Senior captain Barret Ehgoetz is the all-time points leader in the CHA. |
Junior forward Justin Cross leads Niagara with three points in four games against Lowell. |
FACING OFF
The Niagara University men’s hockey team (7-10-0) travels to Tsongas Arena, in Lowell, Mass., to face the University of Massachusetts Lowell (8-5-2) Thursday at 7 p.m.
The Purple Eagles look to split the season series with the River Hawks in its final game of 2004.
NIAGARA LOOKS FOR SPLIT
The Purple Eagles fell to Lowell, 3-2, in overtime Oct. 9 at Dwyer Arena.
Niagara looks for a split in the season series against the River Hawks in Thursday’s contest.
Last season, the Purple Eagles split the two games against Lowell, falling 6-1 Oct. 24, 2003 at HSBC Arena, in Buffalo, and earning a 6-5 comeback win Dec. 14, 2003 at Tsongas Arena.
A LOOK AT THE PURPLE EAGLES
Niagara has earned a split in its last four road games, dating back to a two-game series at the University of Alabama in Huntsville Dec. 3-4.
Leading the charge for the Purple Eagles is senior captain Barret Ehgoetz. Registering 10 points in the last four games, Ehgoetz is tied for sixth nationally with a team-leading 25 points (7 goals, 18 assists).
Already the all-time leader in points in the College Hockey America conference, Ehgoetz is on the verge of becoming Niagara’s all-time leader, sitting tied with Mike Isherwood and Mikko Sivonnen on the top of the scoring list with 145 career points.
Paired with Ehgoetz on the forward line is senior Ryan Gale. Shattering his previous career highs for points, goals and assists in a season, Gale has goals in the Purple Eagles’ last two games, scoring two goals in Niagara’s 6-2 win over Bemidji State Dec. 11.
In goal, both sophomore Allen Barton and freshman Scott Mollison have seen time in the last four games, with Barton earning two wins in three appearances.
SCOUTING LOWELL
One of the highest-scoring teams in the nation, the River Hawks look to extend its eight-game unbeaten streak against non-conference opponents in Thursday’s game.
Lowell stands eighth nationally with a scoring average of 3.60 goals per game, outscoring non-conference opponents, 36-16, in the eight-game span.
Leading the River Hawks in scoring this season is junior forward Ben Walter. With 21 points, Walter has scored 16 goals this season, standing second nationally in goals scored.
Scoring two goals in Lowell’s last contest, a 2-2 tie with Northeastern Dec. 11, junior forward Elias Godoy is second on the River Hawks in scoring, with 19 points (3 goals, 16 assists) this season.
Freshman goaltender Peter Vetri leads the team with four wins and a 2.48 goals-against average this season.IN THEIR LAST OUTING
Niagara, on the road at Glas Fieldhouse, in Bemidji, Minn., earned a split against Bemidji State University Dec. 10-11.
After falling 8-3 Dec. 10, allowing a season-high eight goals, the Purple Eagles regrouped and defeated the Beavers, 6-2, the following evening.
Senior forward Ryan Gale led the charge for Niagara in the four-goal victory, scoring two goals and picking up two assists.
Also registering four points (1 goal, 3 assists) in the win was senior captain Barret Ehgoetz. With the four points, Ehgoetz became the all-time leader in the College Hockey America conference with 145 career points, also tying the Niagara points mark in the win.
Picking up the win in goal, his second of the season, was sophomore goaltender Allen Barton. Barton stopped 29 of 31 Bemidji State shots in the win, not allowing a goal in the opening period.
EHGOETZ TIES NU MARK
Leading the Purple Eagles with 25 points (7 goals, 18 assists) this season, senior captain Barret Ehgoetz is tied atop the all-time scoring list in Niagara history.
With 145 career points, Ehgoetz sits tied with former Purple Eagles Mike Isherwood and Mikko Sivonnen for the all-time lead in points.
Ehgoetz is second in Niagara history in career assists (83), standing second in career goals (62).
NIAGARA VS. LOWELL
UMass-Lowell leads the all-time series with Niagara, 4-1-0, earning its fourth win earlier this season, a 3-2 overtime win at Dwyer Arena Oct. 9.
The lone Purple Eagles’ win came last season when Niagara came back from five goals down to earn a 6-5 victory at Tsongas Arena Dec. 14, 2003.
In his four seasons at the helm of the Niagara program, head coach Dave Burkholder is 1-4-0 against the River Hawks.
NIAGARA VS. HOCKEY EAST
The Purple Eagles are 8-16-0 against teams currently in the Hockey East conference.
This season, Niagara has lost all three contests against teams from the Hockey East, falling to Lowell Oct. 9 and Maine Oct. 15-16.
BURKHOLDER AGAINST HE
Head coach Dave Burkholder holds a 4-11-0 lifetime record against Hockey East member schools.
CROSS LEADS AGAINST LOWELL
With three points (1 goal, 2 assists) in four games against the River Hawks, junior forward Justin Cross leads the Purple Eagles in points against the Hockey East opponent.
Also contributing with multiple points for Niagara against Lowell are forwards Ryan Gale (0-2-2) and Sean Bentivoglio (0-2-2).
In net, sophomore Allen Barton has played in two contest against the River Hawks, earning a victory Dec. 14, 2003.
EHGOETZ AND INCH.COM
Continuing to earn recognition for his superior play, senior captain Barret Ehgoetz was named to InsideCollegeHockey.com’s All-College Hockey America team for the first half of the 2004-05 season.
Leading the CHA with 25 points this season, Ehgoetz was the 2004 CHA Co-Player of the Year, helping Niagara earn its second NCAA Tournament appearance in the past five seasons.
