Niagara University, N.Y.—The Niagara hockey team opened the 2023-24 season on Saturday evening at Dwyer Arena as they hosted the Royal Military College of Canada in an exhibition. Niagara took the 8-3 win after a five goal second period.

First Period

The first period was heavily controlled by the Purple Eagles as they outshot RMC 22-7 to start the game. Despite the early shot advantage, the Purple Eagles went to the locker room trailing 1-0 to the Paladins.

The Niagara penalty kill was tested in the first period as they were tasked with killing off a five minute major at the 13:29 mark. The Purple Eagles allowed just two shots on the man-advantage and did not allow RMC to score.

Graduate transfer goalie Jarrett Fiske started in net for Niagara and played just the first period, he made six saves on seven shots.

Second Period

Niagara came out flying the second period as Carter Randklev got the Purple Eagles on the board at the 2:58 mark of the period. Randklev was the benefactor of a beautiful passing play from Luke Mylymok and Glebs Prohorenkovs.

Under a minute later, the Purple Eagles took the lead as captain Jay Ahearn scored a tap in goal. Noah Carlin took a shot from the point that was blocked, Shane Ott picked up the loose puck and went for the wrap around, the puck slid to Ahearn who tapped in the puck for the second Purple Eagle goal.

At the 5:28 mark the Purple Eagles were on a 5v3 power-play and Randklev netted his second goal of the night. Prohorenkovs won the faceoff back and Ott played it back to Carlin. Carlin found Randklev on the top of the circle on his off-side, Randklev ripped a wrister past the netminder for the 3-1 Niagara lead.

Just over five minutes later, Lars Rodne picked up the puck around the center circle and went in on the goalie, he made a backhand-forehand deke and lifted it over the goalie's pad to make it a three-goal advantage for the Purple Eagles.

At the 11:15 mark of the middle frame, Josef Mysak took a pass at the point from Tyler Wallace. Mysak took a shot from the point that Noah Hackett tipped in to make it a 5-1 lead.

RMC got two goals in the final seven minutes of the period to make it 5-3 heading into the third period.

Ryan Ouellette played the second period for Niagara; he made four saves in his first action of the season.

Third Period

6:17 into the third period, Randklev completed the hattrick as he netted his second power-play goal of the night. Carlin was playing quarterback at the point and fed it to Ahearn who took a shot, the rebound went right to Randklev in the left circle and he fired it past the diving netminder.

Just 78 seconds later at the 7:35 mark, Randklev netted his fourth goal of the game as the Purple Eagles converted on the power-play for the third time. Ahearn played the buck to the front of the net where Prohorenkovs was camped out, Prohorenkovs threw a no look back handed pass to Randklev who was cutting to the net, Randklev took the pass and roofed into the back of the net.

Olivier Gauthier finished the scoring for the Purple Eagles as Niagara forced a neutral zone faceoff. Gauthier went in on the goalie and rifled the puck into the top left corner of the net to make it 8-3.

Freshman Mitchell Day made 10 saves in his first collegiate action in the third period.

Niagara Notes

·       Niagara outshot the Paladins 57-23.

·       The Purple Eagles won 42 of 69 faceoffs with Prohorenkovs winning a team high 12. Wallace was 9-0 in the faceoff dot.

·       It was the first time that Niagara played RMC in program history, they are now 11-2-1 all-time against Canadian colleges.

·       Niagara blocked 14 shots in the game with Prohorenkovs and Ethan Lund each blocking a team high three shots.

·       The Purple Eagles went 3-6 on the power-play with 13 shots.

Up Next

The Purple Eagles open the regular season next weekend as they travel to Omaha for the second straight season. Last season the Purple Eagles swept the Mavericks to open the season. On Friday, faceoff is scheduled for 8 PM EST, on Saturday faceoff is also scheduled for 8 PM EST.

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