Senior forward Ryan Gale

After two tough losses at the University of Maine, the Niagara University men’s hockey team (0-3-0) looks for its first win, traveling to the University of Vermont (1-2-0) Friday and Saturday. The Purple Eagles and Catamounts play the two-game series at Gutterson Fieldhouse, with both games set for 7 p.m.

Niagara lost 6-2 to nationally-ranked Maine at Alfond Arena Oct. 16. Scoring for the Purple Eagles was sophomore forward Aaron Clarke and freshman Mike Maier.

In the previous night’s contest, Niagara scored two goals in the third period, but fell short to the Black Bears, 4-3, Oct. 15. Senior captain Barret Ehgoetz scored two power-play goals for Niagara.

For the first time this season, all six members of the College Hockey America conference will be in action. With Niagara, Air Force, Alabama-Huntsville, Bemidji State, Robert Morris and Wayne State all lock up in non-conference games this weekend.

Against Vermont this weekend, Niagara continues its four-week road trip. Not playing at Dwyer Arena until Nov. 12, the Purple Eagles travel to Clarkson and Western Michigan the following two weekends for non-conference contests.

The Catamounts return 19 players from last season’s team that finished 11th in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Vermont is led in scoring after three games by senior forward Scott Mifsud, who has two goals and three assists for five points.

In goal, freshman Joe Fallon seen majority of the time between the pipes for the Catamounts. Registering a 1-1-0 record in three games played, Fallon has a 2.26 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage.

Vermont lost contests against Hockey East-members Maine and Boston University, defeating Sacred Heart Oct. 8.

In the only meeting between the two schools, Niagara fell to the Catamounts, 4-3, in overtime. The contest was played at Gutterson Fieldhouse Dec. 4, 1999.

In the nine-year history of the Niagara men’s hockey program, the Purple Eagles are 13-17-5 against teams currently in the ECAC.

In last season’s three games against the conference, Niagara went 1-1-1, defeating Yale Dec. 28, 2003 at the Wells Fargo Denver Cup, in Denver, Colo. The Purple Eagles also played to a 2-2 tie with Colgate Jan. 3, 2004 at Dwyer Arena.

BURKHOLDER VS. ECAC

Niagara head coach Dave Burkholder holds a 3-4-1 career record against teams currently in the ECAC.

Friday’s contest will be the first game against Vermont in Burkholder’s four-year coaching career at Niagara.

The "Dave Burkholder Show", with head coach Dave Burkholder, debuted Tuesday, Oct. 12 on both the Empire Sports Television network and Hometown 1340 WLVL-AM.

Part of the "Simon Cast", with host Howard Simon, the weekly show, sponsored by Le Metro Bakery and Cafe, can be seen and heard live at 5:45 p.m.

With his two power-play goals against Maine Oct. 15, senior captain Barret Ehgoetz moved into fifth on Niagara’s all-time goals list.

Scoring his 56th and 57th career goals, Ehgoetz passed Mike Isherwood to move into fifth on the Purple Eagles’ career goals list.

Senior captain Barret Ehgoetz continues to rank among the CHA conference all-time leaders in points, goals and assists.

With 122 points in his four-year collegiate career, Ehgoetz stands fourth on the CHA all-time scorers list. His 57 goals rank third in CHA history.

Emerging near the end of last season as one of Niagara’s most potent forwards, sophomore Aaron Clarke has scored in the Purple Eagles’ last two games. His two goals and two points in three games tie him for the team lead in scoring.

Freshmen Cliff Ketchen, Tim Madsen and Mike Maier combined to form an all-rookie forward line in the Oct. 16 game against the University of Maine.

Taking a combined six shots on the Black Bears net, the line lead Niagara in the Oct. 16 game with a +1 plus/minus rating. The line did not allow a Maine goal while on the ice.

Freshman forward Mike Maier scored his first collegiate goal in only his second game.

Playing nationally-ranked Maine Oct. 16, Maier followed his own rebound and beat Black Bears back-up goaltender Matt Lundin to score his first collegiate goal. Maier is the first of Niagara’s 11 freshmen to register a goal.

Sophomores Sean Bentivoglio and Aaron Clarke continue points streaks dating back to the Oct. 15 game against the University of Maine.

