The Niagara University men’s hockey team (6-9-0, 1-3-0) travels to Bemidji State University (7-5-0, 3-1-0) for a two-game series at Glas Fieldhouse Friday and Saturday.
Game time is set for 8:35 p.m. Friday, with Saturday’s game set for 8:05 p.m.
Both Friday’s and Saturday’s games at Glas Fieldhouse can be heard live on WJJL 1440-AM and www.PurpleEagles.com, with Paul Hamilton handling play-by-play duties.
Niagara looks to build upon its split with the University of Alabama in Huntsville last weekend, in which the Purple Eagles outscored the Chargers 4-1 in the third period of both contests.
Earning its first College Hockey America conference win of the season, Niagara was led in the two-game series by senior captain Barret Ehgoetz, who registered five points in the two games against Huntsville.
Leading the team with 20 points (6 goals, 14 assists) this season, Ehgoetz moved into a tie with Chargers senior forward Jared Ross as the all-time leader in the CHA in career assists, both with 79 in their collegiate careers.
Bemidji State is coming off a road-split at Lake Superior State Dec. 3-4, ending a three-week, six-game road trip.
The Beavers boast a roster of six players with double-digit points, led by 2004 College Hockey America Rookie of the Year Luke Erickson. Erickson leads the team with 16 points (4 goals, 12 assists), registering four assists against the Lakers last weekend.
Leading the team in goals scored is senior Brendan Cook, along with sophomore Rob Sirianni, both with six goals. Cook, has added five assists for 11 points, standing third on the team in scoring this season.
In goal, sophomore Layne Sedevie has started 10 of the Beavers’ 12 games, registering a 6-4-0 record and a 2.99 goals-against average.
The Beavers are 3-1-0 at Glas Fieldhouse this season.
ANDERSON/MADSEN RETURN
Representing the first two players to come from the state of Minnesota in the nine-year history of the Niagara program, freshmen Travis Anderson and Tim Madsen return home this weekend.
Anderson, a native of Coon Rapids, Minn., leads all Purple Eagle freshmen with five points this season, notching five assists in 13 games.
Madsen, from Elk River, Minn., has two assists in 12 games this season.
EHGOETZ ATOP CHA ASSISTS
With his four assists against Alabama-Huntsville Dec. 3-4, senior captain Barret Ehgoetz became the co-leader in career assists in College Hockey America conference history.
Registering 79 career assists, Ehgoetz is currently tied with Huntsville senior forward Jared Ross for the CHA career assist lead.
CONFERENCE FAVORITES
This weekend’s series at Glas Fieldhouse sees College Hockey America preseason favorites Bemidji State hosting the Purple Eagles, chosen second in the CHA preseason poll.
The Beavers garnered four of the six first-place votes in the preseason CHA poll, with Niagara receiving the other two votes by conference coaches.
PREVIOUS MEETING
Bemidji State earned a two-game sweep at Dwyer Arena Nov. 19-20, outscoring Niagara, 7-4, in the two-game series.
Defeating the Purple Eagles, 5-3, in the Nov. 19 series opener, the Beavers earned a 2-1 overtime win the following afternoon.
Eleven seconds into the overtime period, senior forward Brendan Cook scored his fifth goal of the season, leading Bemidji State to the overtime win.
In the two-game series, the Beavers were led by sophomore forward Luke Erickson, who had four points (1 goals, 3 assists) in the two games.
IN THEIR LAST OUTING
Niagara split its two road games at the Von Braun Center against the University of Alabama in Huntsville Dec. 3-4.
After losing the series opener to the Chargers, 5-4, the Purple Eagles came back to win the following evening, 3-2, with the help of two goals by senior forward Kris Wiebe.
Falling behind, 2-0, early in the second period, goals by Wiebe and junior Jason Williamson tied the game at 2-2 entering the final period.
Wiebe added the game-winning goal at the 1:04 mark of the third period, leading Niagara to its first CHA conference win of the season.
Making 28 saves, sophomore goaltender Allen Barton picked up his first win of the season in the 3-2 victory, stopping all six Huntsville shots in the third period.
In the two-game series against the Chargers, senior captain Barret Ehgoetz led Niagara with five points, scoring a goal and adding four assists.
Last weekend’s split with Huntsville marks the fourth time in the past five seasons the Purple Eagles split at the Von Braun Center.
PLAYERS AGAINST BSU
Niagara is led by senior captain Barret Ehgoetz’s eight points against the Beavers.Ehgoetz, playing in 14 games in his collegiate career against Bemidji State, has four goals and four assists for eight points against the Beavers.
Senior forward Ryan Gale, along with junior forward Justin Cross, both have five points against Bemidji State, with Gale scoring three goals and adding two assists.
Both Niagara goaltenders, sophomore Allen Barton and freshman Scott Mollison, have yet to earn a win against the Beavers in their careers. Mollison, who played Nov. 19 against the Beavers, has a 4.12 goals-against average and a .846 save percentage against Bemidji State.
NIAGARA VS. BSU
The Purple Eagles lead the all-time series against the Beavers, 11-8-4, winning last season’s season series, 3-2-0.
Niagara has struggled on the road against Bemidji State, winning only two of the 10 meetings at Glas Fieldhouse.
BURKHOLDER VS. BSU
Head coach Dave Burkholder holds a 6-7-2 lifetime record against the Beavers in his four seasons as head coach of the Purple Eagles.
At Glas Fieldhouse, Niagara is 1-4-1 under Burkholder.
