Niagara Purple Eagles men's ice hockey
Encyclopedia
The Niagara Purple Eagles men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) 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
.
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 (Air Force
and Army
) and three former Division II teams (Alabama–Huntsville, Bemidji State
and Findlay
).
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. 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
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents Niagara University
Niagara University
Niagara University is a Catholic university in the Vincentian tradition, located in the Town of Lewiston in Niagara County, New York. Originally founded by the Congregation of the Mission in 1856 as Our Lady of Angels Seminary, it became Niagara University in 1883. The University is still run by...
. The Purple Eagles are a member of Atlantic Hockey
Atlantic Hockey
The Atlantic Hockey Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey conference which operates primarily in the northeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey–only conference. Unlike several other college athletic conferences, Atlantic Hockey has no women's...
. They play at the Dwyer Arena
Dwyer Arena
Dwyer Arena, officially named Robert and Concetta Dwyer Arena, is a 2,100-seat hockey rink in Niagara University's campus ....
in Lewiston, New York
Lewiston (town), New York
Lewiston is a town in Niagara County, New York United States. The population was 16,262 at the 2010 census. The town and its contained village are named after Morgan Lewis, a governor of New York....
.
History
After several years of playing at the club level, the team turned varsityVarsity team
In the United States and Canada, varsity sports teams are the principal athletic teams representing a college, university, high school or other secondary school. Such teams compete against the principal athletic teams at other colleges/universities, or in the case of secondary schools, against...
in the 1996–97 season, which they played as independent.
In 1999 they became charter members of the College Hockey America
College Hockey America
College Hockey America is a women's college ice hockey conference in the United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference. The conference is currently made up of four women's teams in New York and Pennsylvania....
, joining two other independent teams (Air Force
Air Force Falcons men's ice hockey
The Air Force Falcons men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents the United States Air Force Academy. The Falcons are a member of Atlantic Hockey. They play at the Cadet Ice Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado.-...
and Army
Army Black Knights
Army Black Knights is the name of the athletics teams of the United States Military Academy. They participate in NCAA Division I-A as a non-football member of the Patriot League, a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision independent school, and a member of Atlantic Hockey, the Collegiate Sprint...
) and three former Division II teams (Alabama–Huntsville, Bemidji State
Bemidji State Beavers men's ice hockey
The Bemidji State Beavers men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey and a member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The Beavers represent Bemidji State University and play at the Bemidji Regional Events Center in Bemidji, Minnesota...
and Findlay
University of Findlay
The University of Findlay is a private university located in the city of Findlay in Hancock County, Ohio, United States. It was affiliated with the Churches of God, General Conference, and was founded in 1882 by the city of Findlay and the Churches of God, General Conference. Findlay offers more...
).
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. The purple eagles upset the University of New Hampshire
New Hampshire Wildcats men's ice hockey
The New Hampshire Wildcats men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents the University of New Hampshire. The Wildcats are a member of Hockey East...
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
Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey
The Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team that represents the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Earning varsity status in 1922, the program is competing in its 90th season...
.
On January 29, 2009, Niagara University announced that the team was moving to Atlantic Hockey
Atlantic Hockey
The Atlantic Hockey Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey conference which operates primarily in the northeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey–only conference. Unlike several other college athletic conferences, Atlantic Hockey has no women's...
beginning in the 2010-11 season