Bentivoglio has registered assists in each of Niagara’s last two games, wtih Clarke scoring goals in the past two games.

Senior captain Barret Ehgoetz continues his consecutive games played streak with last weekend’s two games against Maine. Dating back to Feb. 23, 2002, Ehgoetz has played in 82 consecutive games.

Junior goaltender Jeff Van Nynatten, the 2004 CHA Tournament MVP, is off to a rocky start in his first three games of the 2004-05 season.

Playing two nationally-respected programs in UMass-Lowell and Maine, Van Nynatten has allowed 11 goals in his first three starts, registering three losses. He has a 4.14 goals-against average.

The Niagara roster boasts 17 Canadians, one of the largest contingency of Canadian players in collegiate hockey.

The 17 players span as far west as British Columbia and as far east as Quebec.

Niagara returns 17 players who experienced the NCAA Tournament last season, including forwards Sean Bentivoglio, Aaron Clarke, Justin Cross, Barret Ehgoetz, Ryan Gale, Chad Murray, Marc Norrington, Mario Nucci, and Jason Williamson, defensemen Shayne Baylis, Ryan Carrigan, Brian Hartman, Jason Jones, Andrew Lackner, and Pat Oliveto, with goaltenders Allen Barton and Jeff Van Nynattten.

The team returns 70 of its 124 total goals (56.5 percent) and 185 of its 321 points (57.6 percent) from a year ago.

Ehgoetz is the Purple Eagles’ leading returning scorer, leading Niagara -- as well as the CHA conference -- with a career-high 52 points (25 goals, 27 assists). Lackner is the leading returner among blueliners, posting 15 points on two goals and 13 assists. Van Nynatten returns as Niagara’s No. 1 goaltender, posting 18 wins last season and a 2.81 goals-against average.

The Purple Eagles welcome 12 new players to the roster this season, one of the largest incoming classes in program history.

Joining the squad are forwards Matt Caruana, Cliff Ketchen, Tim Madsen, Mike Maier, Tayler Simpson, C.J. Tozzo and Kris Wiebe, defensemen Travis Anderson, Scott Langdon, Trevor Mallon and Mike Novosad, along with goaltender Scott Mollison.

Wiebe, a senior, is a transfer from the University of Findlay, earning all-conference honors with the Oilers last season.

Niagara boasts a roster of five seniors entering their final season of play in a Niagara uniform.

Seniors Shayne Baylis, Ryan Carrigan, Barret Ehgoetz, Ryan Gale and Kris Wiebe play thier final seasons for the Purple Eagles.

Joining three-year captain Barret Ehgoetz are juniors Andrew Lackner and Jason Williamson.

Voted assistant captains by their teammates, both Lackner and Williamson have been solid contributors on-and-off the ice throughout the previous two seasons.

Ehgoetz has been the consumate leader for Niagara the past three seasons, voted assistant captain in his sophomore year.

Niagara finished the 2003-04 season with a 21-15-3 overall record, finishing second in the College Hockey America conference with a record of 14-6-0. The Purple Eagles won the CHA Conference Tournament, defeating Wayne State and Bemidji State to win their second conference tournament crown.

Playing eventual Frozen Four-participant Boston College in the NCAA Tournament, Niagara fell to the Eagles, 5-2. Departed senior Joe Tallari and sophomore forward Sean Bentivoglio had goals for the Purple Eagles in the loss.

Niagara senior forward Barret Ehgoetz earned honorable mention honors on the 2004 Preseason All-U.S. College Hockey Online team, representing the only player from the CHA to garner national preseason honors.

Ehgoetz enters his senior season with the second-most points of any returner to Division I men’s hockey.

Returning as the reigning CHA Co-Player of the Year, senior captain Barret Ehgoetz was named preseason All-CHA.

Ehgoetz was joined on the preseason team with juniors Andrew Lackner and Jeff Van Nynatten.

All three earned postseason conference honors last season, headlined by Ehgoetz being named CHA Co-Player of the Year and Van Nynatten earning CHA Tournament Most Valuable Player honors.

Both Ehgoetz and Van Nynatten were unanimous All-CHA selections.