Niagara Purple Eagles men's ice hockey

Last updated

Niagara Purple Eagles men's ice hockey
Hockey current event.svg Current season
Initials niagara univ.svg
University Niagara University
Conference AHA
Head coach Jason Lammers
9th season, 113–145–27 (.444)
Assistant coaches
  • Mark Phalon
  • Nate Skidmore
Arena Dwyer Arena
Lewiston, New York
ColorsPurple and white [1]
   
NCAA tournament appearances
2000, 2004, 2008, 2013
Conference tournament champions
ECAC West: 1998
CHA: 2000, 2004, 2008
Conference regular season champions
ECAC West: 1998
CHA: 2000, 2006, 2007
AHA: 2013

The Niagara Purple Eagles men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents Niagara University. The Purple Eagles are members of Atlantic Hockey America. They play at the Dwyer Arena in Lewiston, New York. [2]

Contents

History

After several years of playing at the club level, the team turned varsity in the 1996–97 season, which they played as independent.

In 1999 they became charter members of College Hockey America (CHA), joining two other independent teams (Air Force and Army) and three former Division II teams (Alabama–Huntsville, Bemidji State and Findlay).

Niagara went undefeated in conference play that season, 1999–00, winning the conference tournament and gaining an at-large invitation to the NCAA tournament, as the conference did not gain an automatic bid until the 2003 tournament. Starting goaltender Greg Gardner set a single-season NCAA record for shutouts with 12 as Niagara posted its first (and only as of 2019) 30-win campaign. The Purple Eagles upset the University of New Hampshire to advance to the Elite Eight, where they lost to North Dakota. North Dakota went on to win that national championship.

Niagara also won the College Hockey America Championship in 2004 and 2008, appearing in the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship again those years. In 2004 they lost against Boston College and in 2008 against Michigan.

On January 29, 2009, Niagara University announced that the team was moving to the Atlantic Hockey Association beginning in the 2010-11 season, following the closure of CHA's men's division. CHA would continue to operate as a women-only conference for the next 14 years.

On October 14, 2010, it was announced that Jay McKee would serve as a volunteer assistant coach for Niagara Purple Eagles men's ice hockey, while not ruling out a return to the NHL.

On December 14, 2013 the Purple Eagles faced off against the RIT Tigers in an outdoor hockey game known as Frozen Frontier tying 2-2.

Shortly after the 2023–24 season, the Atlantic Hockey Association and CHA, which had shared a commissioner and conference staff since 2010, merged under the banner of Atlantic Hockey America. [3]

The Niagara men's ice hockey team plays against Air Force in 2019 Air Force Academy Men's Hockey vs Niagara University (5188220).jpg
The Niagara men's ice hockey team plays against Air Force in 2019

Season-by-season results

Source: [4]

Head coaches

As of the completion of 2024–25 season

TenureCoachYearsRecordPct.
1996–2001 Blaise MacDonald 591–58–17.599
2001–2017 Dave Burkholder 16247–279–68.473
2017–Present Jason Lammers 8113–145–27.444
Totals3 coaches29 seasons451–482–112.485

NCAA tournament appearances

YearLocationOpponentResult
2000 Target Center New Hampshire W 4-1
North Dakota L 1-4
2004 Verizon Wireless Arena Boston College L 2-5
2008 Times Union Center Michigan L 1-5
2013 Van Andel Arena North Dakota L 1-2

Statistical leaders

Source: [5]

Career points leaders

PlayerYearsGPGAPtsPIM
Barret Ehgoetz 2001–20051417195166142
Mikko Sivonen 1996–2000126657714280
Michael Isherwood 1996–20001265587142112
Chris Moran 2006–201014638103141103
Ted Cook 2005–20091397859137226
Peter DeSantis 1996–2000126676613346
Sean Bentivoglio 2003–20071454389132142
Kyle Martin 1996–2000124606912958
Matt Caruana 2004–20081465178129108
Joe Tallari 2000–20041446064124111

Career goaltending leaders

GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

minimum 30 games played

PlayerYearsGPMinWLTGASOSV%GAA
Carsen Chubak 2010–201345258827116936.9302.16
Chris Noonan 2009–2012613262291881323.9222.43
Greg Gardner 1996–2000113663864331227016.9072.44
Juliano Pagliero 2005–20099853114732112318.9212.61
Chad Veltri 2019–2023985691414692536.9102.67

Statistics current through the end of the 2023–24 season.

Roster

As of August 30, 2025. [6]

