Sophomore Sean Bentivoglio tied his career high for points in a season. |
FACING OFF
The Niagara University men’s hockey team (10-16-1, 5-8-1) looks to snap a three-game losing streak this weekend, traveling to Wayne State University (12-14-2, 5-7-2) for a two-game series at Compuware Sports Arena.
Faceoff is set for 3:05 p.m. Saturday and 2:05 p.m. Sunday.
ON THE AIR
Both Saturday’s and Sunday’s games can be heard live on the official website of Niagara Univeristy, www.PurpleEagles.com and WJJL 1440-AM, with Paul Hamilton handling play-by-play duties.
A LOOK AT NIAGARA
The Purple Eagles head into this weekend’s series against the Warriors led by the senior duo of Barret Ehgoetz and Ryan Gale.
Together, Ehgoetz and Gale have combined for 68 of 213 points for Niagara this season, roughly a third of all scoring.
Ehgoetz leads the College Hockey America conference with 37 points (13 goals, 24 assists) in 27 games this season. The senior captain, already eclipsing both the conference and Niagara record for points in a career, has points in the Purple Eagles’ last two contests.
Gale stands second in the conference with 19 goals, adding 12 assists for a career-high 31 points this season. Scoring five game-winning goals, Gale sits tied for the national lead in game-winners.
Also contributing offensively for Niagara are forwards Sean Bentivoglio (21 points) and Kris Wiebe (18 points).
In goal, junior Jeff Van Nynatten has started the past six games, credited with a 5-8-1 record and a 2.92 goals-against average in 14 appearances this season. In the 2004-05 season, Van Nynatten has yet to face the Warriors.
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS
Wayne State heads into this weekend’s series on a five-game losing streak, falling to Robert Morris, Nebraska-Omaha and Bemidji State.
At home this season, the Warriors are 6-5-0, splitting their last series at the Compuware Sports Arena against Robert Morris Jan. 22-23.
Leading Wayne State in scoring is freshman forward Stavros Paskaris. The 6-1 forward leads the CHA in points by a rookie, scoring eight goals and adding 17 assists for 25 points this season.
Among the CHA leaders in goals, sophomore forward Jason Bloomingburg sits second on the Warriors in points. In 27 games, Bloomingburg has 16 goals and 23 points.
In goal, junior Matt Kelly is 8-8-0 in 17 appearances with a 2.76 goals-against average. This season, Kelly is 1-0-0 against Niagara, allowing three goals in a Warriors’ overtime win Jan. 14.
EHGOETZ MOVES TO NO. 1
Niagara senior captain Barret Ehgoetz moved into a tie for the Niagara all-time assists record with his 89th career assist Feb. 5.
Already the school’s all-time leader in points and goals, Ehgoetz is tied with Mike Isherwood for the assists record. The Kincardine, Ontario, native is the current leader in the CHA in career assists.
NIAGARA GETS SWEPT
Although outshooting the University of Alabama-Huntsville in both contests, Niagara was swept by the Chargers last weekend at Dwyer Arena, losing both Friday’s and Saturday’s games by a 4-2 decision.
Leading Huntsville in the two-game sweep were forwards Bruce Mulherin and Jared Ross, who combined for five of eight weekend goals for the Chargers.
Mulherin tallied a hat trick in the win Feb. 5, leading a three-goal second period for Huntsville with two goals.
Chargers junior goaltender Scott Munroe made a combined 69 saves in the two wins last weekend.
SPLITTING
Niagara and Wayne State split the previous two games this season, played at Dwyer Arena Jan. 14-15.
In the Jan. 14 contest, Wayne State earned a 4-3 overtime win after sophomore forward Jason Bloomingburg scored 3:25 into the overtime period.
The following evening, Niagara senior captain Barret Ehgoetz scored two of the Purple Eagles’ four goals, leading the team to a 4-2 victory and a split in the two-game series.
WAYNE STATE LEADS SERIES
Wayne State leads the all-time series against the Purple Eagles.
Dating back to Jan. 12, 2001, the Warriors lead the all-time series with a 12-8-1 record in the 21 previous contests.
