FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University men's ice hockey team welcomes Bentley this weekend in a matchup between two of the hottest teams in Atlantic Hockey America (AHA). The first of the two games is slated for Friday, Jan. 16, at 7 p.m., while the second will happen the following day at 6 p.m. 

Sacred Heart vs. Bentley
    Friday, Jan. 16 – 7:00 p.m.
    Saturday, Jan. 17 – 6:00 p.m.
Martire Family Arena – Fairfield, Conn.
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FELIX TRACKER
Sacred Heart leading scorer Felix Trudeau continues to climb the SHU all-time single-season goal leaderboard, as he is up to 17 goals this year. His 17 goals rank 10th on the all-time leaderboard with 14 games remaining in the regular season. Nick Johnson holds the single-season program record with 27 goals in 2009-10. 

MORE AHA ACCOLADES
After sweeping Niagara this weekend, Noah Ellis and Teagan Kendrick earned Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) weekly awards. Ellis was named Defenseman of the Week, while Kendrick earned Rookie of the Week honors. Ellis finished second on the team with three points (2-1-3) and added four blocked shots. Kendrick went 2-0-0 in net, making 53 saves with a .898 save percentage and a 2.96 goals-against average.

LAST TIME OUT
The Pioneers swept Niagara this past weekend, extending their win streak to a season-best four games. With five additional AHA points, the Pios sit comfortably in fourth place in the league with 26 points (7-5-2), eight points ahead of fifth-place Air Force (18).

Sacred Heart claimed game one, 5-4 in overtime, showing grit by battling back from three one-goal deficits. Stephane Huard scored the first two goals for the Pioneers, while Ellis' third-period tally forced overtime. Marcus Joughin netted his first goal of the season in OT to secure the extra conference point.

SHU completed the sweep with a 4-2 victory in game two, jumping out to a 3-1 lead after a strong second period. Ethan Wolthers scored the game-winning goal, and Ellis sealed the win with an empty-netter. Kendrick made 27 saves, allowing just one even-strength tally in his fourth consecutive win.

SCOUTING THE FALCONS
The AHA-leading Falcons, who are receiving votes in both the latest DCU/USCHO.com and USA Hockey/The Rink Live polls, enter the weekend with a 12-6-2 overall record. Bentley leads the conference with 36 league points and an 11-1-2 AHA mark. The Falcons are 7-3-0 on the road this season, with losses coming early in the year at Colorado College, No. 5 Denver, and No. 11 UMass.

Bentley's success has been driven by its strong defensive play, ranking ninth nationally on the penalty kill (85.7%) and 12th in goals allowed per game (2.35). Offensively, the Falcons lead the AHA and rank 15th nationally on the power play at 23.2%.

Freshman goaltender Lukas Swedin anchors the Falcons' defense, posting an 8-2-1 record with a .933 save percentage and a 1.80 goals-against average. He ranks fourth nationally in GAA and sixth in save percentage and win percentage (.773). Sophomore Michael Mesic and senior Jake Black lead Bentley offensively, with Mesic owning a team-best 20 points and 14 assists, while Black has scored a team-high eight goals.

ALL-TIME SERIES
SHU will face Bentley for the 93rd and 94th times this weekend in a series that dates back to the 1993–94 season. The Pioneers lead the all-time series 44-41-7, though the Falcons have won four of the last five matchups.

UP NEXT
The Pioneers wrap up their nonconference schedule at the Connecticut Ice Tournament, hosted this season at Yale on Friday–Saturday, Jan. 23–24. SHU opens the tournament Friday with a 4 p.m. matchup against No. 7 Quinnipiac.