Niagara University, N.Y.—On Thursday, Niagara hockey announced its schedule for the upcoming 2023-24 season. The Purple Eagles are slated to play 34 regular season games along with a pair of exhibition games.
Niagara opens the season with an exhibition against the Royal Military College of Canada on Oct. 7 at Dwyer Arena. The following weekend the Purple Eagles once again open the regular season against Omaha on the road on Oct. 13 and 14. Last season, Niagara opened the season at Omaha and swept the Mavs enroute to a 6-2-0 non-conference record.
The Purple Eagles play eight non-conference games in 2023-24 season. On Nov. 24/25 Niagara travels to Colgate to take on the Raiders. Niagara closes out 2023 with a home series against Miami (OH) on Dec. 29/30. The non-conference schedule concludes with a weekend series at Denver on Jan. 5-6.
For the second straight season, the Purple Eagles will face the United States National Team Development Program. Niagara heads to Plymouth, Michigan on Jan. 25 for the exhibition.
On Oct. 21 the Purple Eagles open Atlantic Hockey play as they host the Mercyhurst Lakers for a 7 PM puck drop. Niagara and Mercyhurst will play four times including the AHA opener, Niagara heads to Erie on Jan. 13 and then closes out the regular season with a home and home series on Feb. 22/24.
The Purple Eagles then head to Sacred Heart for a weekend series against the Pioneers on Oct. 27/28. Niagara faces Bentley (Nov. 10/11) and Holy Cross (Dec. 1/2) along with Sacred Heart in weekend Atlantic Hockey series.
Niagara plays two home and home series' with Robert Morris on Nov. 17/18 and Dec. 7/9.
The Purple Eagles play both RIT and Canisius three times throughout the season.
RIT comes to Dwyer Arena on Jan. 11 and Feb. 1 before the Purple Eagles make the trip to Rochester on Feb. 3.
The battle of the bridge rivalry renews three times in 2023-24 with the first installment being on Jan. 19 at Canisius. Niagara hosts the Griffs on Jan. 20 before the season series concludes at Canisius on Feb. 6.
The Purple Eagles close out the regular season with five of the last six games being at home which includes two games against AIC on Feb. 9/10 and two games against Army on Feb. 16/17.
Niagara is coming off its first winning season since 2012-13 as they went 19-18-3 and advanced to the Atlantic Hockey semi finals for the third time in the last four AHA Tournaments. The Purple Eagles return five of their top 10 point getters from last season including Shane Ott, Carter Randklev, Jay Ahearn, Olivier Gauthier, top freshman point getter Glebs Prohorenkovs.
Atlantic Hockey announced on Thursday that all 11 teams will make the the AHA Playoffs with the top five teams earning a first round bye. The opening round will be on Mar. 2 as it will be a single game. Both the quarter finals and semi finals will be a three game series with the final being a single game on Mar. 23.
Season tickets for all 15 regular season home games and the exhibition game will go on sale on July 1st and can be reserved by calling 716-286-TIXX (8499) or by emailing tickets@niagara.edu. Returning season ticket holders will receive information regarding renewals in the coming weeks. Single game tickets will go on sale on August 14th.
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