Men's Hockey | 11/16/2023 3:15:00 PM

GAME 10-11
RMU (2-4-3 / 1-2-2 #AHA20) vs. NU (2-6-1 / 2-4-1 #AHA20)
Friday, Nov. 17 @ NU | 7:00 p.m.
Niagara University, N.Y. | Dwyer Arena
Saturday, Nov. 18 vs. NU | 7:00 p.m.
Moon Township, Pa. | Clearview Arena
TV: FloHockey
Talent 11/18: Tim Benz (pxp), Mike Prisuta (analyst)
Twitter & Instagram: rmumhockey
 
Opening Faceoff

• The RMU men's hockey team will return to conference play in the AHA, facing Niagara University. The first game will be played on the road on Friday, November 17 at 7:00 p.m. and then the second leg of the series will be played back at Clearview Arena the following day at 7:00 p.m.
• Last time out, the Colonials took a long journey out to Anchorage, Alaska for a series against the Seawolves.
• Over the weekend, RMU dropped the first game, 2-3 and then tied the second game, 2-2 with a shootout victory.
• In the first night of the two-game set, Francis Boisvert earned his first start for RMU this season, making 37 saves and dished out his first career assist on Gavin Gulash's goal. He also played the first two minutes of the second match.  
• Across the series, forwards Dallas Tulik and Tanner Klimpke both scored one goal and one assist each.
• Logan Ganie scored the first goal of the night and then in the shootout of game two. He is now a perfect 2-for-2 on the year in shootouts.
• Center Gavin Gulash won six of nine faceoffs in the second outing.
• Goaltender Chad Veltri stepped in for the last 45 minutes of the second game, posting 28 saves, including two key stops in overtime.
• Previously, Chad Veltri registered a career-high 51 saves against the Falcons in game one of the series against Bentley.
• In week one of the season, Veltri was tabbed Goaltender of the Week by the AHA.
• Heading into the 2023-24 season, the staff brought in 16 freshmen which is the largest group of first-year players in the NCAA.
• The team also features many veterans as there are nine graduates. In total, the roster is set to 29 student-athletes.
• In RMU's most recent season back in 2020-21, the Colonials finished 15-9-0 and were 10-5-0 in the AHA. Qualifying for the playoffs, RMU faced Niagara in the quarterfinal round, playing a best-of-three series. They won the first game in overtime, 3-2 and then fell to Niagara the next two games.

GAMEDAY LINKS
- Live Stats (11/17)
- Live Stats (11/18)
- Live Video (11/17)
- Live Video (11/18)
- RMU Athletics Gameday App

The All-Time Series vs. Niagara – In program history, the Colonials are 29-35-10 when facing the Purple Eagles. RMU has faced Niagara more than any other opponent, totaling 74 games between the two sides. Looking back at the Colonials inaugural season in 2004-05, the first meeting ended in a 4-4 tie, followed up by RMU earning the next two results. Throughout the years, the Colonials have collected a four-game and five-game win streak against the Purple Eagles. The five-game win streak recently came in the 2020-21 season where RMU outscored Niagara, 23-11 and won three of those games in overtime. Several meetings have been close, as 19 games ended in overtime and 20 were one-goal games. Across the 74 games, the Colonials have cashed in 220 times, averaging 2.97 goals per game against the Purple Eagles.
 
Scouting the Purple Eagles – During the 2022-23 campaign, Niagara finished with a 19-18-3 overall record and were 10-13-3 in conference games. Qualifying for the Atlantic Hockey tournament, they beat Sacred Heart in three games of the best-of-three series. Making it to the semifinal, they took down Canisius in the first game but dropped the next two.
 
So far, through the 2023-24 season, Niagara is 2-6-1 overall and 2-4-1 in conference action. They're coming off a series at Bentley, being swept, losing 2-6 and 1-2. Offensively, junior forward Jay Ahearn and senior Carter Randklev both own a team-high seven points. Ahearn's four goals are the most on their squad. Out of the Czech Republic, senior defenseman Josef Mysak has dished out the most assists with six. On the defensive end, Noah Carlin has blocked a team-high 17 shots. Throughout the current campaign, Niagara's coaching staff has used all three goalies on the team. Playing the most minutes has been junior netminder Ryan Ouellette. He's appeared in six games, holding a 2.98 G.A.A. and .893 save percentage.
 
VELTRI FACES FORMER TEAM
Before joining RMU for his final season of collegiate hockey, goaltender Chad Veltri played four years at Niagara. In his senior season with the Purple Eagles, Veltri played in 37 games owning a 2.78 G.A.A. and boasted a .911 save percentage. He recorded 2,560 career saves which is the fifth most in Niagara's history. His 34 career wins there are fourth in program history.
 
Playing for the Colonials, Veltri has performed as one of the top goaltenders in the AHA, posting a conference best 36.13 saves per game. His 289 saves are second most among AHA goalies. He also sits with a conference best .944 save percentage and owns a 2.15 G.A.A. As of right now, Veltri holds 2,849 career saves.
 
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