Setting the Stage
The Mercyhurst men's hockey team will welcome Niagara University to the Mercyhurst Ice Center on Jan. 12-13 for a two game Atlantic Hockey weekend series. Both games are set for a 7:05 p.m. puck drop.
 
Last Time Out
The Lakers are coming off of an AHA weekend series against Air Force Academy. Mercyhurst won the first game, 1-0, before falling the next night, 5-1.
 
Joseph Duszak and Jack Riley scored goals while Taylor Best, Les Lancaster and Bryan Sienerth picked up assists.
 
Previous Matchup
Mercyhurst and Niagara met four times last season when the Lakers went 3-1-0.
 
On Oct. 18, the Lakers won 4-2 at the MIC. Jonathan Charbonneau scored two goals while Josh Lammon and Derek Barach each scored one for the Lakers. Tanner Lomsnes and Derek Brown recorded goals for Niagara.
 
During the next matchup on Nov. 15, Mercyhurst lost 5-4 at Niagara. Jack Riley and Michael Verboom scored goals for the Lakers. Derian Plouffe and Tyler Hayes each scored one goal for the Purple Eagles.
 
The two teams played in a home-and-home series on Jan. 27-28 when the Lakers swept the weekend winning, 3-2, then 4-0, the next night. During the first game, Zach Todd and Wes Baker scored for Mercyhurst while Nick Farmer scored for Niagara. The next night, Charbonneau, Best and Lancaster scored the Lakers' goals while Brandon Wildung had a 26 save shutout.
 
All Time Series
Mercyhurst holds a 16-12-4 margin over Niagara, including a 7-1-2 advantage in the last 10 games. The Lakers also hold a 34-20 goal advantage over the Purple Eagles in the last 10 games.
 
Scouting Niagara
Niagara is coming into the weekend with a 10-9-2, 9-4-2 record. They are coming off of a 4-3 win and 2-2 tie against RIT last weekend.
 
Plouffe is leading the Purple Eagles roster with 25 points. Close behind are Noah Delmas with 21 points and Lomsnes with 20 points.
 
Brian Wilson has seen the most time in net with an 8-8-2 record, 2.74 goals against average and .902 save percentage. Also seeing time between the pipes is Guillaume Therien with a 2-1-0 record, 3.68 GAA and .853 save percentage.
 
Plouffe is tied for first in the naition in game winning goals with four. He is ranked 23^rd in the nation in points per games with 1.19. He and Lomsnes are tied for 14th in the nation in goals per game with 0.62.
 
Delmas is ranked third in the nation in assists per game with 0.95 and has 1.00 points per game as a defenseman, ranking him second in the nation.
 
The Purple Eagles are 22.4 percent on the power play, ranking them 12th in the nation. They are 85.4 percent on the penalty kill, also ranking them 12th in the nation.
 
Laker Record
Mercyhurst has earned an 8-10-2, 5-7-2 record.
 
Mercyhurst Leaders
Best is leading the roster with 17 points while Charbonneau and Barach are close behind with 16 points each.
 
Wildung Shutout
Wildung recorded his second shutout of the season, with 33 saves, during the Lakers 1-0 win against Air Force on Dec. 5.
 
Special Teams
The Lakers are 22.8 percent on the power player, falling one spot to 11th in the nation. They move up 10 spots to 41st in the nation on the penalty kill with 78.8 percent.
 
Coach Connections
Mercyhurst assistant coach Greg Gardner spent his college career with Niagara as a standout goaltender. He was the assistant coach for Purple Eagles from 2006-2011.
 
Players to Watch
For Mercyhurst
Duszak is ranked 18th in the nation in points per game for a defenseman with 0.78. He currently has 13 points on the season with two goals and 10 assists.
 
For Niagara
Niko Kovachis and Plouffe were both awarded with AHA Weekly honors for their efforts against RIT on Jan. 5-6. Kovachis was named Defensive Player of the Week with one goals and one assist. He also blocked three shots in the defensive zone. Plouffe was named Player of the Week with two goals and two assists while also recording a .523 faceoff winning percentage during the weekend.
 
Next Up
Mercyhurst will host RIT on Jan. 16, for the first of two make up games. The game was originally set for Dec. 29. The puck will drop at 7:05 p.m. at the MIC.
 
Stay Connected
Keep up with the team by following our social media:
Twitter: @HurstMensHockey
Facebook: facebook.com/mercyhurstmenshockey
Instagram: @mercyhursthockey
Snapchat: @hurstmhockey