No. Nat.PlayerClassPosHeightWeightDoBHometownPrevious teamNHL rights
1 Flag of Latvia.svg Deivs RolovsSophomore G 6' 2" (1.88 m)183 lb (83 kg)2004-05-08 Riga, Latvia Lone Star Brahmas  ( NAHL )—
2 Flag of the United States.svg Jonathan ZiskieSenior F 6' 3" (1.91 m)187 lb (85 kg)2001-03-19 Macomb, Michigan Bismarck Bobcats  ( NAHL )—
3 Flag of the United States.svg Mitchell BeckerSenior D 6' 3" (1.91 m)220 lb (100 kg)2001-05-24 Rogers, Minnesota Massachusetts Lowell  ( HEA )—
4 Flag of Latvia.svg Gļebs ProhorenkovsSenior F 6' 2" (1.88 m)187 lb (85 kg)2001-11-12 Riga, Latvia Amarillo Wranglers  ( NAHL )—
8 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Cameron EkeFreshman D 6' 2" (1.88 m)198 lb (90 kg)2005-04-23 St. Catharines, Ontario Collingwood Blues  ( OJHL )—
9 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Nathan OickleSophomore D 5' 10" (1.78 m)165 lb (75 kg)2003-02-05 Peterborough, Ontario Surrey Eagles  ( BCHL )—
10 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Hunter WallaceSophomore F 5' 7" (1.7 m)165 lb (75 kg)2003-05-02 Oak Lake, Manitoba Merrimack  ( HEA )—
12 Flag of the United States.svg Ross RolosonJunior D 5' 11" (1.8 m)175 lb (79 kg)2003-01-30 Woodbury, Minnesota Lake Superior State  ( CCHA )—
13 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Grayson DietrichSenior F 6' 2" (1.88 m)190 lb (86 kg)2001-12-18 Calgary, Alberta American International  ( AHA )—
14 Flag of Latvia.svg Marshall FinnieFreshman F 6' 2" (1.88 m)194 lb (88 kg)2004-01-02 Lethbridge, Alberta Edmonton Oil Kings  ( WHL )—
15 Flag of Russia.svg Maxim MuranovFreshman F 6' 2" (1.88 m)185 lb (84 kg)2004-06-02 Moskva, Russia Vancouver Giants  ( WHL )—
16 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Andy ReistSophomore F 6' 0" (1.83 m)174 lb (79 kg)2004-05-15 Waterloo, Ontario Cobourg Cougars  ( OJHL )—
18 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Spencer YoungSophomore F 6' 0" (1.83 m)174 lb (79 kg)2003-08-25 Elmira, Ontario Collingwood Blues  ( OJHL )—
19 Flag of the United States.svg Drew VietenJunior F 6' 1" (1.85 m)190 lb (86 kg)2001-01-10 Calabasas, California Wichita Falls Warriors  ( NAHL )—
20 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Tyson ZimmerFreshman F 6' 0" (1.83 m)192 lb (87 kg)2004-09-05 Russell, Manitoba Vernon Vipers  ( BCHL )—
21 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Dallon MelinJunior F 6' 4" (1.93 m)220 lb (100 kg)2002-03-26 Camrose, Alberta Calgary  ( CWUAA )—
22 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Lane BrockhoffGraduate D 6' 1" (1.85 m)207 lb (94 kg)2000-04-11 Edberg, Alberta Camrose Kodiaks  ( AJHL )—
24 Flag of the United States.svg Nicholas NiemoSenior F 5' 9" (1.75 m)165 lb (75 kg)2001-03-28 Middlebury, Vermont Maine  ( HEA )—
25 Flag of the United States.svg Declan McDonnellJunior F 5' 10" (1.78 m)190 lb (86 kg)2002-02-25 Buffalo, New York Saint Mary's  ( AUS ) TBL , 217th overall  2020
26 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jacob MailletSophomore F 6' 1" (1.85 m)205 lb (93 kg)2003-03-13 Dundas, Ontario St. Francis Xavier  ( AUS )—
27 Flag of Japan.svg Ray MurakamiSophomore D 6' 0" (1.83 m)181 lb (82 kg)2003-04-03 Tomakomai, Japan Lone Star Brahmas  ( NAHL )—
28 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ethan LundSenior D 5' 10" (1.78 m)185 lb (84 kg)2001-03-16 Calgary, Alberta Brooks Bandits  ( AJHL )—
30 Flag of the United States.svg Mitchell DayJunior G 5' 10" (1.78 m)175 lb (79 kg)2002-01-18 St. Louis, Missouri North Iowa Bulls  ( NAHL )—
31 Flag of the United States.svg Thomas AndersonFreshman G 6' 3" (1.91 m)201 lb (91 kg)2004-10-06 Stillwater, Minnesota Bismarck Bobcats  ( NAHL )—
34 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Noah HackettSenior F 6' 1" (1.85 m)174 lb (79 kg)2001-12-11 Ponoka, Alberta Brooks Bandits  ( AJHL )—

Awards and honors

NCAA

All-Americans

AHCA Second Team All-Americans

CHA

Individual awards

All-Conference teams

First Team All-CHA

Second Team All-CHA

All-CHA Rookie Team

Atlantic Hockey

Individual awards

All-Conference teams

First Team All-Atlantic Hockey

Second Team All-Atlantic Hockey

  • 2011–12: Chris Noonan, G
  • 2012–13: Dan Weiss, D

Third Team All-Atlantic Hockey

Atlantic Hockey All-Rookie Team

Niagara Purple Eagles Hall of Fame

The following is a list of people associated with the men's ice hockey program who were elected into the Niagara Purple Eagles Hall of Fame (induction date in parentheses). [7]

Purple Eagles in the NHL

As of July 1, 2025. [8]

PlayerPositionTeam(s)YearsGames Stanley Cups
Sean Bentivoglio Left Wing NYI 2008–200910
Matt Ryan Center LAK 2005–2006120

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Niagara University Athletic Department Quick Facts". August 2, 2011. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Niagara Purple Eagles Men's Ice Hockey". U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Atlantic Hockey and College Hockey America Join to Form Atlantic Hockey America" (Press release). Atlantic Hockey America. April 30, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Niagara Men's Hockey Team History". USCHO.com. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Niagara Statistics". Elite Prospects. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  6. ↑ "2025-26 Men's Ice Hockey Roster". Niagara Purple Eagles. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Purple Eagles Hall of Fame". Niagara Purple Eagles. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Alumni report for Niagara University". Hockey DB. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
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