ERIE, Pa. -- The Mercyhurst men's hockey team will travel to Niagara on Friday before turning around and hosting the Purple Eagles at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. Puck drop for both nights are slated for 7:05 p.m.

Fans can purchase tickets for Saturday's contest here.

LAKER NOTES

THIS WEEKEND'S SERIES
The Lakers and Purple Eagles will square off in their second two-game set of the season after a home-and-home set in November.

Niagara took both of the previous matchups winning 5-1 in Erie before scoring a 3-1 victory at home in the finale.

Niagara holds a narrow lead in the all-time series 17-16-2. 

LAST TIME OUT
Mercyhurst dropped a pair of games to conference leading AIC at the MassMutual Center.

On Friday, Mercyhurst dropped a 4-3 decision to AIC. The Yellow Jackets scored three times in the third to get the victory. James Anderson picked up a pair of assists while Dalton Hunter, Cade Townend and Jonathan Bendorf scored for the Lakers.

Mercyhurst fell 7-4 in the series finale Geoff Kitt netted a pair of goals to lead the Mercyhurst effort.

LAST TIME THEY MET
Niagara swept the first two meetings of the season by scores of 5-0 and 3-1.

In the opener, Niagara got a 26 save shutout from netminder Brian Wilson. It was a big second that propelled the Purple Eagles as they scored four times after a scoreless first.

In the Saturday contest, Niagara used a pair of third period goals to earn the win. Khristian Acosta tallied the lone goal for the Lakers.

YOUTH MOVEMENT
Mercyhurst has just seven upperclassmen and has a roster with 11 freshman and eight sophomores. 

The Lakers have claimed a pair of AHA Rookie of the Week honors in Ashton Stockie and Khristian Acosta.

A pair of sophomores lead the Lakers in scoring in forwards Steven Ipri (18) and Dalton Hunter (17).

COLLEGIATE FIRSTS
Nine freshman have scored their first collegiate goal this season. Justin Cmunt became the latest to add his name to the list with his first period tally Friday night against Bentley.

Saturday afternoon saw another collegiate first as junior captain Quinn Wickers netted his first career goal in his 91st collegiate contest.

HONOR ROLL
Mercyhurst players have been well represented on the Atlantic Hockey awards lists.
Ashton Stockie Rookie of the Week (Oct. 8)
Khristian Acosta Rookie of the Week (Dec. 3)
Dalton Hunter Player of the Month (October)

MAN ADVANTAGE 
Mercyhust has used the power-play to their advantage cashing in on 16-of-99 opportunities on the year.

The Lakers rank 36th in the NCAA for power play percentage with a conversion rate tof .179.

Ten different Mercyhurst players have recorded a power play point and seven different Lakers have power play goals. Dalton Hunter leads the team with five markers on the man advantage after his power play tally vs AIC on Friday. His five extra-man goals ranks tied for 25th.

The Lakers 20 total power play goals ranks 27th in NCAA Division I.

CARDIAC KIDS
The Lakers have had a flare for the dramatic this season with all of their victories coming by one goal in the final minute of regulation or in overtime. 

The Lakers started the season with a 3-2 win at Arizona State scoring the game-winner with 19 seconds to play.

Mercyhurst has scored three overtime game winners against St. Lawrence, Bentley and AIC.

EXPERIENCE IN NET
Despite the youth up and down the roster, Mercyhurst brings back a wealth of experience between the pipes. The Lakers bring back a junior and a pair of seniors between the pipes.

Redshirt senior Garrett Metcalf has made 19 starts for the Lakers making 563 saves and posting a 3.85 goals against average and .898 save percentage.

Mercyhurst also brings back junior Stefano Cantali. Cantali has made the five starts for the Lakers making 120 saves and posting a .839 save percentage. 

Senior Colin DeAugustine  has made two start and  seven relief appearances this season making 139 saves.

BEHIND THE BENCH
Head coach Rick Gotkin enters his 32nd year behind the bench for the Lakers. He is fresh off a contract extension prior to the season.

Gotkin is the longest-tenured coach in Division I and currently ranks second among active coaches in wins with 563.

He ranks in the top 20 in career wins and has guided the Lakers to six NCAA appearances.

FRIENDSHIP FOUR
The Lakers have been selected to compete in the 2020 Friendship Four in Belfast, Northern Ireland. 

Mercyhurst is one of three Atlantic Hockey Schools to compete in the 2020 version of the Friendship Four. It is the first time that Atlantic Hockey members will compete in Belfast. Army and Sacred Heart will also be in Northern Ireland. Quinnipiac will round out the field.

SCOUTING THE PURPLE EAGLES
Niagara enters this weekend's contests with a 6-16-4 overall record and 6-10-4 mark in Atlantic Hockey play.

The Purple Eagles dropped a pair of games to Bentley last weekend. Bentley scored a 3-2 overtime victory in the opener and a 4-2 win on Saturday.

Niagara averages 2.0 goals per game while allowing 2.8. 

The power play has converted at a .141 clip scoring on 13-of-92 opportunities. Niagara has allowed 24 power play goals posting a .782 penalty kill percentage.

Jack Billings has led the offense with 17 points on nine goals and eight assists.

Ryan Naumovski has notched a team-leading 13 assists to go along with two goals for a total of 15 points.

The Purple Eagles have split the goaltending duties with Brian Wilson handling 15 of 26 starts. Wilson has a 2.65 goals against average and  a .919 save percantage. Chad Veltri also has a .919 save percentage to go with a 2.46 goals against in 11 starts.