THE HEART OF THE SEASON
The Sacred Heart University men's ice hockey team dives into its longest stretch of Atlantic Hockey play of the season this weekend, as the Pioneers play host to Mercyhurst at Martire Family Arena. It's the middle two games of a four-game homestand for SHU, as well as the front end of an eight-game stretch of conference play. It's a stint which includes two midweek games and all eight games fall in a span of just 16 days. The Pios look to get things started on the right foot with two on home ice against the Lakers, who are currently tied for fifth in the AHA. Puck drop is 7 p.m. on Friday and 3 p.m. on Saturday in Fairfield. Randy Brochu has the call both nights on FloSports, while Makena Wright handles sideline reporting duties. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.

LAST TIME OUT
SHU struggled on the penalty kill to open the second half at home last Saturday, as No. 16/16 nationally ranked New Hampshire went 3-for-4 on the power play en route to a 6-2 victory at Martire Family Arena. Kevin Lombardi factored on both goals with a goal and an assist and finished as the team's leading scorer in December, with 3-2-5. TJ Walsh scored the other Pio goal and has 9-9-18 through 17 games, making him one of five Atlantic Hockey players averaging a point per game or more.

SCOUTING THE LAKERS
Mercyhurst opened the second half with a trip to Ohio State last Saturday, and suffered a 5-3 defeat. Steven Agriogianis had a pair of assists in the loss. The Lakers put together a strong December in Atlantic Hockey play, taking eight of 12 points from their last four games of the first half, as they split a pair at home against Army on Dec. 8-9 and took five of six points from a home-and-home with Canisius on Dec. 1-2. Agriogianis leads the team with 5-11-16 through 18 games. Jake Beaune is tied-third in Atlantic Hockey with 44 blocked shots.

PREVIOUSLY AGAINST MERCYHURST
The two teams rang out 2022 against each other with a pair of games at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport to open last season's second half. In the opener, SHU erased a 3-0 third-period deficit and then Neil Shea potted the winner just 19 seconds into overtime to secure a 4-3 (OT) victory. Friday night was more by-the-books for the Pios, who built a 3-0 lead through two periods, utilizing a goal and an assist from Ryan Steele plus two helpers from Kevin Lombardi, to cruise to a 4-1 win and the sweep.

ALL-TIME SERIES
The two teams' history with each other dates back to the MAAC hockey days, and they have played each other even, with Mercyhurst holding a slim, 30-29-8 edge in 67 all-time meetings. SHU holds a 15-10-3 record over 28 games on home ice against the Lakers. The Pios are undefeated in their last eight overall (5-0-3) against Mercyhurst, dating to January of 2020. This weekend marks the Lakers' first-ever trip to Martire Family Arena.

UP NEXT
SHU is right back home again on Tuesday night, Jan. 9, to wrap up the homestand against Army. Puck drop is 7 p.m. on First Responder Night. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.