EHGOETZ AND CHA
Senior captain Barret Ehgoetz continues to rank in the top two in the College Hockey America conference history in points, goals and assists.
Currently the co-leader in career assists in CHA history (79), Ehgoetz ranks tied for second in points (140) and goals (61) in a career.
Entering Friday’s contest against the Beavers, Ehgoetz trails all-time CHA leading-scorer Andy Berg of Air Force by two points (142).
COLLEGE HOCKEY AMERICA
Five of the six teams from the College Hockey America conference will be in action this weekend, headlined by the conference series pitting Niagara against Bemidji State at Glas Fieldhouse.
In non-conference action, Robert Morris travels to Quinnipiac, with Air Force visiting American International and Wayne State hosting Union.
BEAVERS IN CHA HOME OPENERS
The Beavers hold a 3-2-0 record in conference openers at Glas Fieldhouse.
Undefeated the three previous seasons in the CHA home openers, Bemidji State defeated Wayne State, 3-2, Dec. 5, 2003 at Glas Fieldhouse.
ON THE POWER PLAY
Against Alabama-Huntsville last weekend, the Purple Eagles converted on three of its 18 power plays (16.7 percent).
Prior to last weekend, Niagara was 3-of-43 (7.0 percent) in the last five games on the power play.
WIEBE NETS SEASON HIGH
Leading Niagara to a 3-2 victory over Alabama-Huntsville, senior forward Kris Wiebe notched a season-high two goals in the win.
Bringing his season total to five goals (10 points), Wiebe scored in the second and third periods of the win Dec. 4.
SEVEN IN LAST 10
In his senior campaign, forward Ryan Gale scored his seventh goal in the past 10 games in the Dec. 3 loss to Alabama-Huntsville.
Now with a career-high 10 goals this season, Gale has added five assists for 15 points.
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.
HARTMAN SCORES AGAIN
Now second in goals by a defenseman this season, junior defenseman Brian Hartman scored his third goal in the last four games in the Dec. 3 loss to Alabama-Huntsville.
Now with three goals for three points this season, Hartman notched two goals against Bemidji State Nov. 19.
EHGOETZ MOVES TO THIRD
With his five points in the split with the Chargers last weekend, senior captain Barret Ehgoetz moved into third on Niagara’s all-time scoring list, moving past former Purple Eagle forward Peter DeSantis.
Now with 140 career points, Ehgoetz (61 goals, 79 assists) stands five points away from tying Mike Isherwood and Mikko Sivonnen as the all-time leader in points at Niagara.
STREAKING
Junior assistant captain Jason Williamson has points in the past four games, notching a goal and three assists in the past four games.
Joining Williamson, senior captain Barret Ehgoetz has a two-game point streak, extending his remarkable games played streak to 94 games, with his two games played against Alabama-Huntsville last weekend.
CHA RANKINGS
Senior captain Barret Ehgoetz ranks third in the College Hockey America conference with 20 points on six goals and 14 assists. Leading Niagara in scoring in his final season, Ehgoetz leads the conference in assists and is tied for sixth in goals.
Playing alongside of Ehgoetz, senior forward Ryan Gale is tied for second in the CHA in goals (10) and stands sixth in points (15). Gale also ranks third in the CHA in goals per game, averaging 0-67 goals per game.
Both Ehgoetz and Gale, along with senior forward Kris Wiebe, are tied for the conference lead in game-winning goals, all with two game-winners this season.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
Seniors Barret Ehgoetz and Ryan Gale continue to rank among the national leaders in points, goals and assists.
Ehgoetz, with 20 points on six goals and 14 assists, stands tied for 13th nationally in points, ranking tied for eighth in the nation in assists.Gale, scoring 10 goals this season, is tied for eighth nationally in goals scored.
As a team, Niagara ranks 28th in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 3.07 goals per game.
SENIORS LEAD THE WAY
The senior class of Shayne Baylis, Ryan Carrigan, Barret Ehgoetz, Ryan Gale and Kris Wiebe continues to lead the Purple Eagles in scoring this season.
Credited with 49 of Niagara’s 125 points, the five seniors have scored 21 of the team’s 46 goals this season, including all six game-winning goals.
The seven-member junior class -- headed by junior Justin Cross’ 12 points -- is second on the team in scoring with 28 points, followed by the freshmen class (23 points) and sophomore class (19 points).
BARTON EARNS CHA AWARD
Following his 28-save performance against Alabama-Huntsville Dec. 4, sophomore goaltender Allen Barton was named College Hockey America Defensive Player of the Week Dec. 6.
Helping the Purple Eagles to their first CHA conference win of the season, Barton stopped all six Chargers shots in the third period.
VAN NYNATTEN INJURED
Junior goaltender Jeff Van Nynatten will miss eight weeks after suffering an injury to his index finger in practice Nov. 29.
Expected to make a full recovery, Van Nynatten had his finger operated on Nov. 30.
He leads the Purple Eagles with eights starts in net this season, with a 3-5-0 record and a 3.01 goals-against average.
ACROSS THE BORDER
Sixteen of the 28 players on the Purple Eagles hail from Canada.
From as far west as British Columbia and as far east as Quebec, Niagara has one of the largest contingencies of Canadians in the College Hockey America conference.
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
Following this weekend, the Purple Eagles have the next two weeks off for the Christmas holiday.
Niagara next plays Dec. 30, traveling to Hockey East-opponent University of Massachusetts Lowell for a non-conference game Dec. 30 at Tsongas Arena.
Lowell defeated the Purple Eagles, 3-2, in overtime Oct. 9, in the season-opening game for both teams.
