POTSDAM -- The 25th season of NCAA action at Cheel Arena officially opens this weekend when the Clarkson University Hockey team hosts Atlantic Hockey foes Rochester Institute of Technology and Niagara University. Faceoffs for both games are at 7 p.m..

The Golden Knights began the 2015-16 campaign with a 4-3 victory over McGill of Montreal in exhibition play in Potsdam this past Saturday.

With a stable of 25 capable veterans and a mix of young talent, Clarkson is primed to take the next step in 2015-16 and improve upon last year's 12-20-5 overall record. The Green and Gold are prepared to compete for a top spot in the ECAC Hockey standings and make a trip to Lake Placid in mid-March for the ECAC Hockey Championship Tournament. Three freshmen – two forwards and one defenseman -- will join the program this year and are expected to help a veteran roster for fifth-year head coach Casey Jones and assistant coaches Phil Roy and Josh Hauge.

• This weekend will mark the first time in nine seasons, and only the second time in the past 17 years, that the Knights have opened the season at home … Clarkson is 14-8-2 in its previous 24 home openers … Since the 2000-2001 campaign, the Knights are 5-9-1 in official season openers, and are 2-1-1 with Casey Jones as head coach ... Last season, Clarkson skated past Niagara, 3-1at Dwyer Arena on October 10 … The Knights' last season-opening loss was a 5-4 setback at Colorado College on October 12, 2012.

• The Knights have a current 11-game unbeaten streak (9-0-2) in the series against RIT and lead the all-time meetings against the Tigers 12-2-3 since 1983-84.

• Saturday's game will be the 15th meeting between Clarkson and Niagara with the Golden Knights holding an 8-4-2 series lead, including three straight wins, all on the Purple Eagles' home ice

• Over the past two seasons, Clarkson has gone 7-0-1 against Atlantic Hockey teams.

• Beginning its 94th season, Clarkson boasts 70 winning campaigns and a 1,375- 820-146 all-time record for a .619 winning percentage since 1920-21.

• Senior defenseman Paul Geiger will serve as Clarkson's captain for the second straight year. He was an an assistant captain in 2013-14.

• Senior Jeff DiNallo will act as an assistant captain for the second year in a row, while classmate Pat Megannety and junior James de Haas will also wear "A" on their jerseys.

• Clarkson, which lost only two players from last year's team, returns 86.9% of its point production from 2014-15, the fourth highest returning percentage in Division I.

• DiNallo led the Knights in scoring last season with 21 points on six goals and 15 assists when he earned Clarkson MVP honors.

The Knights have a current 11-game unbeaten streak (9-0-2) in the series against RIT which started with a 3-0 Clarkson win on October 29, 1983 in Potsdam. Overall the Green and Gold lead the Tigers 11-2-3. Last year in Rochester, the Knights defeated RIT 3-1 on October 11. Jeff DiNallo, Jordan Boucher and Nic Pierog scored in the road win and Steve Perry made 20 saves as Clarkson outshot the Tigers 34-21. In their last meetings in Potsdam, the Green and Gold defeated RIT 4-1 and tied the Tigers 3-3 on October 18-19, 2013. RIT's last win over Clarkson was a 4-3 victory in the first round of the 1986 Syracuse Invitational on December 27. The Tigers also defeated the Knights 5-4 in overtime at Walker Arena on October 26, 1985.

Clarkson and Niagara have played 14 times with Clarkson holding an 8-4-2 lead in the series, which started with a 5-1 win for the Green and Gold on December 28, 1997 in the consolation game of the Syracuse Invitational Tournament. The Knights have won the last three games, all played in Western NY. In their last meeting on October 10 last year, the Knights skated past the Purple Eagles at Dwyer Arena, winning 3-1 in the 2014-15 season opener. Sam Vigneault scored his first collegiate goal for the game-winner. James de Hass also tallied from the blueline. Steve Perry was called upon to make just 12 saves as the Knights enjoyed a 28-13 shot advantage. On October 26 and 27 of 2012 Niagara came away with a win and a tie at Cheel Arena. The Purple Eagles posted the first shutout in the series, blanking the Knights 2-0 and gained a 4-4 tie.

Golden Knights action can be followed over the Internet at Clarkson Hockey Broadcast Central or Clarkson Athletics on your mobile device with live video, internet radio broadcast and live in-game scoring.