Friday, November 5
Niagara Falls, NY
5:05 pm MT
Air Force Academy
at
Niagara University
Air Force travels to Niagara, Nov. 5-6
11/2/2021 12:32:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
This Week: Air Force (2-4-0, 0-0-0 AHA) opens Atlantic Hockey play with a pair of games against Niagara (1-5-0, 1-1-0 AHA), Friday-Saturday, Nov. 5-6, at Dwyer Arena in Niagara, N.Y. . Friday's game starts at 7:00 pm ET while Saturday's opening faceoff is at 5:00 pm ET.
Conference Openers: In Atlantic Hockey openers, Air Force is 8-6-1. The Falcons had won three straight with wins at Canisius (18-19 and 17-18) and home vs. Bentley (16-17). Air Force has been swept in their last two AHA openers, at home against RIT in 2019-20 and at AIC last season.
About the Purple Eagles: Niagara is 1-5-0 overall this season and 1-1 in conference play. Niagara has played all six games on the road. NU opened the season with a pair of losses at No. 8 North Dakota and then two losses at Penn State. The Purple Eagles opened AHA play last week at Sacred Heart and split with a 4-1 win on Friday and a 3-1 loss on Saturday. Jon Hill and Albin Nilsson are tied for the team lead with three points each. Chad Veltri and Jake Sibell have each started three games this season in goal.
Series vs. Niagara: Air Force and Niagara have played 80 times and the Purple Eagles hold a 40-33-7 lead in the series that began in 1996 when both teams were independents. As AHA rivals (since the 2010-11 season), AF has a 22-13-4 lead in the series. From 1999-2000 to 2005-06, both teams were in College Hockey America and played 31 times. Niagara held a 22-6-3 advantage. Air Force is 12-17-6 in Niagara. . Of the last nine games, eight have been decided by one goal or ended in a tie with four of those games going to overtime. Last season, NU took five of the six points in a series at Niagara with a 7-2 Purple Eagle win in game one and then a 1-1 overtime tie with NU winning the shootout in game two.
Last Season at Niagara: Niagara took five of the six points in a series at Dwyer Arena in Niagara.
In the first game, NU scored three power-play goals and one short-handed en route to a 7-2 win over Air Force, Jan. 3. Jake Marti scored his first career goal to tie the game at 1-1. Air Force had a five-minute power play in the second period, but could not score. Nate Horn also scored his first career goal. Air Force outshot Niagara, 34-24, in the game. Schilling started for Air Force, allowing four goals and making five saves. LaRocque played the final 38 minutes and allowed three goals while making 12 saves. Niagara's Mike Corson made 32 saves. NU was 3-for-6 on the power play while Air Force was 1-for-2. In the second game, Air Force and Niagara skated to a 1-1 overtime tie, Jan. 4. After a scoreless 3-on-3 overtime period, Niagara won the shootout, 2-1, for the extra point in the standings. Midway through the second period, Niagara took a 1-0 lead on the power play as Walker Sommer scored. Air Force answered with 35 seconds left in the second period on Brian Adams' first career goal. Sommer's goal in the shootout gave NU the extra point.
Air Force outshot Niagara, 42-23, in the game. Niagara was 1-for-4 on the power play while Air Force was 0-for-2. LaRocque made 22 saves for the Falcons while Corson made 41 for the Purple Eagles.
Gavin Player of the Week: Will Gavin was named the AHA Player of the Week for his performance against Colorado College, Oct. 29. The sophomore winger from Durham, Conn., recorded his first career hat trick in the Falcons' 5-4 overtime win over the Tigers. The effort was capped off by an overtime game-winning goal, the first game-winner of his career. The award is his second AHA honor of his career.
Why Stop at 60: The Falcons are 2-0 in overtime this season (Michigan State and Colorado College) and the Falcons have won four straight overtime games dating back to last season.
The last three years, Air Force is 7-1-4 in 3-on-3 overtimes. The Falcons are also 2-2 in shootouts with wins over Holy Cross and Canisius and losses to Army and Niagara.
Last season, Air Force was 2-1-1 in overtime with wins over Bentley and Canisius late in the season.