COLLEGE HOCKEY AMERICA
With teams taking a break from action for the holiday season, two of the six College Hockey America teams will be in action this week.
With Niagara traveling to UMass-Lowell Thursday, Air Force plays in the 2005 Wells Fargo Denver Cup, facing tournament-host Denver Saturday and either Northeastern or Colgate Sunday.
EHGOETZ LEADS CHA
With 145 points (62 goals, 83 assists) in his four seasons with the Purple Eagles, senior captain Barret Ehgoetz became the all-time leader in the College Hockey America conference Dec. 11 against Bemidji State University.
In addition to leading the conference in career points, Ehgoetz sits atop of the CHA in career assists, standing second in career goals.GALE NATIONALLY RANKED
Emerging as one of the top goal scorers in the nation, senior forward Ryan Gale stands tied for sixth nationally with 13 goals in 17 games this season.
Leading the CHA in goals scored, Gale has broken his career high for points, goals and assists in a season.
A solid contributor in his first three seasons, Gale moved opposite of senior captain Barret Ehgoetz in the Oct. 16 game against the University of Maine, continuing to be one of the main offensive threats for the Purple Eagles ever since.
WILLIAMSON RETURNS
After missing the entire 2003-04 season, junior Jason Williamson has points in the past six games for the Purple Eagles.
Williamson struggled early on in the season with conditioning and the speed of the game after missing last season.
Returning to form in the last four contests, Williamson has six points (1 goal, 5 assists) in the past six games.
HARTMAN CONTINUES
With his goal in the 6-2 win over Bemidji State Dec. 11, junior defenseman Brian Hartman has four goals in the past six games, tied for the lead in goals by a Niagara defenseman.
Already this season, the Pittsburgh-native has set a career high for goals in a game, scoring two goals against Bemidji State Nov. 19.
Hartman has led all Purple Eagle defensemen in goals the previous two seasons.
ANDERSON TALLIES FIRST
With Niagara leading 5-2 late in the third period against Bemidji State Dec. 11, freshman defenseman Travis Anderson scored his first collegiate goal, extending the Purple Eagles’ lead to four goals.
Anderson is second among Niagara defensemen in scoring this season with six points (1 goal, 5 assists).
STREAKING
Junior forward Jason Williamson extended his point streak to six games with his assist in Niagara’s 6-2 win over Bemidji State Dec. 11.
In the past six games, Williamson has six points on a goal and five assists.
With a remarkable 10 points (2 goals, 8 assists) in the past four games, senior captain Barret Ehgoetz has a point streak of four games.
Ehgoetz, who leads the Purple Eagles with 25 points this season, has played in 96 consecutive games, dating back to his freshman season.
In goal, sophomore goaltender Allen Barton has started the previous three contests, picking up two wins.
CHA RANKINGS
Senior captain Barret Ehgoetz leads the College Hockey America conference with 25 points this season. Leading Niagara in scoring in his senior season, Ehgoetz also leads the conference in assists (18) and assists per game (1.06).
Playing opposite of Ehgoetz, senior forward Ryan Gale is tied for the lead in the CHA in goals (13) and stands sixth in points (20). Gale is averaging 0.76 goals per game, ranking third in the CHA.
Sophomore forward Sean Bentivoglio is tied for fifth in the CHA in assists, with 11 assists in 17 games this season.
EHGOETZ HONORED BY CHA
With his six points in two games against Bemidji State Dec. 10-11, senior captain Barret Ehgoetz was named College Hockey America Co-Offensive Player of the Week Dec. 13.
Sharing the weekly honor with Andrew Murray of Bemidji State, Ehgoetz leads the CHA with 25 points this season.
The Dec. 13 CHA weekly award was the first of the season for the senior forward.SENIORS LEADING THE WAY
Registering 61 of Niagara’s 143 points this season -- including 25 of 52 goals -- the senior class of Shayne Baylis, Ryan Carrigan, Barret Ehgoetz, Ryan Gale and Kris Wiebe lead the Purple Eagles in scoring this season.
With Ehgoetz, Gale and Wiebe also scoring all seven of Niagara’s game-winning goals, Gale leads the team with 13 goals this season.
The seven-member junior class -- headed by junior Justin Cross’ 13 points -- is second on the team in scoring with 32 points, followed by the freshmen (28) and sophomores (22).
ACROSS THE BORDER
The Niagara roster boasts 16 Canadians, one of the largest contingency of Canadian players in collegiate hockey.
The 16 players span as far west as British Columbia and as far east as Quebec.CAPTAINS NAMED
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 consummate leader for Niagara the past three seasons, voted assistant captain in his sophomore year.
A GLANCE BACK
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.
NATIONAL HONOREE
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.
PRESEASON ALL-CHA
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.
CHA TOURNAMENT
The 2005 Wells Fargo College Hockey America Championships will move Minnesota, played at the IRA Civic Center in Grand Rapids March 11-13.
With all six CHA teams qualifying for the tournament, with the top two seeds receiving byes in the quarterfinals, the 2005 tournament is the first ever held in the state of Minnesota for the conference.The two quarterfinal games are scheduled for 3:05 p.m. and 7:05 p.m. CST March 11. The semifinals are scheduled for the same times March 12, with the finals played at 7:05 p.m. March 13.
The 2005 CHA Championship Game can be seen live on College Sports Television.
UP NEXT
Returning to Dwyer Arena after five-straight road games, Niagara hosts crosstown-rival Canisius College Jan. 8 at 7 p.m.
This season, the Purple Eagles are 2-0-0 against teams from the Atlantic Hockey Conference, defeating Quinnipiac Nov. 12-13 at Dwyer Arena.
