JAN. 9, 2004

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. - [stats] The Niagara Purple Eagles scored four first-period goals and cruised to a 6-3 men’s ice hockey victory tonight over Bemidji State at the Von Braun Center. The loss for Bemidji State allowed the Purple Eagles to draw even for first place in College Hockey America; BSU is 7-2-0 for 14 points, and Niagara is a league-record 7-0-0 for 14 points. The Beavers remain winless (0-8-1) all-time against Niagara at the Von Braun Center.

NIagara picked up the game’s first goal at 5:11 of the first period, as Hannu Karru scored his first goal of the season on a power-play opportunity to stake the Eagles to a 1-0 lead. The Beavers needed just 42 seconds to respond, however, as Riley Riddell scored his seventh goal of the season with assists from Ryan Huddy and John Haider to draw the game even at a goal apiece.

From there, however, the game was all Niagara. The Purple Eagles regained the lead at 8:02 of the second, again scoring on a power-play goal this time with the eighth goal of the season from Chris Welch. Aaron Clarke scored his third goal of the season at 11:10, beating BSU goaltender Grady Hunt through the five hole to give the Eagles a 3-1 cushion.

Hunt was lifted after Clarke’s goal, giving him three goals allowed against just five saves in 11:10 of game time. It is Hunt’s shortest start of the season and the second-shortest of his career. Hunt’s only shorter appearance in a start came during his freshman season, when he lasted just 5:41 and allowed three goals on the only three shots he faced against Findlay on Nov. 17, 2000. Hunt took the loss and fell to 8-5-0 on the season, seeing his two-game winning streak come to an end.

BSU would pull within 4-2 on Rob Sirianni’s first goal of the season at 7:32 of the second period, but Niagara scored to go ahead 5-2 with just 24 seconds to play in the second. Sirianni again drew the Beavers within a pair at 13:32 of the third, but BSU could get no closer. Barret Ehgoetz wrapped up the game’s scoring with an empty-net goal with three seconds to play in regulation.

Layne Sedevie played 46:51 in net in relief of Hunt. He allowed two goals on 28 shots faced to give BSU a chance to claw back into the game. The Beavers played with an empty net for most of the game’s final two minutes, but allowed Eghoetz’s empty-net goal for the game’s final 6-3 margin.

Jeff VanNynatten earned the win for the Purple Eagles. He saved 19 of 22 shots faced to improve to 8-4-2 on the year.

Niagara went 3-for-6 on the power-play, while the Beavers had just a single power-play opportunity, which failed. Niagara’s three power-play goals are season high by a BSU opponent and tied for fifth-most allowed in a game in BSU’s Division I era. BSU’s single power-play opportunity tied five other contests for second-fewest power-play opportunities in BSU’s Division I era.

The loss overshadowed a strong effort by freshman wing Sirianni, who scored his first two collegiate goals on just three shots. Sirianni was +2 for the night, one of just two BSU players with a positive rating. Sirianni joins Luke Erickson as the only BSU freshmen to record multi-goal games this season.

Niagara’s four goals against BSU in the first period were the most goals allowed by the Beavers this season, and most in a single period since allowing four to Minnesota Duluth in the third period on Dec. 7, 2002.

NIagara’s line of Joe Tallari, Justin Cross and Hannu Karru combined for nine of Niagara’s 16 points. Tallari tallied 2-1=3 points, Karru had a goal and two assists and Cross had three assists.

With tonight’s loss, Bemidji State falls to 10-7-2 on the season, 7-2-0 in College Hockey America. Niagara improves to 11-8-2 and remains unbeaten in the CHA at 7-0-0. Niagara’s 7-0-0 record is the best seven-game start in CHA history. The loss allowed Niagara to pull even with the Beavers atop the CHA standings; both teams now have 14 points. The Beavers and Purple Eagles will wrap up their two-game series tomorrow night at the Von Braun Center. Opening face-off is slated for 7:05 p.m. Eastern time.

NOTES: Bemidji State has allowed 13 total goals in Game 1 of its last two road series (six tonight; seven at Ala.-Huntsville on Dec. 11)... Riley Riddell’s first-period goal extended his scoring streak to three games... Ryan Huddy now has an assist in three consecutive games; his helper on Riddell’s goal was his 20th career assist... Bill Methven scored his 30th career point with an assist on Sirianni’s first goal... Luke Erickson scored his 15th career point with an assist on Sirianni’s second goal.

--bsu--