The Niagara Purple Eagles hockey team returns to game action for the first time since Dec. 10, 2016, taking on the Holy Cross Crusaders in a two-game weekend series. Niagara and Holy Cross face off from the Hart Center at 7:05 p.m. on both Friday, Jan. 6 and Saturday, Jan. 7. This weekend concludes a four-game season series between the two teams.
Both games can be heard on 1340 AM WLVL, with Jeremy White on the play-by-play. Live streams are available through AtlanticHockey.tv.
After starting the regular season at home against the Holy Cross Crusaders, the Niagara Purple Eagles open the second half of the season at Holy Cross. This weekend concludes the four-game season series between the two schools; Holy Cross currently holds a 1-0-1 lead after earning an 8-2 win on Oct. 7, 2016, while Niagara clawed back to earn a 4-4 tie on Oct. 8, 2016. Niagara freshman Kris Spriggs led Niagara with three points (1+2) in those two games against Holy Cross, leading to Rookie of the Week honors from Atlantic Hockey. The Purple Eagles closed the first half of the season Dec. 9 and 10, 2016 at Air Force. In the first game, Niagara led 1-0 after 40 minutes on a power-play goal from Tanner Lomsnes, but Air Force came back in the third to take a 2-1 win. Air Force goaltender Shane Starrett held Niagara off the board in a 4-0 win for the Falcons to close the weekend series. Guillaume Therien played both games in net at Air Force, making 68 saves on 74 shots to give him a save percentage of .919 for the weekend. Therien’s save percentage has improved each month of this season, increasing from a .875 in October and a .890 in November before posting a .905 in December. Freshman forward Ben Sokay is expected to make his Niagara debut this weekend. Sokay, who was injured in Niagara’s exhibition against Western Ontario on Oct. 1, posted 64 points in 52 games in 2015-16 to rank among the OJHL’s top 10 scorers.
Holy Cross concludes a five-game home stand against the Purple Eagles this weekend. The Crusaders suffered an 8-1 loss against Army on Dec. 10, 2016. Holy Cross played two games against Canisius last weekend, and each team took one win by a score of 3-0. In the all-time series, Niagara is 9-13-1 in 23 games against the Crusaders. Niagara is looking for its first win at Holy Cross since winning two of three to defeat the Crusaders in the first round of the 2015 Atlantic Hockey playoffs. Holy Cross is tied with AIC for seventh in Atlantic Hockey with 11 points. Williamsville native Paul Berrafato has started all 18 games for Holy Cross this season. He has a 2.97 goals-against average, .893 save percentage, and two shutouts. Juniors Danny Lopez and T.J. Moore are tied for the Holy Cross lead and fourth in Atlantic Hockey with 20 points. Both also have a team-high 11 goals. Sophomore defenseman Spencer Trapp leads the Crusaders and is tied for fifth in Atlantic Hockey with 14 assists.
Three of Niagara’s six leading scorers entering the weekend are freshmen. Derek Brown leads the team with ten points (4+6). Noah Delmas (0+8) and Kris Spriggs (3+5) are in a four-way tie for third on the team in scoring with eight points apiece. Among Atlantic Hockey rookie defensemen, Delmas is tied for first in assists (8) and second in points (8). Brown’s nine points in the first two months of the season are tied for the most by a Niagara rookie over the past 10 years, joining Nick Farmer (2015-16; 2+7 in 12 GP) and Scott Arnold (2010-11; 8+1 in 15 GP). Brown and Delmas have each had a team-high four-game point streak this morning. Brown scored two goals and three assists from Oct. 22 to Nov. 3, while Delmas had an assist in four straight games from Nov. 4 to Nov. 19.
Niagara sophomore goaltender Guillaume Therien has improved his play each month this season, and looks to continue that trend in January. From October to November to December, Therien reduced his goals-against average (5.43 to 4.36 to 3.74) and save percentage (.875 to .890 to .905). The Mirabel, Quebec native started both games at Air Force on Dec. 9 and 10, 2016, making 68 of 74 saves for a save percentage of .919. Therien earned his first career win Nov. 15, 2016 on home ice, as the Purple Eagles secured a 5-4 victory over the Mercyhurst Lakers.
Niagara senior defenseman Vinny Muto leads Atlantic Hockey with 2.22 blocked shots per game, and is second with 40 total blocks. Muto needs just 11 more blocked shots to beat his previous career high of 50, set during his freshman season in 2013-14. The senior from Niagara Falls, New York is also second in scoring among Niagara defensemen with five points (1+4) in 18 games.
The Niagara power play is 14-for-101 (13.9 percent) entering the Holy Cross series. Johnny Curran leads Niagara skaters with five power-play points, tallying three goals and two assists on the man advantage. No Niagara player had more than four power-play points in the 2015-16 season. After scoring 12 power-play goals in 37 games last season, Niagara had 14 in 18 games during the first half of the 2016-17 campaign. Niagara has excelled in drawing penalties this season. The Purple Eagles rank third in Atlantic Hockey with 5.61 power play attempts per game played.
from PurpleEagles.com via IFTTT
