NIAGARA UNIVERSITY  MEN'S HOCKEY
Air Force Falcons (4-7-1, 4-3-1-1 Atlantic Hockey) at Niagara Purple Eagles (3-8-1, 3-4-1-1 Atlantic Hockey)
GAME 13	Friday, November 29 | 7:05 PM
GAME 14	Saturday, November 30 | 7:05 PM
LOCATION	Dwyer Arena – Niagara Univ., NY
TICKETS	Ticketmaster
LIVE VIDEO	flohockey.tv
LIVE AUDIO	PurpleEagles.com
RADIO	1340 AM / 105.3 FM WLVL
GAME NOTES	Niagara (PDF)
LIVE STATS	Sidearm Stats

 
The two hottest teams in Atlantic Hockey are set to battle in Dwyer Arena this weekend. The Niagara men's hockey team will put its three-game winning streak on the line when they host Air Force, who enters Friday's game unbeaten in its last five.

Matchup Preview

• This is the first of two two-game series between the two schools this season. Niagara will pay a return visit to the Air Force Academy on January 17-18 2020.
• The Falcons and Purple Eagles played four times last season, with all four games held in Colorado Springs. In their lone regular season set on October 25-26, 2018, Niagara won the front end, 5-0, before Air Force earned the split with a 2-1 score.
• Niagara returned to Colorado on March 15-16 in the quarterfinal round of the Atlantic Hockey playoffs and swept the two-time defending champions, winning the first game 3-2 in overtime, and the second, 5-4.
• The Purple Eagles have played 74 games against the Falcons, more than any other opponent. Since Niagara's first varsity season in 1996-97, they are 38-31-5 against Air Force all-time.
• Since Jason Lammers became the head coach prior to the 2017-18 season, Niagara is 5-3-0 against the Falcons, but 0-2-0 at home.
• The Purple Eagles' last home win against Air Force was a 6-1 victory on February 20, 2015. The two teams skated to a 4-4 tie the following evening. Niagara's last sweep of the Falcons at Dwyer Arena came on January 21-22, 2005.

 
Niagara Notes

• The Purple Eagles are coming off a home-and-home sweep of Mercyhurst on November 22-23. Niagara shut out the Lakers in Erie, 5-0, to open the weekend. In the Saturday finale, the Purple Eagles won, 3-1, on Monteagle Ridge.
• Three Niagara skaters earned recognized for their accomplishments against Mercyhurst last weekend.
  • The NCAA lauded Jack Billings as its Third Star of the Week. Billings scored a team-high three goals and added an assist for good measure. The redshirt junior put up a three-point performance (2 G, 1 A) in the 5-0 win, then bagged an empty-netter on Saturday to ice the victory at home.
  • Alex Truscott was named the Atlantic Hockey Player of the Week. The sophomore netted one goal in each game, and both tallies were also the game-winners. They were also Truscott's first two goals of the season. It was the first career weekly honor for the forward.
  • Atlantic Hockey honored Brian Wilson as its Goalie of the Week. The junior was between the pipes in both games and finished the weekend with a 0.50 goals-against average, a .980 save percentage, and earned his fourth collegiate shutout. It was the netminder's first series sweep since he backstopped Niagara to the quarterfinals win at Air Force last season. Additionally, Wilson registered his first career shot on goal in Saturday's contest.
• Luke Edgerton hit the scoresheet in the Mercyhurst opener to become the first Niagara skater to nab a three-game point streak this season. Billings' goal the following night made him the second.
• Ryan Naumovski's nine points (9 A) have him atop the team scoring table.
• Wilson and freshman goalie Chad Veltri share identical 2.86 goals-against averages on the year. Wilson's save percentage (.914) is just a fraction higher than Veltri's (.908).

Scouting The Falcons

• Air Force has quickly righted the ship following an 0-7-0 start to its season. The Falcons have not lost a game since November 1, and are unbeaten in their last five games (all against AHA teams).
• Air Force took five out of six possible points from league-leading Robert Morris in Pittsburgh last weekend. The Falcons won their fourth straight game, 2-0, in Friday's outing before the teams skated to a 1-1 tie after 65 minutes on Saturday. Robert Morris surrendered the additional point by giving up a goal in the 3-on-3 double overtime period.
• Brady Tomlak's 11 points (4 G, 7 A) are a team-high. Matt Pulver's five goals lead the squad in that category.
• Alex Schilling and Zach LaRocque have divided time nearly evenly. Both goalies have played in seven games, with LaRocque earning two more starts (7) than his counterpart (5). In 346 minutes of action, Schilling has put together a goals-against average of 1.91 and a .925 save percentage. LaRocque, meanwhile, has a GAA of 3.57 and a save percentage of .849 in 369 minutes.

 
For The Fans

• Fans interested in attending can purchase tickets through Ticketmaster or contact the ticket office at 716-286-TIXX (8499). Following the game, head coach Jason Lammers will also be available for postgame comments and questions.

 
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