NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University men’s hockey team (14-18-2) begins its College Hockey America Tournament title defense Friday, facing Robert Morris University (8-20-4) at 4:35 p.m. at the IRA Civic Center, in Grand Rapids, Minn.
Ending the 2004-05 regular season against Robert Morris, the No. 3-seeded Purple Eagles face the No. 6-seeded Colonials for the third-straight game in Friday’s quarterfinal. Thus far this season, Niagara has had its share of problems against the first-year program, going 1-2-1 in the four regular season games against the Colonials.
In the last contest between the two teams, the Purple Eagles earned a 3-1 victory behind goals by seniors Kris Wiebe (Lloydminster, Alb.) and Ryan Gale (St. Catharines, Ont.), along with a goal by freshman Cliff Ketchen (Winnipeg, Man.).
Gale leads Niagara in scoring heading into Friday’s game against the Colonials. The senior forward has four goals in the last three games, standing seventh nationally with a career-high 23 goals this season.
Seniors Barret Ehgoetz (Kincardine, Ont.) and Wiebe have combined for 25 goals this season, with Wiebe leading all Niagara players with three goals in four games against Robert Morris. Wiebe, 10 goals and 12 assists, looks to have a repeat of last season’s performance in the CHA Tournament, in which he was named to the conference all-tournament team while playing for the University of Findlay.
Ehgoetz finished the regular season leading the conference in points (45) and assists (30), standing among the CHA leaders with 15 goals.
In goal, junior Jeff Van Nynatten (Stratford, Ont.) has started the last 13 games, with a 6-5-2 record during that stretch of games. Missing part of the regular season with an injury, Van Nynatten was last season’s tournament Most Valuable Player, leading Niagara to its second NCAA Tournament appearance in the past five seasons. He is 9-10-2 this season with a 2.70 goals-against average in 21 starts.
Robert Morris has outscored the Purple Eagles, 14-9, this season, handing Niagara its only shutout of the regular season in the 6-0 win Jan.29.
The Colonials are led by the goaltender of freshman Christian Boucher. Starting in 28 of 32 games, Boucher has a 8-16-4 record with a 2.81 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage. The Orleans, Ont., native has made 25 or more saves against Niagara in each of his four starts.
Offensively, freshman forward Jace Buzek leads Robert Morris with 17 points on four goals and 13 assists. Behind Buzek are three players -- Jeff Gilbert, Joe Federoff, David Boguslawski -- tied with 15 points. Always dangerous on the power play, Gilbert (8 goals, 15 assists) leads the team with five power-play goals this season.
Robert Morris is 1-0-0 this season when playing on neutral ice, defeating Sacred Heart, 4-2, at the Rensselaer Holiday Hockey Tournament, Nov. 27, 2004.
The winner of Friday’s quarterfinal between Niagara and Robert Morris meets the University of Alabama-Huntsville, the tournament No. 2 seed, in the semifinals Saturday. Game time for the semifinal contest is set for 4:35 p.m.
