Published: November 04, 2009 10:18 pm      

INSIDE COLLEGE HOCKEY: League change hasn’t affected Niagara's recruiting

The College Hockey America swan song is under way, even if the Niagara men’s hockey team has yet to open league play.

The Purple Eagles open their final season before jumping to Atlantic Hockey on Nov. 13 when Robert Morris comes to Dwyer Arena for the first of a home-and-home set with the Colonials.

Those wondering if recruiting has been altered since Niagara is dropping to a league that offers fewer scholarships should be relieved to hear coach Dave Burkholder.

“We haven’t seen a thing change,” he said.

If the players in his freshman class are any indication, the blueline should be set for next season’s Atlantic Hockey debut. Senior captain Ryan Annesley is nearing a return after a lingering upper-body injury, but a solid group of newcomers consisting of C.J. Chartrain, Tyler Matthews, Jason Beattie and Dan Weiss have filled in admirably, even bumping returning players Derek Foam and Robert Martini on occasion.

Now, Burkholder said he and assistant coaches Greg Gardner and Tim Madsen are targeting offensive players, primarily in the United States Hockey League and Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League, where most of the program’s top recruits have hailed.

“Traditionally, the guys put up numbers in those leagues see it translate over to our league,” Burkholder said.

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ALUMNI UPDATE: When the trio of Juliano Pagliero, Vince Rocco and Dan Sullivan decided to sign contracts in the Italian Serie A circuit, each new the experience would be considerably different than anything they’d been through. Still, as the starting goalie for Alleghe, even Pagliero was a little taken by surprise during a pre-game ritual on the road at Brunico. The hosts’ mascot is a wolf, and before the opening faceoff the mascot came into Pagliero’s crease and lifted its leg. The crowd cheered heartily. “It’s in the German part of Italy,” Pagliero said by e-mail, keeping both our cell phone bills reasonable. “So I had no idea what the guy on the intercom was saying while it happened.” As for the crowds in scenic Alleghe, which is nestled in the Alps? “The fans are great,” Pagliero said. “And from what I hear they pick up during ski season.” ... Pagliero’s former teammate, Matt Caruana, has been hot in the ECHL with the Gwinnett Gladiators just outside Atlanta. Caruana has five goals and seven points in the team’s first seven games. ... Former NU defenseman Scott Langdon didn’t score one time in 60 games last year with the ECHL’s Reading Royals, but he’s already notched his first goal this year, as he scored against Elmira on Oct. 17. Langdon is tied for fourth on the Royals in scoring with four points, while he leads the team with 24 penalty minutes.