The Purple Eagles hockey team concludes the 2016-17 regular season with two games this weekend. The series starts Saturday at Dwyer Arena as Niagara plays its final home game, with opening faceoff slated for 7:05 p.m.
The Purple Eagles hockey team concludes the 2016-17 regular season with two games this weekend. The series starts Saturday, Feb. 25 at Dwyer Arena as Niagara plays its final home game, with opening faceoff slated for 7:05 p.m. Prior to the game, Niagara will honor its five graduating players for Senior Night with a pregame ceremony at approximately 6:55 p.m. After the game, fans can join the Purple Eagles on the ice for a postgame skate and autograph session. Jeremy White has the play-by-play call for Saturday’s home finale on 1340 AM WLVL. Saturday night’s contest can also be seen locally on LCTV.
On Sunday, the Purple Eagles and Colonials head south to Pittsburgh, where the two teams will face off at Heinz Field, home of the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers. This is the second outdoor game for both Niagara and Robert Morris, and the second outdoor game of the season between Atlantic Hockey teams after Bentley and Army took part in the Frozen Fenway series in January. Admittance to the Heinz Field game is free of charge, with parking near the stadium at $7. Steve Warzala will handle the radio play-by-play on 1340 AM WLVL.
Last week, the Purple Eagles concluded the four-game Battle of the Bridge series against rival Canisius. Niagara started the week with a strong game in a losing effort, as the Purple Eagles and Golden Griffins were tied 2-2 after two periods before Canisius pulled away for a 4-2 win Feb. 15 in Buffalo. Stephen Pietrobon scored a pair of goals for Niagara at Dwyer Arena last Friday, but the Purple Eagles fell 5-2 in the fourth and final game of the year against Canisius. After starting goaltender Guillaume Therien allowed five goals on 17 shots Friday at home, Jackson Teichroeb stopped all 16 shots he saw in the relief effort. Based on the outcomes of this weekend’s games, Niagara will play the first round of the Atlantic Hockey postseason at either Holy Cross, Mercyhurst, RIT, or Bentley. The best-of-three series will begin Friday, March 3. Niagara’s lineup has been hampered by injuries throughout the 2016-17 season, as the team has lost 182 man-games to injury in 32 games. Sophomores Niko Kovachis and Sean King returned last week after missing extended time to injury.
Vinny Muto graduates this May with a Bachelor’s degree in finance and a minor in sport management and holds a cumulative GPA of 3.1. The Niagara Falls native has played 129 games for his hometown team, scoring 10 goals and 47 points from the blue line. He was named to the Atlantic Hockey All-Rookie Team in 2014. Kevin Patterson is a two-time Atlantic Hockey Student-Athlete of the Year and a two-time winner of the team’s Dr. Jon Marshall Award for dedication to the program. With a 4.0 GPA, Patterson received his Bachelor’s in finance last May and on pace to complete his Master’s degree in August. Stephen Pietrobon has excelled as a two-way forward at Niagara, scoring 44 points in 130 career games. Named an assistant captain this season, he holds a cumulative GPA of 3.42 and will graduate in May with a Bachelor’s degree in finance. TJ Sarcona is the leading scorer in this year’s graduating class, with 61 points in 129 games. He has also been a key contributor at the defensive end with 109 blocked shots in four seasons at forward. He graduates this May with a Bachelor’s degree in marketing. Jackson Teichroeb has led Niagara in goal for the past four seasons. Named the team’s Most Improved Player after his freshman campaign, Teichroeb graduates ranked in the program’s top five for career games played (98), saves (2,636), save percentage (.901) and shutouts (seven). He graduates this May with a Bachelor’s degree in business management.
Robert Morris is currently ranked fourth in Atlantic Hockey and has clinched a first-round bye with 29 points in conference play. Niagara hosted Robert Morris for the only two games between these two teams last year. The Purple Eagles started the weekend with a 3-3 tie in their home opener on Oct. 23, 2015 before suffering an 8-2 loss the next night. A longtime opponent dating back to the days of the CHA, Niagara has played 59 games against Robert Morris. The Purple Eagles hold the edge in the all-time series with a 29-20-10 record. Last weekend Robert Morris split with Mercyhurst in a home-and-home series, with both teams winning their home game. Mercyhurst opened the weekend with a 7-4 win in Erie on Feb. 17 before Robert Morris earned a 3-2 overtime win on their Senior Night on Feb. 18. Robert Morris junior Brady Ferguson leads Atlantic Hockey with 18 goals, 27 assists, and 46 points this season. He also has a team-high plus-8 rating and 133 shots on goal. Ferguson’s linemates, Daniel Leavens (38 points) and Alex Tonge (35 points) are the second- and third-leading scorers in the conference. Freshman goaltender Francis Marotte is 13-7-3 for the Colonials with a 2.09 goals-against average, .933 save percentage, and two shutouts. Senior Dalton Izyk has a 2.99 goals-against average and .905 save percentage in nine appearances this season.
Heinz Field Game Information
Fans should enter through Gate B, the only gate for fan access, and doors will open beginning at 6:00 p.m. Seating for all fans will be in the Lower Level only on the East side of the stadium. Public parking is available in lots surrounding the field, prices at $7.00.
Determination on any possible weather issues will be made on game day by 12:00 p.m. In the event the 2017 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series™ game is pushed to Sunday, or in the event of inclement weather on Sunday, the RMU-Niagara game will take place at the RMU Island Sports Center at the scheduled time of 7:05 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 26.
All Team Members and Guests entering Heinz Field will be subject to metal detection searches by Heinz Field security personnel prior to entering the gates. In addition, Team Members and Guests who wear or bring any clothing, blankets, and/or jackets will be asked to open such items for inspection. Landmark Event Staffing and City of Pittsburgh Police provide security at Heinz Field.
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