FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University men's ice hockey team heads to Niagara this weekend for an Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) series at the Purple Eagles' Dwyer Arena. The opening game of the series is set for Friday, Jan. 9, at 6 p.m. while the second game is on Saturday, Jan. 10, at 5 p.m. 

Sacred Heart at Niagara
    Friday, Jan. 9 – 6:00 p.m.
    Saturday, Jan. 10 – 5:00 p.m.
Dwyer Arena – Niagara Univ., N.Y.
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ALMOST A SHU SWEEP
The Pioneers finished just one honor shy of sweeping the December Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) Players of the Month awards, as Felix Trudeau was named Forward of the Month and Teagan Kendrick earned Goaltender and Rookie of the Month honors. The duo played a key role in SHU's 1-1-1 record in December.

Trudeau led the Pioneers with four points on three goals, scoring twice on Dec. 5 against Army to propel SHU to a shootout victory before adding a goal and an assist in a 5-2 win over Robert Morris on Dec. 30. Kendrick started all three games in December, highlighted by a 23-save win against RMU.

A LONG TIME COMING
One of the highlights of SHU's Jan. 3 victory at Robert Morris was junior defenseman Liam Lesakowski scoring his first collegiate goal in the third period. The Buffalo, N.Y., native reached the milestone in his 70th career game between Sacred Heart and Maine.

LAST TIME OUT
The Pioneers completed a home-and-home sweep of Robert Morris on Saturday, Jan. 3, in Moon Township, Pa., with a 3-1 victory over the Colonials. Cole Galata opened the scoring just three minutes into the contest. RMU responded 7:56 later to tie the game at 1-1, but Vitaly Levyy scored in the final six minutes of the first period to give SHU a 2-1 lead heading into the second.

After a scoreless middle frame, RMU applied heavy pressure in search of the equalizer, firing 38 shots over the final 40 minutes. Kendrick stood tall, allowing just one goal on the night. Lesakowski provided the insurance goal 7:55 into the third period, as the Pioneers closed out the game to secure the important league sweep.

SCOUTING THE COLONIALS
Niagara enters Friday's opener with a 7-10-0 overall record and sits eighth in the conference at 4-5-0 (11 points). The Purple Eagles are coming off a 6-2 nonconference home loss to Clarkson on Saturday, Jan. 3. Prior to facing the Golden Knights, Niagara defeated the University of Guelph in an exhibition and split a road series at conference-leading Bentley—the Falcons' lone AHA loss this season.

Niagara has been strongest at home, with six of its seven wins coming at Dwyer Arena. The Purple Eagles have scored 32 of their 44 goals at home this season. Entering the weekend, Niagara ranks in the bottom third of the conference in both scoring offense and defense, sitting seventh in scoring defense (3.24 goals per game) and eighth in scoring offense (2.59 gpg).

Offensively, Niagara is led by Maxim Muranov and Declan McDonnell with 15 and 14 points, respectively. The freshman Muranov paces the team with eight goals, while McDonnell, a junior, leads with eight assists. In net, Deivs Rolovs and Tomas Anderson have appeared in 13 and six games, respectively. Rolovs has earned five of Niagara's seven wins, with Anderson accounting for the other two.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Friday's matchup marks the 44th all-time meeting between the Pioneers and Purple Eagles, with Niagara holding a 22-19-2 series advantage. SHU swept the season series last year, winning both road contests by identical 3-2 scores.

UP NEXT
Sacred Heart returns home on Friday, Jan. 16, for a marquee series against league-leading Bentley. Puck drop for the opener is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Martire Family Arena.