WINTHROP, Mass. – The Atlantic Hockey Association released its 2020-21 Preseason Poll on Tuesday. The Purple Eagles, who ended the regular season in fifth place last year before the season was halted prior to the playoffs, were picked to finish fourth with 69 points, including one first-place vote.
| Coaches' Poll (first-place votes) |
| AIC (7) |
96 |
| Sacred Heart (2) |
76 |
| Bentley |
75 |
| Niagara (1) |
69 |
| Army West Point |
60 |
| Air Force |
49 |
| Robert Morris |
49 |
| Holy Cross |
27 |
| Canisius |
18 |
| Mercyhurst |
18 |
, Both of Niagara's top goalies from 2019-20,
Chad Veltri and
Brian Wilson, will also return this year. When the team takes the ice next month, they will do so sporting all new gear from new outfitter Warrior.
Niagara retains more than 80 percent of its scoring from a season ago, including its leading goal-scorer
Jack Billings. The Purple Eagles also return eight of their top 10 point-getters from last season
Chris Harpur enters his fourth season in the purple and white with the captain's "C" on his jersey after serving as an alternate captain for a portion of his junior season. Harpur finished fifth on the team with 12 points (4 G, 8 A) during the 2019-20 campaign.
Along with Harpur, Niagara's senior class consists of
Jared Brandt,
Jack Billings,
Eric Cooley,
Justin Kendall,
Jack Zielinski, and
Brian Wilson.
There will also be 10 new faces on the ice this winter. Head coach
Jason Lammers brought in a seven-man freshman class made up of goaltender
Patrick Pugliese, defensemen
Jesse Pomeroy and
Josef Mysak, and forwards
Carter Randklev,
Matt Cameron,
Christian Gorscak, and Trever Poeze.
In addition to the freshmen, the remaining newcomers are
Mike Corson,
Croix Evingson, and
Walker Sommer. Corson is a junior goalie who transferred from Denver in the offseason. Evingson, a defenseman from UMass Lowell, came to NU last year but sat out due to transfer restrictions. Likewise, Sommer, an Air Force transfer, will also be eligible to play after sitting out last season.
The Purple Eagles open their season at St. Lawrence on Friday, Nov. 20. Their home opener will also be against the Saints, two days later in Dwyer Arena at 4 p.m.
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