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Niagara University Collegiate Hockey
(formerly Club Hockey)
INTRODUCTION
Niagara University Collegiate Hockey has a tradition of competitive hockey
that offers excitement and entertainment. It is for players who probably
will not play at an NCAA Division I level but still want to play competitively
while getting an education. It is somewhat comparable in skill level to
NCAA Division III Most players have played at least at the high school level,
and some have played at higher levels such as Junior. The Collegiate team
is separate from the Varsity Division I team. The Collegiate team is not a
JV team. There will be no player movement from team to team during the
year.
BACKGROUND
Niagara’s Men’s Collegiate Hockey
team is a member of the ACHA (American Collegiate Hockey Association), which is
a national organization with over 150 member teams.
Niagara is in Division I of the ACHA, the highest of the three divisions
(www.achahockey.org). Niagara is
also in a conference, the ECHL (Eastern Collegiate Hockey League) which is one
of 4 conferences in Division I of the ACHA.
The basic guidelines of the ACHA are much like those of NCAA hockey and
the rules themselves are the same.
REQUIREMENTS & FUNDING
Students must maintain a cumulative 2.0 QPA. This is a school league
requirement. The team is funded by money received from the Niagara University
Student Government Association, fund raising activities and player dues. Player
dues are currently around $575. Players are expected to have their own
equipment. Game and practice jerseys, socks, and bags are supplied, as well as
some other items depending on the team's situation each season.
TRYOUTS, PRACTICES
AND GAMES
Dry land
training begins at the start of school, with tryouts following short after
during September at the Niagara University Dwyer Arena located on campus.
Notices are posted around campus and in the dorms. The roster usually
consists of approximately 30 players.
The team plays between 30-35 games per season. As a member of the Eastern
Collegiate Hockey League Niagara faces the following teams in conference play
twice per season: University of Buffalo, University of Rochester, John Carroll,
Syracuse, Robert Morris University, Mercyhurst, Slippery Rock University, and
Binghamton. Non-Conference games against other ACHA Division I teams
and Canadian Colleges fill the remainder of the schedule.
These teams in the past have included Fredonia, Erie Community College,
St.Clair College, Toronto Rattlers, as well as the following nationally ranked
teams played over the past two years: Penn State, Robert Morris College (IL),
Rhode Island, Towson, Drexel, Delaware, Western Michigan and Navy. The
season runs through both semesters with playoffs usually at the end of February,
and the National Tournament at the beginning of March.
QUESTIONS
Team President and Treasurer-
Brandon Butyniec '07 at bbutyniec@mail.niagara.edu
Club Advisor - Father Joe
Hubbert at (716) 286-8456/email address: jhubbert@niagara.edu
University Administrator - John Spanbauer at (716) 286-8055/email address: jks@niagara.edu
CHECK
OUT THE 2005-2006 GAME SCHEDULE!!
To
be added to the team’s email newsletter send a message to NUcollegiatehockey@hotmail.com
Links
http://www.achahockey.org
http://purple.niagara.edu/mensclubhockey
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