GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. – The Niagara University men’s hockey team (15-18-2) used a three-goal second period to defeat Robert Morris University (8-21-4), 5-1, Friday at the IRA Civic Center, in Grand Rapids, Minn. The Purple Eagles advance in the 2005 Wells Fargo College Hockey America Conference Tournament, facing the University of Alabama-Huntsville in Saturday’s semifinal.
"I thought every line was dangerous," Niagara head coach Dave Burkholder said. "It was a very balanced attack. We got great playoff goaltending. Tomorrow is going to be a big test."
Outshooting the Colonials, 19-7, in the second period, junior forward Justin Cross (Camarillo, Calif.) started the scoring off in the middle period with his 10th goal of the season. On a 3-on-2 break, Cross followed his own shot that caromed off the end boards and shot the rebound low to the right of Robert Morris goaltender Christian Boucher at 1:58 of the middle period.
Just under a minute following the Cross goal, Niagara struck again, taking 3-0 lead. Senior captain Barret Ehgoetz (Kincardine, Ont.), skating alone with the puck near the left faceoff circle, was given enough time to rifle a shot at Boucher, beating the freshman goaltender between the legs for his 16th goal of the season at the 2:51 mark of the second period.
Freshman defenseman Trevor Mallon (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) took advantage of a mishap by Boucher to score his first collegiate goal and give Niagara a 4-0 at 7:56 of the second period. In front of his own bench, Mallon’s dump into the Robert Morris zone ricocheted off the stick of Boucher and slid into the net.
Niagara protected the lead in the final period with timely shot blocking and the goaltending of junior Jeff Van Nynatten (Stratford, Ont.). Starting off the third period two men down, Van Nynatten stopped an apparent goal from the point by Colonials freshman David Boguslawski. Boguslawski’s shot stuck in the pads of Van Nynatten, overturning the goal due to the puck never crossing the line.
The Purple Eagles got their final goal of the game at the 17:31 mark of the third period from freshman Tim Madsen (Elk River, Minn.), who scored his first collegiate goal on an empty net.
Robert Morris got their lone goal of the contest by freshman Jeff Gilbert, who took a low shot to the stick side of Van Nynatten for the shorthanded goal at 7:42 of the third period.
Although going, 1-2-1 against the Colonials in the regular season, Niagara took the lead in the first period when senior forward Kris Wiebe (Lloydminster, Alb.) scored his 11th goal of the season at the 12:52 mark of the opening period. Playing in his final CHA Tournament, Wiebe took the puck off linemate C.J. Tozzo (New Rochelle, N.Y.) from behind the net and tucked a back-handed shot in between the legs of Robert Morris goaltender Christian Boucher from just outside the crease.
Following the game, Wiebe’s efforts were applauded by Burkholder.
"I thought Kris Wiebe got us going," Burkholder said. "He played like a senior, out-muscled a few guys, and got us going."
Niagara outshot Robert Morris, 36-28, in the win.
Van Nynatten (10-10-2) made 27 saves for the win, shutting out the Colonials in the first two periods. Boucher (8-17-4) made 27 saves in the loss.
In Saturday’s semifinal, the Purple Eagles look to improve on its regular season record, in which Niagara went, 1-3-0, in the four games played in the 2004-05 regular season. Saturday’s game will be the second-ever meeting between the Purple Eagles and Chargers, defeating Huntsville, 3-2, in the 2000 CHA Championships. Game time is set for 4:35 p.m.