Though trailing in the all-time series, the Purple Eagles have won six of the last seven games against the Warriors.
BURKHOLDER VS. WARRIORS
In his four seasons, Niagara head coach Dave Burkholder has a career record of 8-7-1 against Wayne State.
EHGOETZ LEADS VS. WSU
Averaging 1.29 points per game against Wayne State, senior captain Barret Ehgoetz leads the Purple Eagles in scoring against the Warriors. In 14 games, Ehgoetz has 18 points on 12 goals and six assists.
Junior forward Justin Cross has eight points (3 goals, 5 assists) in 11 games against Wayne State, followed by Kris Wiebe and Jason Williamson, both with seven points.
With all three goalies seeing action against Wayne State, junior Jeff Van Nynatten leads the team with a 5-0-0 record. In his seven appearances, Van Nynatten has a 1.56 goals-against average and a .943 save percentage.
COLLEGE HOCKEY AMERICA
All six College Hockey America conference teams will be in action this weekend.
With Niagara traveling to Wayne State for a two-game series at the Compuware Sports Arena Saturday and Sunday, Bemidji State visits Robert Morris University and Air Force visits Alabama-Huntsville, with both series being Friday and Saturday. Heading into the stretch run of the CHA season, Bemidji State leads the conference with a record of 11-3-0 in CHA games. The Beavers are followed closely by Alabama-Huntsville, which has a 9-2-1 conference mark.
EHGOETZ/ROSS AND CHA
Niagara senior captain Barret Ehgoetz, along with Alabama-Huntsville senior Jared Ross, continue their battle in the conference record books.
With Ehgoetz leading in the all-time points race with 157 career points, Ross sits closely behind with 152.
Ehgoetz leads the all-time assists mark with 89 in his collegiate career, with Ross leading in the all-time goals race with 69.
Entering this season, Ehgoetz stood fourth in CHA history in career points, with Ross right behind in fifth place.
PENALTY KILLERS
The Purple Eagles continue to rank among the national leaders with a penalty kill that holds opponents to less than a 15 percent conversion rate on the power play.
In the last 10 games, Niagara has killed off 50 of opponents’ 55 power-play opportunities.
OVERTIME WOES
Niagara continues to have problems when entering the overtime period.
Playing in four overtime games this season, Niagara has yet to earn a victory.
In those four games, Niagara is 0-3-1, earning a draw with Robert Morris University Jan. 28, its last overtime contest.
Prior to the draw, the Purple Eagles fell to UMass Lowell (Oct. 9), Bemidji State (Nov. 20) and Wayne State (Jan. 14) in the overtime period.
BENTIVOGLIO TIES HIGH
Sophomore forward Sean Bentivoglio tied his career high for points in a season with his assist in the Feb. 5 game against Alabama-Huntsville.
Now with seven goals and 14 assists, Bentivoglio tied last season’s point mark, in which he led all Niagara rookies in points.
ROOKIES CONTRIBUTING
All nine freshmen skaters have registered a point for the Purple Eagles this season.
Led by forward Matt Caruana, who has 11 points on six goals and five assists, the rookie class has accounted for 19.3 percent of the Niagara points this season.
Freshman goaltender Scott Mollison has played in nine games this season, earning three wins in his rookie season.
NOVOSAD SCORES FIRST
Freshman defenseman Mike Novosad scored his first collegiate goal in the loss to Alabama-Huntsville Feb. 4.
As Niagara trailed 3-1 in the third period, Novosad hit a slapshot from the left point to beat Huntsville goaltender Scott Munroe.
With his goal, all nine freshmen skaters have tallied a point for the Purple Eagles this season.
EHGOETZ/GALE ADVANCE
Senior forwards Barret Ehgoetz and Ryan Gale advanced to the Preliminary Voting phase for this season’s Hobey Baker Award.
Both among the CHA and national leaders in points, goals and assists this season, Ehgoetz and Gale have accounted for 40 percent of Niagara’s goals this season. In addition, the senior duo have combined for 31 percent of the team’s points.
This marks the second consecutive season Ehgoetz has advanced to the second phase of voting.
