Ice Hockey 1/21/2015 9:58:00 PM Canisius College Athletics

Streaking Griffs Play Rival Niagara on the Road

Canisius (10-8-6, 9-4-5 AHC) at Niagara (3-17-2, 3-11-2 AHC)
Dates: Thursday, January 22 / Saturday, January 24
Times: 7:05 p.m. / 7:05 p.m.
Location: Lewiston, N.Y. | Dwyer Arena
TV/Webcast: Time Warner SportsChannel / America One Network
Live Audio: GoGriffs.com
DI Series History: Niagara leads, 16-9-3

The Canisius College hockey team looks to continue its winning ways with a series against Battle of the Bridge rival Niagara. The schools are set to meet on Thursday and Saturday in Lewiston at 7:05 p.m.

Both games can be seen live on Time Warner SportsChannel.

SCOUTING THE GRIFFS
• The Griffs (10-8-6, 9-4-5 AHC) are unbeaten in their last five games and have moved into second in the Atlantic Hockey standings.
• Junior Ralph Cuddemi and sophomore Shane Conacher lead the Griffs with 23 points. Cuddemi has also netted a team-best 12 goals, while Conacher has a team-leading 16 assists.
• Keegan Asmundson has anchored the Canisius defense with a 2.29 goals against average and .921 save percentage.

BATTLE OF THE BRIDGE RIVALRY
• This week's games are not only worth four points in the AHC standings but also two points in the Battle of the Bridge series.
• The Battle of the Bridge series is an all-sports competition between the two rival schools.
• Prior to Wednesday's women's basketball game, the Griffs currently lead the 2014-15 series, 7-5. Each hockey game is worth one point.
• Canisius has won the competition 6-of-8 years, including the last four.

GRIFFS ROLLING DURING TOUGH STRETCH
• Canisius is playing its best hockey at a key time.
• From Jan. 9 to Feb. 7, the Griffs are set to play the other four teams at the top of the standings with seven of their nine games against schools currently fourth or better in the Atlantic Hockey standings.
• The Griffs have responded with a 4-0-1 record during the stretch – the team's longest regular-season unbeaten streak since a six-game run from Nov. 6 to Nov. 21, 2009.

DEFENSE THE KEY TO VICTORY
• The defense has highlighted the Griffs' five-game unbeaten run.
• In the five-game stretch, Canisius has allowed only six total goals (1.20 per game) and no more than two in any single contest.
• Senior Keegan Asmundson has anchored the defense with a 0.98 goals against average and .961 save percentage during the run.

CANISIUS - NIAGARA SERIES HISTORY
• In a rivalry that began in 1997, Niagara holds a 20-10-3 advantage in the all-time series, including a 16-9-3 edge in Division I meetings.
• Canisius is winless in its last five trips to Lewiston, going 0-3-2 since defeating the Purple Eagles in the 2011 Atlantic Hockey First Round at Dwyer Arena.
• The last win for the Griffs in the series was a 5-3 victory in the 2013 Atlantic Hockey Semifinals en route to the program's first conference title. Niagara went 2-0-1 against Canisius last year.

ABOUT THE PURPLE EAGLES
• Niagara is last in the Atlantic Hockey standings with a 3-11-2 record. Overall, the Purple Eagles are 3-17-2 during the 2014-15 season.
• The Purple Eagles are winless in their last 10 games, going 0-8-2 since a three-game win streak.
• Niagara ranks last in Atlantic Hockey in scoring offense (1.82) and scoring defense (4.18).
• Isaac Kohls leads the Purple Eagles with 10 points on four goals and six assists. Hugo Turcotte and Robert Angiolella have netted a team-best five goals.
• Jackson Teichroeb has started 16 games in net. He owns a 3-11-2 record with a 3.41 goals against average and .897 save percentage.