Box Score

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – A two-goal effort by defenseman C.J. Chartrain helped lead the Niagara men's hockey team (8-8-7; 7-4-5 AHA) to a solid 4-1 victory over the AIC Yellow Jackets (4-17-2; 2-11-2 AHA) on Friday evening at Dwyer Arena. 

After going down 1-0 late in the first period, Niagara netted four unanswered goals, rounded out by Chartrain's first career two-goal game.  Niagara starting goaltender Chris Noonan pushed aside 19 Yellow Jacket shots for his fifth win of the season. 

"All of the effort, the blood, sweat and tears that we went through in the first semester on the road is for nothing if you don't take care of home ice," head coach Dave Burkholder said. "So far it's been good.  I really like where this team is at as far as their work ethic goes." 

The Yellow Jackets drew first blood with 6:18 left in the opening stanza, when  junior forward Steve Mele was able to find the puck among the bodies in front of the blue paint, and snuck it behind Noonan for his seventh of the season.  The Purple Eagles responded with a goal of their own less than two minutes later, when Chartrain took a feed from senior Clark MacLean and buried a high shot from the top of the slot over AIC goalie Ben Meisner.  

Junior forward Marc Zanette continued the scoring for the Purple Eagles midway through the second period on the powerplay.  With 43 seconds left on the man-advantage, Rashid connected with an open Zanette who one-timed it past an outstretched Meisner for his ninth goal of the season. 

"I was really happy with the response in the second period," Burkholder added.  "We took the game over shift-by-shift, finishing our checks.  We just had more energy, more passion and we went from there.  I was happy with the response after we came out flat in the first period."   

The final period was controlled by the Purple Eagles as Chartrain and junior forward Giancarlo Iuorio each found the back of the net.  Less than six minutes into the period, Chartrain capitalized on the man-advantage off feeds from Isaac Kohls and Sam Alfieri.  Iuorio capped off the scoring with a slapshot from the top of the slot 8:16 into the final frame, with helpers from Rashid and Mike Benedict. 

The Purple Eagles wrap up their weekend series against the Yellow Jackets Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at Dwyer Arena.  Tickets are still available by stopping by the Niagara Ticket Office in Dwyer Arena or by calling (716) 286-TIXX.

The contest can be seen live in the Buffalo area on Time Warner Cable Sports Net, channel 87.