Mills ranks first in the conference and tied for fifth in the country with 14 points (5 G, 9 A) while Stenlund is second in the AHA and tied for 14th in Division I with 11 points (5 G, 6 A).
• When playing at home, Stenlund is tied for the lead among freshmen in college hockey in goals scored (4) and points per game (1.60).

Scouting The Raiders (3-8-2, 1-3-2 ECAC)

• Colgate is coming off a winless weekend that saw them lose at Harvard and draw with Dartmouth. The team's last win was a 2-1 upset over then-No. 13 Princeton on November 16.
• In their only other meeting with an Atlantic Hockey school this year, the Raiders were defeated, 6-1, on October 20 by RIT.
• Bobby McMann is the team's leader in goals (3) and points (6). Along with Adam Dauda and Josh McKechney, he is also tied for the lead in assists (3).
• As a team, Colgate is last in the 12-team ECAC with just 15 goals scored in 13 outings this season. The Raiders have been shut out four times and have not scored more than twice in a game.
• Special teams has been a weak point for the Raiders this year. On the power play they are converting just 12 percent of their opportunities (6-49, .122 PP%) and ranking fifth from the bottom in that category among all Division I teams. When down a man, they are giving up a goal nearly a third of the time (14-44, .682 PK%), the worst rate in the nation.

 
 
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