Men's Ice Hockey 3/14/2019 11:55:00 AM

Air Force Presents Next Challenge For Men’s Hockey

PURPLE EAGLES MEN'S HOCKEY
AHA QUARTERFINALS	#6 Niagara Purple Eagles (14-18-5, 11-12-5 AHA) at #3 Air Force Falcons (16-13-5, 14-10-4 AHA)
GAME 1	Friday, March 15 \| 9 PM ET
GAME 2	Saturday, March 16 \| 9 PM ET
GAME 3*	Sunday, March 17 \| 9 PM ET ( if necessary)*
LOCATION	Cadet Ice Arena – Colorado Springs, CO
LIVE VIDEO	StretchInternet.com
LIVE AUDIO	PurpleEagles.com
LIVE STATS	Sidearm Stats
RADIO	1340 AM / 105.3 FM WLVL

After a thrilling, three-game takedown of Canisius to open the Atlantic Hockey tournament, the Niagara men's hockey team will fly out to Colorado Springs to clash with the third-seeded Air Force Falcons.

Matchup Preview

This will be the second series in Colorado for the Purple Eagles this season. Niagara traveled to the U.S. Air Force Academy on October 25-26 and came home after splitting the series. In the first game, five different players lit the lamp for Niagara while Brian Wilson pitched a 39-save shutout in a 5-0 win.
These two squads have played each other every season since varsity hockey came to Monteagle Ridge in 1996-97, save for a four-year period that saw Air Force leave College Hockey America while Niagara remained put.
The long association between the two schools means that Niagara has taken the ice with Air Force more times than any other opponent, with the series finale back on October 26 marking the 70th all-time matchup. The Purple Eagles boast a 36-29-5 head-to-head record over the Falcons.
The Falcons and Purple Eagles have met on four separate occasions in the postseason, but just once in the Atlantic Hockey playoffs. Niagara won the first-ever postseason meeting, 9-1, in 2000, and were 2-1 against Air Force in the CHA. The 2013-14 season saw the teams battle in a best-of-three quarterfinals, with the Falcons winning game one before Niagara won game two to push the series to a decisive third game. With the contest knotted at 3-3 after regulation, Niagara won the series on a Matt Williams goal 4:49 into the extra frame.

Niagara Notes

The Purple Eagles are in the quarterfinal round following an extended, three-game series with Canisius in the opening round. Niagara defeated the Golden Griffins, 5-4, in double overtime in game one, were tripped up in overtime, 4-3, in game two, then held on for a tense, 2-1 victory in the third matchup of the series.
Freshman sensation Ludwig Stenlund earned a spot on Atlantic Hockey's All-Rookie Team after a very impressive regular season. He finished with a league-best 19 goals, led the nation in power play goals (9), and currently paces all freshmen in Division I in points (36) and goals (20).
Noah Delmas continues to put up strong scoring numbers from the blue line. Following a four-point (2 G, 2 A) series with Canisius, he broke a tie with Stenlund to claim sole possession as the team's top scorer. Entering the weekend, Delmas' 38 points (14 G, 24 A) is the fifth-most for a defenseman in the country.
With a success rate of .223, Niagara has the 15th-most effective power play unit in the country.

Scouting The Falcons

Since the beginning of February, Air Force has gone 3-4-1, with a split against Holy Cross on March 1-2 being their most recent outing. This season, the Falcons have a home record of 9-5-3.
Air Force's penalty kill leads the country with a rate of .897. The Falcons have given up just 15 power play goals all season.
With just 2.47 goals against per game, Air Force allows fewer goals per game than any other Atlantic Hockey school. Niagara's 5-0 win was one of three times the Falcons game up more than four goals this season.
Billy Christopolous' .919 save percentage leads the circuit and ranks tied for 22nd nationally. The senior netminder has also backstopped three shutout victories for Air Force this season.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Matt Williams: D; 6' 0"; Sophomore; L

#20 Noah Delmas: D; 6' 0"; Junior; R

#33 Brian Wilson: G; 6' 4"; Sophomore; L

#29 Ludwig Stenlund: F; 6' 3"; Freshman; L

Players Mentioned

#5 Matt Williams
: 6' 0"; Sophomore; L
: D

#20 Noah Delmas
: 6' 0"; Junior; R
: D

#33 Brian Wilson
: 6' 4"; Sophomore; L
: G

#29 Ludwig Stenlund
: 6' 3"; Freshman; L
: F