USCHO: Niagara Preview

[le]

NU defeated Canisius 2-0 in an exhibition game on Saturday in Buffalo.
Gorscak and Gauthier scored for NU with assists from Max Ruoho, Jason Pineo, and Johnny Wescoe.
Sibell, Veltri and Oulette pitched a shutout in goal for NU.
555 in attendance.

https://gogriffs.com/news/2022/10/1/ice ... ntest.aspx

https://atlantichockeyonline.com/boxsco ... th=mhockey

[NewEnglander]

What a secret keeping this game under the radar. Initially I had seen it posted on the Canisius site months ago but Niagara made no mention of it. Later Canisius purged it from their schedule. No mention by Niagara again until after the game was played if they mentioned it at all. I had seen the boxscore that night but one period was unaccounted for. Glad they got one in before the Omaha game. Apparently the NDPT game is an exempt game rather than the single allowed exhibition.

[le]

Yeah, no mention or story on pe.com which baffles many. One never knows with exhibition games as to the line-up and coaches' motivations. However, what impressed me was the shutout posted by the NU netminders.

This week, USCHO.com and CollegeHockeyNews.com are releasing their pre-season previews.

[le]

Niagara Preview up on College Hockey News:

Full AHA Preview:

https://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/ ... y-2022.php

Niagara
Head coach: Jason Lammers
2021-22 Record: 11-22-3 (10-13-3 Atlantic Hockey)

Changes: One of the few inside college hockey that did not lose any players to the transfer portal, the Purple Eagles are excited about some of the new faces that have joined the program. Jonathan Ziskie, Drew Vieten and Ethan Lund are a trio of freshmen that should make an immediate impact.

Strengths: Youth is certainly on the side of the Purple Eagles. To go along with eight incoming true freshmen, Niagara’s roster features eight sophomores. One of those eight sophomores that Niagara is really excited about is Shane Ott, whose eight goals as a freshman tied him for second most and his 18 points fourth most.

Weaknesses: Goalies Chad Veltri and Jake Sibell struggled to keep the puck out of the net last year as the Purple Eagles allowed 3.4 goals per game, second most among Atlantic Hockey schools. Joining the mix is sophomore Ryan Ouellette a transfer from D-III Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The three will enter the season in an open competition for the starting gig.

2022-23 Outlook: It’s hard to see Niagara being very competitive this season, but ultimately it will provide a solid core of underclassmen with plenty of opportunities to gain some much needed experience and build toward growing the program at Niagara.

Preseason Poll: 9th

[phillyeagle]

This shall show my lack of knowledge about college hockey.
When does a player stop progressing with his hockey skills? In all other college sports, the kid will play in a HS program. It seems most hockey players , play in some form of a junior program many times distant from his home. I assume most college hockey players are at least 1-2 years older than their college classmates.
The question that I have is whether a college player is still blooming at 20 or do you really have what you have?

[jhart]

Opener at Omaha Friday Oct 7!

[Millsy]

This shall show my lack of knowledge about college hockey.
When does a player stop progressing with his hockey skills? In all other college sports, the kid will play in a HS program. It seems most hockey players , play in some form of a junior program many times distant from his home. I assume most college hockey players are at least 1-2 years older than their college classmates.
The question that I have is whether a college player is still blooming at 20 or do you really have what you have?

Lots of late bloomers out there on the hockey side. There are several kids, who at 17 or 18, would not have even had a sniff at at D-I roster. But, by the time they have their junior hockey career under their belts and are 20 (or 21 in some cases depending on birthdate), they find themselves competing for D-I programs. And yes, they do keep developing over their college careers, you can just look at the numbers for college kids making it to the NHL. It used to be the Major Junior route was the "way to go" to get to the NHL, but the college route has really closed that gap over the last decade or two.

Heck, it is even getting to the point where you cannot get onto a D-III or higher level Club (ACHA) roster unless you have a year or two of Junior Hockey experience.

[le]

Milly is spot on regarding the junior league influence as a means to a college hockey program. A very small number of kids go directly from HS or prep school into the college ranks unless one is Dave Christian or Brian Leetch. But even when the junior kids hit the college level, there is still a period of adjustment due to the size and speed of D1 hockey.

[le]

Uscho preview :

NIAGARA
HEAD COACH: Jason Lammers (6th season)

LAST SEASON: 11-23-3, 10-13-3 (8th) in Atlantic Hockey

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: F Ryan Naumovski (Sr.,7g-16a-23pts); F Ryan Cox (Gr.,11g-8a-19pts); F Albin Nilsson (Sr., 8g-13a-21pts); G Chad Veltri (Jr., 10-14-2; 2.94 GAA .898 SV%)

KEY LOSSES: D Chris Harpur (3g-14a-17pts); F Walker Sommer (8g-7a-15pts); D Zac Herrmann (5g-10a-15pts)

KEY ADDITIONS: F Glebs Prohorenkovs (Amarillo, NAHL); D Max Ruoho (Minnesota, NAHL); D David Posma (New Jersey, NAHL); F Casey Carreau (Boston College, Hockey East)

2022-23 PREDICTION: The Purple Eagles have mix of young and old, returning their top three scorers (plus Boston College transfer Casey Carreau) as well as starting goaltender Chad Veltri, but also featuring 16 underclassmen on their roster including eight freshmen.

“We’re excited to have some maturity and what comes with it,” said coach Jason Lammers. “We also have a young group. We’re excited about what that mix brings.”

Seniors Ryan Naumovski (23 points last season) and Albin Nilsson (21 points) lead a group of experienced forwards.

Niagara opens with a series at Omaha, but then plays six conference games in October, so the Purple Eagles will need to gel fast with early points on the line.

2022-23 PREDICTED FINISH: Ninth

Full AHA Preview :

https://www.uscho.com/2022/10/06/atlant ... ew-season/

[le]

What pisses me off to no end is that AIC and SHU were perennial bottom dwellers in the AHA. In a few short years both programs have been transformed into two of the best teams in the AHA. When we lived in the "land steady habits" (not anymore), I recall attending NU games at their home venues which were no more than community rinks. Actually, AIC's rink in West Springfield had no freakin heat, and it was nicknamed the "ice box " for good reason. I really do hope NU Hockey improves this season and becomes a force in the AHA. It's time!