Box Score

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Niagara men’s hockey head coach David Burkholder achieved a career milestone with his 200^th win on Friday evening, after No. 20 Niagara dropped the Sacred Heart Pioneers, 5-3 victory at Dwyer Arena.   

The 2012-13 season marks Burkholder’s 12^th season as benchboss, and 17^th season with the program.  Through 12 campaigns with the Purple Eagles, Burkholder’s 200 wins include two CHA Tournament Championships, two CHA regular-season titles, a pair of CHA Coach of the Year selections and two trips to the NCAA postseason.  

“It’s just a number,” said Burkholder of his accomplishment.  “I haven’t really thought about it.  It’s all about the players and the streak they’re on, still being undefeated in Atlantic Hockey.  The milestone says that that I’ve had some unbelievable assistant coaches and some great players have come through the program.  I’m very lucky in both regards.” 

The top line of Giancarlo Iuorio,  Marc Zanette and Ryan Murphy combined for eight points in the victory, including notching four of the Purple Eagles’ five tallies.  Iuorio snapped home two goals for the game to increase his season total to a team-leading 11 goals.  Murphy contributed a goal and two assists, while Zanette added his third score of the season along with a helper.

“In a close game like that you need them to come through and they did in the third,” Burkholder added.  “They’ve got some chemistry, and have been producing for us.  It was certainly a good time for them to come through.”  

Sacred Heart (0-11-2; 0-8-2 AHA) goalie Steven Legatto looked sharp in the opening stanza of play, as the senior was tested with 22 shots on net.  Rookie Dan Kolenda was finally able to get the Purple Eagles (9-2-3; 8-0-0 AHA) on the scoreboard with five minutes remaining in the period. Patrick Divjak found Kolenda at the top of the slot and the rookie wristed a shot over the shoulder of Legatto for his third goal of the season. 

Despite Niagara’s offensive pressure, the teams headed into the first intermission tied at one apiece as Brian Sheehan grabbed his fifth of the season with less than two minutes remaining in the period.  Eric Delong had the initial shot on NU goaltender Carsen Chubak  but the rebound bounced out to Delong who tapped it into the net. 

The Pioneers took their first and only lead of the game less than four minutes played in the second period.  Chad Barthelmess raced into the Purple Eagle defensive zone alongside Tommy Castonguay who took a shot from inside the right circle.  The puck trickled behind Chubak and Bathelmess pushed it past the line to give the Pioneers  the 2-1 lead. 

Niagara responded with two goals to take back the advantage as Iuorio and Zanette each got on the score sheet.  At the at the 8:14 mark of the stanza, Murphy slipped a feed to Iuorio who wristed a low shot that beat Legatto stick-side.  NU made it a 3-2 game a little less than six minutes later while on the man-advantage off the stick of Zanette.  With one second remaining on the powerplay, the senior received a pass from C.J. Chartrain and ripped home his third goal of the season from just inside the blue line.

The Pioneers wasted no time in knotting the game again for second time, as nine seconds later Chad Filteau’s high-rising shot flew past Chubak to make it a 3-3 contest with less than four minutes remaining in the second period. 

The Iuorio-Zanette-Murphy line combined twice more in the final twenty minutes of play to extend the team’s unbeaten streak to 10 games.  Murphy tallied the game-winner to give the Purps their third lead of the game with a glove-side shot just outside the paint that snuck underneath the pads of Legatto.

Iuorio solidified the victory with 6:50 left on the clock as the center streaked down the left boards before releasing a bullet that found the top left corner for the senior’s second goal of the game. 

“This is a big win because it happened a different way,” said Burkholder.  “We called out our defense to shut down Sacred Heart in the third and they responded and Chubak made a couple big saves through traffic and that’s what you want your junior veteran to do for us.  So it’s a very solid win for us in a lot of areas.”

Chubak wrapped up the game with 23 saves, improving his record to 9-1-3.  

The Purple Eagles and Pioneers conclude the series tomorrow at Dwyer Arena with a 7:05 p.m. puck drop.