SEARCHING FOR VENGEANCE
The second weekend of the Atlantic Hockey season brings a rematch of last year's quarterfinal series to Martire Family Arena, as the Sacred Heart University men's ice hockey team entertains Niagara for a two-game set. Revenge will be on the mind of the Pioneers, who had their season end on home ice at the hands of the Purple Eagles back in March. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. on Friday and 6 p.m. on Saturday, and it's Hockey Fights Cancer weekend in Fairfield. Fans are encouraged to wear white to Friday night's contest as well, as the Pios look to "white out" Martire Family Arena. Both games are available live on FloSports for those who are unable to attend. Paul Pacelli, Evan Cormier and Molly Jacob have the call on Friday night, while Randy Brochu, Freddie Coleman and Makena Wright will handle broadcast duties on Saturday.

LAST WEEKEND
SHU made the trip out to preseason Atlantic Hockey favorite RIT last weekend and came home with a split and three big early-season points to show for it. Cody Laskosky tallied 2-1-3 for the Tigers in a 4-2 win on Friday night, before the Pioneers bounced back and rolled to a 5-2 victory on Saturday, behind a pair of goals from Braeden Tuck. Chase Clark made 33 saves against 35 shots on Saturday to earn his first collegiate victory.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Niagara opened its Atlantic Hockey campaign at home last Saturday with a 2-2 (OT) tie against Mercyhurst, and then suffered a 1-0 loss in the shootout. Carter Randklev scored with 1:13 to play in regulation for the Purple Eagles to force overtime. Randklev has two goals through three games, while Jay Ahearn leads the team in points, with 1-2-3. Niagara suffered 8-1 and 2-1 losses at Omaha on opening weekend.

PREVIOUSLY AGAINST NIAGARA
As mentioned above, the Pios and Purple Eagles locked horns in the quarterfinal round of the Atlantic Hockey Tournament a year ago. SHU took the opening game, 3-1, behind a game-winning goal plus an assist from Kevin Lombardi, but Niagara stormed back with 4-1 and 7-3 victories the next two nights to take the series. Randklev had a five-point game (2-3-5) in the decisive Game 3.

ALL-TIME AGAINST THE PURPLE EAGLES
SHU and Niagara have met 38 times in an all-time series which dates to 2007, and have been conference foes in Atlantic Hockey since the 2010-11 season, though last year marked the first-ever postseason meeting between the two. Niagara owns a slim, 19-16-2 advantage in the series, and also an 11-8-2 edge on SHU's home ice. Last season's quarterfinal series were the first meetings between the two teams at Martire Family Arena.

UP NEXT
The Pioneers have their first of three midweek meetings with Atlantic Hockey foe Army on the docket for Tuesday night at Martire Family Arena. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. and a Halloween costume contest will be held in conjunction with the game. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.