Niagara Falls, NY. – The Mercyhurst Lakers Men's Ice Hockey team returns to action this weekend for a home and home Atlantic Hockey series with Niagara. Game one is set for Friday at 7:00 PM at Niagara, and the second game is scheduled for Saturday at 7:00 PM at Mercyhurst. 

History 

Niagara leads the all-time series 25-20-7 over the Lakers.  The Lakers are 12-11-3 all-time at home in the series, and 8-13-4 on the road.  The Purple Eagles earned the series win a season ago, grabbing two wins over the Lakers.   

Laker Outlook 

Mercyhurst comes into the series with a 1-6 overall record and a 1-2 mark in conference play. The Lakers are led offensively by Riley Fitzgerald, who has tallied four goals this season. Fitzgerald is tied for second in the AHA in goals and ranks first among AHA rookies in goals. Mickey Burns has also been a key contributor, adding three goals and two assists through seven games. On the blue line, Dustin Geregach and Trent Sambrook anchor the defense and have also provided additional support on offense as both guys have five points through seven games.  In goal, Simon Bucheler has logged most of the minutes, posting a .892 save percentage and a 3.77 goals-against average.  

A Look at Niagara 

Niagara comes into the matchup with a 3-2-2 overall record, including a 2-0-1 record in conference play. The Purple Eagles have been led offensively by Shane Ott, who has tallied 10 points with two goals and eight assists. Trevor Hoskin and Jay Ahearn have been strong offensive threats as well, with Hoskin netting three goals and adding six assists, while Ahearn has four goals on 24 shots this season.  Goaltender Pierce Charleson has anchored Niagara's defense, posting a .908 save percentage and a 2.94 goals-against average. Niagara's power play has been effective, converting at a rate of 27.6%, which could be a key factor in this series. 

What to Watch For 

• Key Scorers: Mercyhurst's Riley Fitzgerald and Niagara's Shane Ott will be focal points for each team's offense. 

• Special Teams: Niagara boasts a strong power play, converting 27.6% of their opportunities, while Mercyhurst will aim to counter with solid penalty killing. 

• Goaltending Matchup: With Simon Bucheler in net for the Lakers and Pierce Charleson for Niagara, the goaltending battle could play a decisive role in the outcome. 

Next Up 

After their home and home series against Niagara, the Lakers will continue their Atlantic Hockey campaign with three games next week starting Monday against Robert Morris and ending with a weekend series against Sacred Heart.