Hockey Returns to Tate Rink This Weekend

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army hockey team is back home after a two-week road swing as the Black Knights host Holy Cross for a two-game set this weekend at Tate Rink.

Friday night's game is a 7:05 p.m. faceoff, while Saturday features the jersey retirement ceremony prior to puckdrop at 7:05 p.m. Tickets remain available for Friday and Saturday, but for tickets are going fast for the second matchup.

HOW TO FOLLOW
TELEVISION • None
RADIO • 1420 WLNA-AM/1260 WBNR-AM
VIDEO • EverSport.tv ($)
AUDIO • Knight Vision ($)
LIVE STATISTICS • sidearmstats.com/army/mhockey
GAME NOTES • Army Notes
TWITTER • @ArmyWP_Hockey

REMEMBERING JACK RILEY
The Army hockey program will honor its former legendary coach Jack Riley for the rest of the season with a helmet decal. In addition, Army West Point will play a video tribute prior to the game on Friday night, along with a moment of silence. Coach Riley was the head coach of the Army hockey team for 36 years and compiled 542 victories. He is a member of the U.S. Hockey and International Hockey Hall of Fame and coached USA Olympic Hockey Team to its first gold medal at the 1960 Olympic Games in Squaw Valley. He passed away at the age of 95.

THIS WEEK: TWO-GAME SET AGAINST HOLY CROSS
The Black Knights will welcome Holy Cross for a pair of games as they look to continue to earn league points and move up in the standings. The Crusaders have been a big surprise in the league this year with a 13-9-4 overall mark and an 11-5-4 record in conference. They were on a 10-game unbeaten streak until a Jan. 10 loss at Dartmouth. Since that loss, Holy Cross is 1-1-3, including a pair of ties at RIT last weekend. The Crusaders are fighting for a first-round bye and are currently tied with Air Force for third in Atlantic Hockey with 26 points.

NEXT WEEK: HEADING TO PITTSBURGH
Army jumps back out on the road next weekend and the season doesn't get easier with a visit to Robert Morris for a pair of games in the Black Knights' final road series of the year. The Colonials have been at the top of the conference standings all season long and are 12-4-4 for 28 points. They are 15-7-4 overall and have won four of their last six games. Last weekend, Robert Morris hosted Mercyhurst for two and took three points with a 2-2 tie and a 6-1 win. Their power play is the best in the league by a wide margin with a 32.4 percent efficiency with 36 goals on 111 chances.

LAST WEEK: SWEEPING NIAGARA
Army entered last weekend without a win at Dwyer Arena at Niagara in eight tries and left Western New York with two wins. Three goals in the first period was enough for Parker Gahagen as the Black Knights won the first game by a 4-2 score. Conor Andrle paced the offense with two goals in the win. On Saturday night, Tyler Pham gave Army a 2-1 lead midway through the third period. Niagara pulled the goalie in the final minute for the extra skater and forced overtime with 39 seconds left in regulation. The deflating goal, however, didn't affect the Black Knights as Nick DeCenzo scored from the slot with 2:53 left in the extra frame to give Army the sweep with a 3-2 victory.

ON THE RADIO
Both games will be live on the radio in the Hudson Valley on 1260 WBNR-AM in Beacon and 1430 WLNA-AM in Peekskill. Zack Daly has the call on Friday night, while Nikolai Busko is back on Saturday night on Knight Vision at GoArmyWestPoint.com.

LIVE STREAM THROUGH EVERSPORT
EverSport is back as the web stream provider of the Atlantic Hockey Association. Games throughout the season, both home and away, will be live on EverSport.tv by searching Atlantic Hockey. EverSport allows payment per game and season. Both contests at Niagara will be live online.

JERSEY RETIREMENT
The Black Knights will honor three greats this weekend at Tate Rink as Army retires the jerseys of Dave Merhar (USMA '69), George Clark (USMA '75), Dave Rost (USMA '77). The event is all-weekend long with the ceremony and banner reveal on Saturday night prior to the Holy Cross game. The three are the first skaters to have their jerseys retired.

HOUSE OF BLUES NIGHT
In addition to the jersey retirement ceremony prior to the game, St. Luke's Hospital of Cornwall will be honored during the game for being the game sponsor for the House of Blues Night. They will be giving away T-Shirts in the concourse.

SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS
Holy Cross comes to West Point with a 13-9-4 overall record and an 11-5-4 mark in conference play. The Crusaders are on the road for the second-straight weekend after earning two league points with a pair of ties at RIT in their last two games. They have settled for ties in three of their last four games. Holy Cross does score goals as it is among the leaders at 3.12 goals per game.

Mike Barrett leads the way with 23 points on 12 goals and 11 assists. He has a team-high seven power play goals and 13 of his 23 points have come in league play. T.J. Moore isn't far behind with 21 points on 12 goals and nine helpers. He has six power play goals and two gamewinners. Defenseman Joe McNamara has a team-high 15 assists.

In net, Paul Berrafato has started 22 games and has a 12-7-4 record with two shutouts. He has a 2.28 goals against average and a .918 save percentage. He was on his game last weekend with 42 saves on Friday night and 33 on Saturday at RIT.

SERIES HISTORY
Army and Holy Cross have met 73 times since the first meeting in 1956. The Crusaders hold a 33-31-9 advantage in the series, but Army cut into the lead last year with an overtime win. The Black Knights have a slim 17-13-9 lead in the series at West Point and all nine ties in the matchup have come in New York.

Hockey Returns to Tate Rink This Weekend

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Conor Andrle

Nick DeCenzo

Parker Gahagen

Tyler Pham

Army West Point Athletics