Staff Report
Adam Avramenko made 38 saves to earn his second career shutout as the Niagara men’s hockey team got to .500 in conference play Wednesday with a 5-0 win at Robert Morris.
The Purple Eagles (2-8-2, 1-1-1 College Hockey America) are now unbeaten in their last three starts.
“From start to finish, we rolled four lines and really got after it on the forecheck,” coach Dave Burkholder said. “We spent a lot of time at the top of their crease and guys got rewarded because of it.
“... Unfortunately, with the schedule, we win one last Wednesday, then have the weekend off. Now we win, and have the weekend off again. The guys are starving to be rewarded for their hard work.”
Avramenko, a junior who backed up Juliano Pagliero the past two seasons, got his first shutout in the same building last February.
“It feels real good to get the shutout, but I really have to give credit to my defensemen,” he said. “The defense cleared out the bad bounces and allowed me to see the puck well.
Burkholder said, “You can tell on our bench when Avy is in control of the game, it takes a lot of pressure off of our guys.”
Chris Moran opened the scoring in the first period on an assist from Ryan Olidis. Both players extended their points streaks to six games.
Olidis scored a shorthanded goal early in the second, and Moran set up Brent Vandenberg later in the period to make it 3-0.
David Ross scored on a rebound in the third and Sam Goodwin added the final goal.
