With last week’s sweep at the hands of Bemidji State in the final two games at the John S. Glas Fieldhouse, Niagara has assured itself of the fewest wins in one season since the inception of the program in 1996-97.
The Purple Eagles won 14 games when just a fledging second year team in the process of turning into a Division I program in 1997-98 and duplicated that win total in 2000-2001 during current UMass-Lowell head coach Blaise McDonald’s final season in western New York.
Only once before in the history of the College Hockey America conference have the Purps finished below .500 in conference play (2001-02 when they were 8-10-1).
With just two conference wins to this point and five games remaining in the regular season, the Purps will not only finish below .500 for the second time, but also will finish with the fewest conference victories in their history even should they find their rhythm and sweep the schedule.
But even with all of those negatives, they still enter their rare three-game weekend against Alabama-Huntsville (the Sunday game a reschedule of the Feb. 13 game due to the campus shooting in Huntsville) with their fate in their own hands and not officially eliminated from the race for second place.
Should the Purps win out, they would leapfrog both third place Alabama-Huntsville and Robert Morris into second place and be the home team for the semi-finals of the CHA playoffs.
“It is disappointing,” Burkholder said to the Niagara Gazette two weeks ago of his club’s struggles against CHA teams. “It’s a good league. It is certainly not where we hoped or we anticipated where we would be.”
While senior forward Egor Mironov returned for two games from a shoulder injury before missing the second game in last weekend’s Bemidji State series, the club has been without senior defenseman Ryan Annesley all but seven games this season—also with a shoulder problem.
Both games last weekend featured seven freshmen skaters in the lineup including three on defense. Saturday they added freshman goaltender Andrew Hare to make eight.
But it’s not like the Purple Eagles are getting blown out either. Six of their last seven conference games have been one goal losses or a tie. And their two conference wins have come against nationally-ranked Bemidji State at home and at second place Robert Morris (plus two ties against the Colonials).
The CHA watched last place Alabama-Huntsville get hot at the right time and advance to the NCAA tournament three seasons ago with a semi-final win against Niagara part of the process. And they did it in Des Moines instead of their home ice. The Purple Eagles are hoping to replicate the same in three weeks.
FRIES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BAG
• Bemidji State bid farewell to the John S. Glas Fieldhouse last weekend after posting a 502-145-41 overall record. On hand was Elfrida Glas, widow of the building’s namesake with a ceremonial puck drop by legendary head coach R.H. “Bob” Peters.
• Beavers forward Matt Read became the seventh player in Bemidji State history to reach the 100-point mark with a goal Friday against Niagara.
• Every fan in attendance on Friday at Dwyer Arena for the Niagara-Alabama-Huntsville series opener will receive a blue and white pin to wear to show support for UAH students, faculty and staff following the campus shooting two weeks ago.
• Alabama-Huntsville freshman defenseman Curtis deBruyn scored his first collegiate goal in the Chargers win over Robert Morris Friday.
• Robert Morris enjoys their first week off since Christmas this coming Friday and Saturday.
