Niagara Purple Eagles men's ice hockey

The Niagara Purple Eagles men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents Niagara University. The Purple Eagles are members of Atlantic Hockey America. They play at the Dwyer Arena in Lewiston, New York.[2]

Niagara Purple Eagles men's ice hockey
Current season
Niagara Purple Eagles athletic logo
UniversityNiagara University
ConferenceAHA
Head coachJason Lammers
7th season, 77–111–21 (.419)
Assistant coaches
  • Mark Phalon
  • Nate Skidmore
ArenaDwyer Arena
Lewiston, New York
ColorsPurple and white[1]
   
NCAA Tournament appearances
2000, 2004, 2008, 2013
Conference Tournament championships
CHA: 2000, 2004, 2008
Conference regular season championships
CHA: 2000, 2006, 2007
AHA: 2013

History

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After several years of playing at the club level, the team turned varsity in the 1996–97 season, which they played as independent.

In 1999 they became charter members of College Hockey America (CHA), joining two other independent teams (Air Force and Army) and three former Division II teams (Alabama–Huntsville, Bemidji State and Findlay).

Niagara went undefeated in conference play that season, 1999–00, winning the conference tournament and gaining an at-large invitation to the NCAA tournament, as the conference did not gain an automatic bid until the 2003 tournament. Starting goaltender Greg Gardner set a single-season NCAA record for shutouts with 12 as Niagara posted its first (and only as of 2019) 30-win campaign. The Purple Eagles upset the University of New Hampshire to advance to the Elite Eight, where they lost to North Dakota. North Dakota went on to win that national championship.

Niagara also won the College Hockey America Championship in 2004 and 2008, appearing in the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship again those years. In 2004 they lost against Boston College and in 2008 against Michigan.

On January 29, 2009, Niagara University announced that the team was moving to the Atlantic Hockey Association beginning in the 2010-11 season, following the closure of CHA's men's division. CHA would continue to operate as a women-only conference for the next 14 years.

On October 14, 2010, it was announced that Jay McKee would serve as a volunteer assistant coach for Niagara Purple Eagles men's ice hockey, while not ruling out a return to the NHL.

On December 14, 2013 the Purple Eagles faced off against the RIT Tigers in an outdoor hockey game known as Frozen Frontier tying 2-2.

Shortly after the 2023–24 season, the Atlantic Hockey Association and CHA, which had shared a commissioner and conference staff since 2010, merged under the banner of Atlantic Hockey America.[3]

 
The Niagara men's ice hockey team plays against Air Force in 2019

Season-by-season results

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Source:[4]

Head coaches

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As of the completion of 2022–23 season

Tenure Coach Years Record Pct.
1996–2001 Blaise MacDonald 5 91–58–17 .599
2001–2017 Dave Burkholder 16 247–279–68 .473
2017–Present Jason Lammers 6 77–111–21 .419
Totals 3 coaches 27 seasons 415–448–106 .483

NCAA tournament appearances

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Year Location Opponent Result
2000 Target Center New Hampshire W 4-1
North Dakota L 1-4
2004 Verizon Wireless Arena Boston College L 2-5
2008 Times Union Center Michigan L 1-5
2013 Van Andel Arena North Dakota L 1-2

Statistical leaders

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Source:[5]

Career points leaders

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Player Years GP G A Pts PIM
Barret Ehgoetz 2001–2005 141 71 95 166 142
Mikko Sivonen 1996–2000 126 65 77 142 80
Michael Isherwood 1996–2000 126 55 87 142 112
Chris Moran 2006–2010 146 38 103 141 103
Ted Cook 2005–2009 139 78 59 137 226
Peter DeSantis 1996–2000 126 67 66 133 46
Sean Bentivoglio 2003–2007 145 43 89 132 142
Kyle Martin 1996–2000 124 60 69 129 58
Matt Caruana 2004–2008 146 51 78 129 108
Joe Tallari 2000–2004 144 60 64 124 111

Career goaltending leaders

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GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

minimum 30 games played

Player Years GP Min W L T GA SO SV% GAA
Carsen Chubak 2010–2013 45 2588 27 11 6 93 6 .930 2.16
Chris Noonan 2009–2012 61 3262 29 18 8 132 3 .922 2.43
Greg Gardner 1996–2000 113 6638 64 33 12 270 16 .907 2.44
Juliano Pagliero 2005–2009 98 5311 47 32 11 231 8 .921 2.61
Chad Veltri 2019–2023 98 5691 41 46 9 253 6 .910 2.67

Statistics current through the end of the 2023–24 season.

