Hamilton, N.Y.—The Niagara hockey team opened a non-conference series with Colgate on Friday as they traveled to Hamilton, N.Y. The Purple Eagles skated to a 5-2 win over the Raiders on Friday.
First Period
The opening period started with the two teams playing an even period.
At the 15:58 mark of the period, the Purple Eagles had sustained pressure in the Colgate zone and Jack Richard passed the puck to Alex Murray at the top of the point. Murray passed the puck to David Posma who was on the left side boards. Posma fired the puck to the front of the net, the puck deflected off a Colgate defender and went past the Colgate goalie to give Niagara a 1-0 lead.
For Posma it was his first collegiate goal, Richard picked up his first collegiate assist while it was Murray's sixth assist of the season.
Just 33 seconds later Niagara struck again. Connor Mylymok skated the puck into the Colgate zone and looked to set up in the zone. He looked to pass the puck to the point, the puck was deflected and found the stick of Jonathan Ziskie. Ziske found Noah Hackett who curled towards the net and ripped a shot to the top right corner of the net for his second goal in as many games.
Ziskie picked up his first assist of the season while it was C. Mylymok's second assist of the season.
After the first period, Niagara led 2-0 as they scored twice on nine shots. Colgate had nine shots in the opening period.
Second Period
Colgate peppered Niagara with shots in the second period as they had 15 shots in the frame.
At the 16:56 mark with the two teams playing 4v4, Colgate scored to cut the Niagara lead to 2-1.
The Raiders had three power plays in the second period but were held off the scoreboard as Niagara held them to just three shots on the man advantage.
Niagara went to the third period leading 2-1 despite shots being 24-11 after two periods.
Third Period
While on the power play at the 2:58 mark of the third period, Niagara set up its power play. Tyler Wallace was below the goal line and passed the puck to Murray on the right half wall. Murray fed a saucer pass across the ice to Luke Mylymok who was cutting to the net of the left side. L. Mylymok took a shot that beat the goalie over his right shoulder for his fourth goal of the season.
Niagara had a 3-1 lead while Murray had his seventh assist of the season and Wallace had his third assist of the season.
Colgate once again responded and made it a one goal game again at the 8:09 mark of the period.
With a five-minute power play expiring the trio of Wallace, Murray, and L. Mylymok struck again on the power play at the 11:38 mark. Murray made a touch pass in the neutral zone as he was checked. L. Mylymok picked up the puck off the wall and sped into the Colgate zone. L. Mylymok skated behind the net and saw Wallace cutting to the front of the net, Wallace got the puck in the slot and made no mistake, and he finished his third goal in as many games.
Colgate pulled their goalie with about three minutes left in regulation and with 31 seconds left the Purple Eagles put the game to rest. L. Mylymok picked up the puck in the Niagara zone and passed it to Glebs Prohorenkovs who went for the empty net. The puck narrowly missed the net, but the puck came hard off the end boards and Shane Ott won the race to the puck and put it into the empty net for his first goal of the season.
Niagara Notes
· Niagara has now won three straight games against Colgate dating back to last season's sweep at Dwyer Arena of the Raiders.
· The Purple Eagles have scored 15 goals in their last three games this season, they are 3-0-0 in their last three.
· Five different Purple Eagles scored against Colgate. 18 players have scored at least one goal for the Purple Eagles this season.
· 11 Purple Eagles has at least one point against Colgate, L. Mylymok and Murray each had three point games.
· Niagara defensemen Josef Mysak skated in his 100th career game on Friday as he had two shots. In his career he has seven goals and 30 assists from the blueline.
· Jarrett Fiske made 34 saves in his fourth win of the season. The 34 saves are his most saves this season and his most since he made 48 saves on Mar. 5, 2023, in his final game as a member of AIC.
· Murray is riding a five-game point streak, he has eight points in the five games. It was Murray's first three-point night in his career.
· L. Mylymok had three points in the win, it was his first three point game of his career. It was his second career multipoint game and his first since Jan. 7, 2023 when the had two points against Bemidji State as a member of Minnesota-Duluth.
· Niagara went 2-3 on the power play and now has scored on the man advantage in seven of its last nine games while having nine goals over that stretch.
· The Purple Eagles blocked 20 shots with Prohorenkovs and Lane Brockhoff each blocking a team high three shots.
Up Next
Niagara and Colgate close out the weekend series on Saturday at 7 PM in Hamilton, N.Y.
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