The 2019-20 season was the first year of the 3-on-3 overtime in Atlantic Hockey (3-on-3 was played after a five minute 5-on-5 session), In 2019-20, Air Force was 3-0-3 in 3-on-3 overtimes (RMU, NU, MU).
Conference Openers: In Atlantic Hockey openers, Air Force is 8-6-1. The Falcons had won three straight with wins at Canisius (18-19 and 17-18) and home vs. Bentley (16-17). Air Force has been swept in their last two AHA openers, at home against RIT in 2019-20 and at AIC last season.
About the Purple Eagles: Niagara is 1-5-0 overall this season and 1-1 in conference play. Niagara has played all six games on the road. NU opened the season with a pair of losses at No. 8 North Dakota and then two losses at Penn State. The Purple Eagles opened AHA play last week at Sacred Heart and split with a 4-1 win on Friday and a 3-1 loss on Saturday. Jon Hill and Albin Nilsson are tied for the team lead with three points each. Chad Veltri and Jake Sibell have each started three games this season in goal.
Series vs. Niagara: Air Force and Niagara have played 80 times and the Purple Eagles hold a 40-33-7 lead in the series that began in 1996 when both teams were independents. As AHA rivals (since the 2010-11 season), AF has a 22-13-4 lead in the series. From 1999-2000 to 2005-06, both teams were in College Hockey America and played 31 times. Niagara held a 22-6-3 advantage. Air Force is 12-17-6 in Niagara. . Of the last nine games, eight have been decided by one goal or ended in a tie with four of those games going to overtime. Last season, NU took five of the six points in a series at Niagara with a 7-2 Purple Eagle win in game one and then a 1-1 overtime tie with NU winning the shootout in game two.
Last Season at Niagara: Niagara took five of the six points in a series at Dwyer Arena in Niagara.
In the first game, NU scored three power-play goals and one short-handed en route to a 7-2 win over Air Force, Jan. 3. Jake Marti scored his first career goal to tie the game at 1-1. Air Force had a five-minute power play in the second period, but could not score. Nate Horn also scored his first career goal. Air Force outshot Niagara, 34-24, in the game. Schilling started for Air Force, allowing four goals and making five saves. LaRocque played the final 38 minutes and allowed three goals while making 12 saves. Niagara's Mike Corson made 32 saves. NU was 3-for-6 on the power play while Air Force was 1-for-2. In the second game, Air Force and Niagara skated to a 1-1 overtime tie, Jan. 4. After a scoreless 3-on-3 overtime period, Niagara won the shootout, 2-1, for the extra point in the standings. Midway through the second period, Niagara took a 1-0 lead on the power play as Walker Sommer scored. Air Force answered with 35 seconds left in the second period on Brian Adams' first career goal. Sommer's goal in the shootout gave NU the extra point.
Air Force outshot Niagara, 42-23, in the game. Niagara was 1-for-4 on the power play while Air Force was 0-for-2. LaRocque made 22 saves for the Falcons while Corson made 41 for the Purple Eagles.
Gavin Player of the Week: Will Gavin was named the AHA Player of the Week for his performance against Colorado College, Oct. 29. The sophomore winger from Durham, Conn., recorded his first career hat trick in the Falcons' 5-4 overtime win over the Tigers. The effort was capped off by an overtime game-winning goal, the first game-winner of his career. The award is his second AHA honor of his career.
Why Stop at 60: The Falcons are 2-0 in overtime this season (Michigan State and Colorado College) and the Falcons have won four straight overtime games dating back to last season.
The last three years, Air Force is 7-1-4 in 3-on-3 overtimes. The Falcons are also 2-2 in shootouts with wins over Holy Cross and Canisius and losses to Army and Niagara.
Last season, Air Force was 2-1-1 in overtime with wins over Bentley and Canisius late in the season.
The 2019-20 season was the first year of the 3-on-3 overtime in Atlantic Hockey (3-on-3 was played after a five minute 5-on-5 session), In 2019-20, Air Force was 3-0-3 in 3-on-3 overtimes (RMU, NU, MU).
Players Mentioned
Football Press Conference - September 30th, 2025
Tuesday, September 30
Laura Busby Interview Sept 30, 2025
Tuesday, September 30
Macey Donathan Interview Sept 30, 2025
Tuesday, September 30
Evan Urbina Interview September 30, 2025
Tuesday, September 30