Roster

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As of August 26, 2024.[6]

No. S/P/C Player Class Pos Height Weight DoB Hometown Previous team NHL rights
1   Deivids Rolovs Freshman G 6' 2" (1.88 m) 183 lb (83 kg) 2004-05-08 Riga, Latvia Lone Star Brahmas (NAHL)
2   Jonathan Ziskie Junior F 6' 3" (1.91 m) 187 lb (85 kg) 2001-03-19 Macomb, Michigan Bismarck Bobcats (NAHL)
4   Gļebs Prohorenkovs Junior F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 187 lb (85 kg) 2001-11-12 Riga, Latvia Amarillo Wranglers (NAHL)
5   Noah Carlin Senior D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 174 lb (79 kg) 2000-06-13 Marine City, Michigan Omaha Lancers (USHL)
7   Nathan Oickle Freshman D 5' 10" (1.78 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 2003-02-05 Peterborough, Ontario Surrey Eagles (BCHL)
8   Luke Mylymok Graduate F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 183 lb (83 kg) 2001-09-29 Wilcox, Saskatchewan Minnesota Duluth (NCHC)
9   Jay Ahearn Senior F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 2001-05-23 Staten Island, New York Johnstown Tomahawks (NAHL)
10   Trevor Hoskin Freshman F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 174 lb (79 kg) 2004-05-18 Belleville, Ontario Cobourg Cougars (OJHL) CGY, 106th overall 2024
11   Kyler Kleven Senior F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 172 lb (78 kg) 2000-10-12 Moorhead, Minnesota Minnesota Duluth (NCHC)
12   Ross Roloson Sophomore D 5' 11" (1.8 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 2003-01-30 Woodbury, Minnesota Lake Superior State (CCHA)
13   Grayson Dietrich Junior F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2001-12-18 Calgary, Alberta American International (AHA)
14   Rainers Dārziņš Freshman F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 168 lb (76 kg) 2004-05-06 Tukums, Latvia Skellefteå AIK J20 (J20 Nationell)
16   Andy Reist Freshman F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 174 lb (79 kg) 2004-05-15 Waterloo, Ontario Cobourg Cougars (OJHL)
17   Spencer Young Freshman F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 174 lb (79 kg) 2003-08-25 Elmira, Ontario Collingwood Blues (OJHL)
18   Tyler Wallace Sophomore F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 188 lb (85 kg) 2002-05-19 Calgary, Alberta Blackfalds Bulldogs (AJHL)
19   Drew Vieten Junior F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2001-01-10 Calabasas, California Wichita Falls Warriors (NAHL)
21   Shane Ott Senior F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 181 lb (82 kg) 2000-07-21 Centennial, Colorado Janesville Jets (NAHL)
22   Lane Brockhoff Senior D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 207 lb (94 kg) 2000-04-11 Edberg, Alberta Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL)
23   Lars Rødne Senior F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 181 lb (82 kg) 2000-07-22 Stavanager, Norway Bismarck Bobcats (NAHL)
24   Braden Doyle Senior D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 177 lb (80 kg) 2001-08-24 Lynnfield, Massachusetts Northeastern (HEA) LAK, 157th overall 2019
25   Johnny Wescoe Junior F 5' 8" (1.73 m) 150 lb (68 kg) 2001-01-06 Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania New Jersey Rockets (NCDC)
26   Alex Murray Senior D 5' 11" (1.8 m) 183 lb (83 kg) 2000-03-17 Glenview, Illinois Miami (NCHC)
27   Ray Murakami Freshman D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 181 lb (82 kg) 2003-04-03 Tomakomai, Japan Lone Star Brahmas (NAHL)
28   Ethan Lund Junior D 5' 10" (1.78 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2001-03-16 Calgary, Alberta Brooks Bandits (AJHL)
29   Brett Roloson Senior F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 2000-12-29 Worcester, Massachusetts Lake Superior State (CCHA)
30   Mitchell Day Sophomore G 5' 10" (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 2002-01-18 St. Louis, Missouri North Iowa Bulls (NAHL)
34   Noah Hackett Junior F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 174 lb (79 kg) 2001-12-11 Ponoka, Alberta Brooks Bandits (AJHL)
39   Pierce Charleson Graduate G 6' 2" (1.88 m) 193 lb (88 kg) 2000-02-27 Aurora, Ontario Alaska (NCAA)

Awards and honors

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All-Americans

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AHCA Second Team All-Americans


Individual awards

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All-Conference teams

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First Team All-CHA

Second Team All-CHA

All-CHA Rookie Team

Individual awards

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All-Conference teams

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First Team All-Atlantic Hockey

Second Team All-Atlantic Hockey

  • 2011–12: Chris Noonan, G
  • 2012–13: Dan Weiss, D

Third Team All-Atlantic Hockey

Atlantic Hockey All-Rookie Team

Niagara Purple Eagles Hall of Fame

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The following is a list of people associated with the men's ice hockey program who were elected into the Niagara Purple Eagles Hall of Fame (induction date in parentheses).[7]

Purple Eagles in the NHL

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As of July 1, 2024.

Player Position Team(s) Years Games Stanley Cups
Sean Bentivoglio Left Wing NYI 2008–2009 1 0
Matt Ryan Center LAK 2005–2006 12 0

Source: [8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Niagara University Athletic Department Quick Facts". August 2, 2011. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  2. ^ "Niagara Purple Eagles Men's Ice Hockey". U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  3. ^ "Atlantic Hockey and College Hockey America Join to Form Atlantic Hockey America" (Press release). Atlantic Hockey America. April 30, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  4. ^ "Niagara Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  5. ^ "Niagara Statistics". Elite Prospects. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  6. ^ "2024-25 Men's Ice Hockey Roster". Niagara Purple Eagles. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  7. ^ "Purple Eagles Hall of Fame". Niagara Purple Eagles. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  8. ^ "Alumni report for Niagara University". Hockey DB. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
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