UTICA, NY – The Utica College men's hockey team is set to travel to Neumann University for ECAC West Conference action this weekend.  The Pioneers and the Knights will square off at 7 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday night. 

FOLLOW THE GAME LIVE: The Neumann University Athletic Communications Office will provide live video (http://neumann.ezstream.com/broadcasts/index.cfm?fuseaction=usrbrd&broadcasterid=61848&mobi=0) and live stats (http://www.sidearmstats.com/neumann/mhockey/) for both games this weekend.

HEATING UP: After a rocky start to the season the Pioneers have settled in with three straight victories and they are now 8-5-3 overall … The Pioneers remained unbeaten in nine of their last ten contests after a 2-0 win over Manhattanville Saturday … They currently have the fifth longest unbeaten streak in the country having gone 5-0-1 in their last six games.

CRUCIAL CONFERENCE STRETCH: The Pioneers are entering game two of a ten game ECAC West stretch to close out regular season play … UC currently holds a 1-4-1 record in the ECAC West and they have two more games each against Neumann, Manhattanville, Hobart, Elmira and one more against Nazareth.

LAST TIME AGAINST NEUMANN: The Pioneers lost 4-1 to Neumann back on November 21^st at the Utica Memorial Auditorium … Utica's Trent Samuels-Thomas (West Hartford, CT/Omaha (USHL)) netted his first collegiate goal in the second period, while freshman defender Dalton Carter (Toledo, OH/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) picked up an assist in the loss for the Pioneers.

ALL-TIME AGAINST NEUMANN: Earlier this year the Pioneers snapped a four game winning streak against Neumann … The Pioneers are currently 18-20-3 all-time against the Knights … The home team holds the advantage winning 23 of the 41 games.

GOALIE OF THE WEEK: Junior goalie Dylan Wells (Nashville, TN/Bonnyville (AJHL)) was named the ECAC West Conference Goalie of the Week and the College's Male Athlete of the Week after guiding the Pioneers to a 2-0 victory over visiting Manhattanville at the Aud on Saturday night … The conference goalie of the week honor marks the second time in as many weeks he has earned the distinction … Wells stopped all 27 shots he faced as he earned his first shutout of the season in the Pioneers' 2-0 win over Manhattanville … He now has a 6-2-2 record this season and a conference-best 1.99 goals against average … Wells is unbeaten in five consecutive starts and he has allowed just one goal in his last two appearances.

LEADING SCORER: Senior forward Louie Educate (Chicago, IL/Aberdeen (NAHL)) ranks fourth in the ECAC West with an average of 1.06 points per game …He has nine goals and eight assists in 16 games played …His nine goals are tied for second in the conference … Educate is tied for sixth nationally with five power-play goals this year … He is also tied for second in the country with four game-winning goals.

SET-UP MEN: Senior Justin Hogan (Val Therese, Ontario/Brooks Bandits (AJHL)) and sophomore Easton Powers (South Lyon, MI/Port Huron (NAHL)) are tied for fourth in the conference with 12 assists this season … Sophomore Trent Samuels-Thomas (West Hartford, CT/Omaha (USHL)) is tied for seventh in the ECAC West with 11 assists.

1^ST YEAR STAND OUTS: Utica freshman defender Dalton Carter (Toledo, OH/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) ranks third in the conference in defenseman scoring (three goals, eight assists) … Carter's 11 points are also second among rookies in the conference … Classmate Kevin Valenti (Queensbury, NY/Northern Cyclones (EHL)) is tied for third in the conference among rookies with 10 points (five goals, five assists).

MAN ADVANTAGE: Utica's power-play ranks 11^th nationally as they have scored a goal on 19-of-72 power-plays … UC's combined special teams ranks 13^th in the nation (75-for-138).

STRONG SECOND PERIOD: Utica has 26 goals in the second period this season … The Pioneers have 14 first period goals and 13 third period goals through 16 games.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Make sure to follow live updates of the game on the Pioneers official Twitter feed: @UCPioneers… If you are at the game and on Twitter, or talking about the game on Twitter, make sure to use #UCMoose… You can also "Like" the Pioneers on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UCpioneers ... Fans can also follow the Pioneers on Instagram: UCPioneers.