WORCESTER, Mass.— The Holy Cross men's hockey team will close out play in 2021 with a two-game series against Atlantic Hockey foe Niagara beginning on Friday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. Game two of the series will be on Saturday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m., with both games being streamed live on FloHockey.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT HOLY CROSS (3-12-1, 2-5-1 AHA):
- In three non-conference games last week, Holy Cross dropped to Merrimack, 3-2, defeated Brown, 5-1, and lost to New Hampshire in overtime, 3-2.
- Junior Nick Hale was most recently named the Atlantic Hockey Defensive Player of the Month for his play during November. Hale posted nine points during the month off two goals and seven assists.
- Senior Ryan Leibold leads the Crusaders with 15 points off five goals and 10 assists. His 15 points rank second in the conference and he is currently riding a four-game point streak.
- Against UNH, Leibold and senior classmate Matt Slick each skated in their 100th career games as Crusaders.
- Holy Cross leads Atlantic Hockey with 255 blocks on the season. Sophomore Jake Higgins and Slick are tied to lead the Crusaders with 24 blocks. Among forwards, senior Anthony Vincent leads the group with 15.
SCOUTING NIAGARA (2-8-2, 2-2-2 AHA):
- The Purple Eagles wrapped a two-game series with then-No. 4 Michigan last week, dropping 6-1 and 4-1 to the Wolverines.
- Walker Sommer leads Niagara with four goals and Mike Faulkner has the team lead with five assists.
- Niagara's two wins this season have come over Sacred Heart and Air Force. The Purple Eagle's are riding a five-game winless streak with two ties and three losses.
- In goal, Chad Veltri and Jake Sibell have split time this season. Veltri owns a 3.31 GAA and .888 save percentage, while Sibell has a 3.99 GAA and .880 save percentage.
LAST TIME THEY MET:
- The two teams have not met since the 2019-20 season, where Holy Cross defeated the Purple Eagles, 6-3, and tied, 2-2.
- The Crusaders are riding a five-match unbeaten streak against Niagara with three ties and two wins over the past five games.
