Niagara Purple Eagles men's ice hockey


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

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 the College Hockey America, joining two other independent teams and three former Division II teams.
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 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 Atlantic Hockey beginning in the 2010-11 season.
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.

Season-by-season results

Head Coaches

As of the completion of 2019–20 season

NCAA Tournament appearances

Statistical Leaders

Career points leaders

PlayerYearsGPGAPtsPIM
2001–20051417195166142
1996–2000126657714280
1996–20001265587142112
2006–201014638103141103
2005–20091397859137226
1996–2000126676613346
2003–20071454389132142
1996–2000124606912958
2004–20081465178129108
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
2010–201345258827116936.9302.16
2009–2012613262291881323.9222.43
1996–2000113643312162.46
2005–20099853114732112318.9212.61
2017–Present814826284292205.9082.74

Statistics current through the start of the 2020–21 season.

Roster

As of September 3, 2019.

Awards and honors

[NCAA]

All-Americans

AHCA Second Team All-Americans

Individual Awards

Player of the Year
Rookie of the Year
Most Valuable Player in Tournament
Coach of the Year
Three-Star Player of the Year
Student-Athlete of the Year
First Team All-CHA
Second Team All-CHA
All-CHA Rookie Team

Individual Awards

Player of the Year
Rookie of the Year
Regular Season Goaltending Award
Regular Season Scoring Trophy
Coach of the Year
Most Valuable Player in Tournament
First Team All-Atlantic Hockey
Second Team All-Atlantic Hockey
Third Team All-Atlantic Hockey
Atlantic Hockey All-Rookie Team
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.
PlayerPositionTeamYearsStanley Cup|
Sean BentivoglioLeft WingNYI2008–20090
Matt RyanCenterLAK2005–20060