Q&A With AHA Commissioner Bob DeGregorio/ New League Nov. 1st?

[NewEnglander]

Expectations are very low for the Men's winter sports programs. Along with the Basketball program being selected 11th and last in a recent poll the coaches have now selected Niagara only above Holy Cross in the Hockey coaches' poll. I believe those will both be proven to be wrong but their track records in those sports are holding voters back. In a way it may light a fire to elevate them as they strive to show the voters wrong. Niagara fans really need to see drastic improvement starting now.

[le]

Yikes! The only way to go is up. I’m somewhat surprised NU is picked so low as the Purps return many lettermen, transfers and decent goaltending. Order of finish : AIC , Sacred Heart, Air Force, RIT, Canisius , Army etc. Not just a coincidence , the top 6 teams all have legit D1 venues.

Story :

https://atlantichockeyonline.com/news/2 ... -poll.aspx

[MICKEY]

It’s been about ten years since we have had much to get excited about either on the court or the ice. It would be great to have a positive surprise!

[le]

Well Mick, some good news. Niagara senior Ryan Naumovski received votes in the balloting for both AHA First-Team and POY... My "amateur hour opinion" would suggest NU's four transfers from BC, Alaska Anchorage, Babson College and UAH should improve the squad. Just me.

[NewEnglander]

The full poll:
2022-23 Atlantic Hockey Preseason Coaches Poll
1. AIC (8) 88
2. Sacred Heart (2) 76
3. Air Force 68
4. RIT 66
5. Canisius 62
6. Army West Point 56
7. Mercyhurst 37
8. Bentley 33
9. Niagara 31
10. Holy Cross 23

Based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2 scale.

[le]

Anyways, these four transfers along with last years transfers Albin Nillson (PC) and Jack Deboer (BU) should really bolster the 2022 2023 squad:

1. F -Casey Carreau- BC
2. F- Jack Egan- Babson College
3. F- Oliver Gauthier- Alaska Anchorage
4. D- Lucas Bahn - Alabama-Huntsville

Other notables:

NU returns two solid goaltenders in Chad Veltri and Jack Sibell.

Shane Ott was named to the AHA All-Rookie Team at the end of of last season.

Niagara senior Ryan Naumovski received votes in the balloting for both AHA First-Team and POY.

Frosh David Posma is the younger brother of Mike Posma who played at Boston College last year.

Frosh Glebbs Prohorenkovs is a 6-foot-3 center from Latviao has been compared to one big-name former player in Chicago Blackhawks captain and three-time Stanley Cup champion Jonathan Toews. He scored 12 goals and notched 22 assists in 42 games played this season for the Amarillo Wranglers (NAHL).

Signing story: Frosh Drew Vieten totaled 13 goals for 29 points through 30 games this season as a member of the NAHL's Wichita Falls Warriors. He is an impact player in the offensive zone, especially on the power play, leading the Warriors with six goals on the man-advantage to date.

[NewEnglander]

Another notable is Junior Defenseman Josef Mysak who as a freshman was on the AHC all rookie team as well. His younger brother was a star on the Czech Republic junior team and was a 2nd round draft pick of Montreal. I think Josef will develop into a star this year.

[le]

I agree NE, NU Hockey needs to demonstrate some improvement this season.

Junior Defenseman Josef Mysak is certainly a notable as well !

Other returning notables include 5th year forward Ryan Cox who chipped in 11 goals, 20 points.

Soph's Lars Rodne and Carter Randklev showed promise netting six goals apiece.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anyways, these four transfers along with last years transfers Albin Nillson (PC) and Jack Deboer (BU) should really bolster the 2022 squad:

1. F -Casey Carreau- BC
2. F- Jack Egan- Babson College
3. F- Oliver Gauthier- Alaska Anchorage
4. D- Lucas Bahn - Alabama-Huntsville

Other notables:

NU returns two solid goaltenders in Chad Veltri and Jack Sibell.

Shane Ott was named to the AHA All-Rookie Team at the end of of last season.

Niagara senior Ryan Naumovski received votes in the balloting for both AHA First-Team and POY.

Frosh David Posma is the younger brother of Mike Posma who played at Boston College last year.

Frosh Glebbs Prohorenkovs is a 6-foot-3 center from Latviao has been compared to one big-name former player in Chicago Blackhawks captain and three-time Stanley Cup champion Jonathan Toews. He scored 12 goals and notched 22 assists in 42 games played this season for the Amarillo Wranglers (NAHL).

Signing story: Frosh Drew Vieten totaled 13 goals for 29 points through 30 games this season as a member of the NAHL's Wichita Falls Warriors. He is an impact player in the offensive zone, especially on the power play, leading the Warriors with six goals on the man-advantage to date.

[NewEnglander]

They don't make things easy for themselves by bypassing the first week exhibition game. Their exhibition game is midseason vs the National DPT so they go into their first game on the road against Omaha without any competition game in hand. Omaha on the other hand hosts Minnesota State in an exhibition next week. MSU was the national runner-up last year and again are a top 5 ranked team. Omaha will be well tested for their game with Niagara.

[le]

One would think NU would have arranged for an exhibition against a college team from Canada. The have in the past. York College ?

NE, what is your take on the state of NU's current roster? Do you think the new skaters will make a difference this season, possibly moving up in the standings ? I think the 2022-2023 coaches' poll reflects Niagara's mediocre record the last several years. What pisses me off to no end is that we were light years ahead of AIC, Sacred Heart, Army ,RIT and even the Griff's years ago and now we at the bottom looking up. We were 11-23-3 last season with an average home attendance of 668.