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NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara hockey program has cracked into this week’s USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll for the first time this season, sitting at the 14^th spot in the national top-15 poll.

After receiving votes in the poll for the previous 11 weeks, Niagara’s sweep over Atlantic Hockey opponent, Bentley, pushed the Purple Eagles into the ranking for the first time since the 2006-07 season when NU spent one week at No. 15 (Jan. 29).  

Niagara also jumped up two positions to the 15^th spot in the USCHO.com poll for the second time this season, extending the program record to 11 consecutive weeks on the poll, which was previously owned during the 2006-07 campaign where the Purps were ranked for seven straight weeks (Jan. 2-Feb. 12, 2007).  

The NCAA Tournament Pairwise Comparison Ratings has NU tied for ninth with North Dakota.     

After garnering four points over the Falcons this past weekend, the Purple Eagles improved to 17-4-5 on the season.  Niagara’s 16-1-2 AHA mark puts the Purps 11 points ahead of second-place Mercyhurst with four weeks left in the regular season.  The 6-4 win on Saturday broke the NU record for most conference wins in a season in the program’s 17 year history, previously held by the 1999-00 squad that owned a 15-0-2 mark in the College Hockey America conference. 

Niagara heads to the Buffalo State Sports on Thursday, Feb. 7 to battle the Canisius Golden Griffins, before wrapping up the series on Saturday, Feb. 9 at Dwyer Arena.  The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:05 p.m. for both contests. 

Tickets for Saturday’s game are limited so please call the Niagara Ticket Office (located inside Dwyer Arena) at 716-286-TIXX, visit www.PurpleEagles.com/Tickets or emailing Ticket@PurpleEagles.com