The Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League announced this week that they have added Niagara University effective for the start of the 2022-23 season. The move brings the ESCHL to seven teams. With the addition of Niagara each team in the conference will now play one another 2 times throughout the regular season as opposed to the 4 game format that was used in 2021-22. This means each team will play a 12 game conference schedule leaving the opportunity to add several more non-conference opponents. The league has not yet decided on a new playoff format.

Niagara joins the ESCHL from the Northeast Collegiate Hockey League (NECHL) where they spent the last 11 seasons competing against teams such as the University at Buffalo, Canisius College, and Oswego State. The Purple Eagles won the NECHL tournament 5 different times including back to back regular season and playoff championships the past 2 seasons in 2020 and 2022 (2021 season was not played due to the COVID-19). NU was ranked as high as 17th this season in the ACHA national rankings and finished the year ranked at #18. Niagara also qualified for the ACHA National Tournament this past season for the 3rd time in 8 years.

The Purps are led by Coach Tom Mooradian, who was named Head Coach following the 2019-20 season but has been involved on the Niagara staff since 2012-13 as a scout, assistant coach, and associate head coach. Mooridian also played for NU for 4 seasons from 2008-12 - serving as the team’s captain in his final season. The NU bench boss took home NECHL Coach of the Year honors in 2021-22.

Tom and his staff had this to say about joining the ESCHL.

“…We are very excited to compete in a new conference with some of the most highly touted ACHA M1 programs along the east-coast. We are also beyond thankful to the members of the ESCHL - for their persistence in pursuing Niagara University and the unwavering amount of support that they've shown us through a difficult decision-making process. We are happy to toss some Purple into the fold."

(Taken from Niagara’s website. For full story click here)

Niagara was not short on offensive firepower last season pacing the NECHL with 76 goals in 15 conference games. NU also rostered the nation’s leading scorer last season. Forward, David Christopher, notched 75 points (31-44-75) in 33 games during his 2021-22 campaign. Christopher will be a senior next season.

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