The two are among seven players from the CHA conference to advance to the second phase in fan voting.
GALE PASSES THREE-YEAR
Exploding onto the national scene in his final season, senior Ryan Gale passed his career points total from his previous three seasons in the Jan. 21 game against Air Force.
Totaling 27 points (16 goals, 11 assists) in his first three seasons, Gale is among the CHA leaders with 19 goals this season, adding 12 assists for 31 points.
The St. Catharines, Ontario, native, continues to excel playing alongside fellow-senior Barret Ehgoetz.
MULTIPLE SCORER
Standing second in the College Hockey America conference with 19 goals this season, senior forward Ryan Gale continues his breakout season for the Purple Eagles.
With his two goals against UMass Lowell Dec. 30, Gale notched his fifth multiple-goal game of the season, tops among all Niagara players.
In his final season, Gale has set career highs in points, goals and assists through 25 games.
CHA RANKINGS
Seniors Barret Ehgoetz and Ryan Gale continue to rank among the conference leaders in points and goals.
Ehgoetz leads the conference with 37 points this season, tallying a conference-high 24 assists.
Gale, setting career highs in every statistical category, is second in the conference with 19 goals, standing tied for sixth in the CHA in points.
Sophomore defenseman Pat Oliveto stands tied for fourth in the conference in goals by a defenseman (4).
NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Niagara offense stands 23rd in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 2.96 goals per game.
Additionally, the Purple Eagles’ penalty kill stands 11th nationally, with opponents held to a 14.2 percent conversion rate.
Standing in the top 10 nationally are senior forwards Barret Ehgoetz and Ryan Gale.
Ehgoetz stands tied for fifth in the nation in points (37), standing tied for eighth nationally with 24 assists.
Gale stands tied for sixth in the nation with 19 goals this season, leading the nation with five game-winning goals.
SENIORS LEADING THE WAY
Registering 95 of Niagara’s 207 points this season -- including 40 of 77 goals -- the senior class of Shayne Baylis, Ryan Carrigan, Barret Ehgoetz, Ryan Gale and Kris Wiebe continue to lead the Purple Eagles in scoring this season.
With Ehgoetz, Gale and Wiebe also scoring nine of Niagara’s 10 game-winning goals, Gale leads the team with 19 goals this season.The seven-member junior class -- headed by junior Justin Cross’ 13 points -- is second on the team in scoring with 40 points, tied with the 11-member freshman class, also with 40 points.
The sophomore class has 32 points on 11 goals and 21 assists.
SIMPSON OUT FOR SEASON
Suffering a torn anterior crucial ligament in the Purple Eagles’ last contest, freshman forward Tayler Simpson will miss the remainder of the 2004-05 season.
Expected to make a full recovery, Simpson will undergo surgery on his knee later this month.
Playing in each of the last 12 games, Simpson scored his first collegiate goal in the Purple Eagles’ 3-0 win over Air Force Jan. 22.
MOLLISON MAKES HISTORY
Goaltender Scott Mollison became the first freshman in Niagara history to earn a win in their first collegiate start, helping the Purple Eagles defeat Quinnipiac University, 3-1, Nov 12 at Dwyer Arena.
Mollison made 21 saves against the Bobcats, including stopping a Michael Bordieri penalty shot in the second period.
Playing in six games this season, Mollison has a 2-3-0 record with a 3.14 goals-against average.
PURPLE EAGLES HIT BOOKS
This season’s men’s hockey team posted its highest team grade-point average in its nine-year history.
With a team cumulative GPA of 3.25 in the Fall 2004 semester, the men’s hockey team had 22 of its 28 players with a 3.00-or-better GPA, including 10 players with a 3.50-or-better GPA.
Freshmen Cliff Ketchen and Scott Mollison finished with a GPA of 4.0.
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
The Purple Eagles continue their four-game road trip, traveling to the U.S. Air Force Academy, in Colorado Springs, Colo., for a two-game series at the Cadet Ice Arena.
This season, Niagara is 2-0-0 against the Falcons, taking both games at Dwyer Arena, Jan. 21-22.
