Niagara Purple Eagles
2-4-0 (0-0-0 CHA)
home: 1-0-0/road: 1-2-0/neutral: 0-2-0

vs.

Bemidji State Beavers
0-2-0 (0-0-0 CHA)
home: 0-0-0/road: 0-2-0/neutral: 0-0-0

Opening Up

Niagara University and Bemidji State open their conference portion of the slate with the first of two games in Dwyer Arena Friday at 7 p.m. The Purple Eagles are 5-2 in CHA openers, 3-2 under head coach Dave Burkholder.

The contest marks a rematch of last season’s CHA Championship game, a 4-2 Beaver victory in Detroit, Mich. The two teams meet four times in the next four weeks, including two in Bemidji Nov. 17 and 18.

Follow the Purple Eagles on the Internet & Radio

The Niagara University Athletic Department will be unveiling its brand new, live video-streaming to internet viewers for Friday’s contest against the Beavers. Follow the link at the top of this page to watch from the comforts of your living room. Warren Kozireski will provide live play-by-play on WJJL 1440 AM and for the Internet simulcast. 

Coming Up Big Against The Beavers

In five career games against Bemidji State, sophomore Ted Cook has recorded nine points (4 goals and 5 assists). He netted two game winners against the Beavers during his freshman campaign.

Senior Sean Bentivoglio also likes to see Beavers on the goalie’s chest. The forward has three goals and seven assists against BSU. Last season, the captain netted the game winner in overtime to give Niagara a 6-5 win.

Facing Eager Foes

For the fifth-straight time this season, and sixth overall, Niagara will face a team looking for its first win of the season. The Beavers are 0-2-0, UMass.-Lowell was 0-2-1 while then-No. 19 Nebraska-Omaha was 0-0-2 before their wins over the Purple Eagles in Omaha, Neb. Holy Cross had yet to play a game when they traveled to Dwyer Arena, and Colgate was 0-2-0 before their neutral-site win over Niagara. When facing then-No. 20 Clarkson, it was both teams’ season opener.

Last Time Out

UMass.-Lowell 7, Niagara 4 - Oct. 21, 2006

The men’s hockey team was done in by the big period once again as it dropped a 7-4 decision to UMass.-Lowell in the consolation game of the Mutual of Omaha Stampede. The Purple Eagles came out firing in the third period, but the four-goal deficit was too much to overcome.

Sean Bentivoglio scored twice, Les Reaney added three assists and Ted Cook chipped in with a goal and an assist. Juliano Pagliero made 35 saves in net.

Friday’s Opponent

Bemidji State

The Beavers played at then-No. 7 Maine two weeks ago, dropping both contests by a combined 13-4 margin. Co-CHA Preseason Player of the Year Luke Erickson scored three of the four Bemidji State goals. He shared the preseason honor with Niagara’s Sean Bentivoglio.

The Beavers used two keepers in the Maine series. Senior Layne Sedevie allowed seven goals on opening night, losing 7-1, while junior Matt Climie let six past in the 6-3 loss.

The Series - Bemidji State, 15-11-4

Niagara and Bemidji faceoff for the first of four regular season meetings. When traveling to Dwyer, the Beavers are a dismal 3-10-1. Twice the two teams have met for the CHA Championship, with Niagara winning 4-3 in overtime in 2004 and Bemidji taking a 4-2 decision last season.

The Captain Moves Into The Top 10

With his two points on Oct. 21, senior Sean Bentivoglio moved into a tie for 10th place with Justin Cross (‘06) on the all-time points list at Niagara with 92 points. He needs three points to tie Chris Welch (‘04) for ninth place.

Not Wasting Any Time

Last year’s Co-CHA Rookies of the Year Ted Cook and Les Reaney haven’t wasted any time getting their names in the national statistics. Cook is second in the nation with 11 points (5 goals and 6 assists) while Reaney’s nine points (3 goals and 6 assists) ties him for sixth nationally. The forwards are both tied for the team lead with six assists, good enough for fifth in the nation.

Freshmen Helpers

Six games into the 2006-07 season and four Purple Eagle rookies already have contributed 11 assists.

Freshman Chris Moran is tied for the team lead with six assists, including three against Holy Cross in his first game inside Dwyer Arena. Egor Mironov and Tyler Gotto each have two helpers, while Nate Bostic has added one.

Young Pups

The Purple Eagles have 11 freshmen on this season’s roster. Ten rookies have seen time on the ice, with defenseman Ryan Annesely recording the lone, freshman goal. Chris Moran leads all CHA rookies with six points.

Leading The Way

Niagara has four players in the top six on the College Hockey America point list. Ted Cook and Les Reaney are one and two with 11 and nine points, respectively. Sean Bentivoglio and Chris Moran are tied for sixth place with six points each. Cook, Reaney and Moran all lead the CHA with six assists.

Between The Pipes

Sophomore Juliano Pagliero is seeing his first action as the No. 1 goaltender after the departure of graduating-senior Jeff Van Nynattan. ‘Pags’ leads the conference with 253 minutes played and is second with a 4.27 goals-against average. His 129 saves also puts him in first place, as the only net minder to record over 100 saves this season.

CHA Underway