NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara Purple Eagles hockey team has finalized its roster for the 2016-17 season with four additions to the incoming freshman class. Forwards Nicolas Carrier, Joey Molinaro, and Tyler Tomberlin and defenseman Tyler Hayes complete the nine-member hockey Class of 2020.
“I am very excited to welcome the final members of this incoming class to the Niagara University hockey family,” head coach David Burkholder said. “With these four players, we have completed a very strong class of nine players joining us this season, and we expect all of them to compete for key roles on this team. They will enhance our style of play as we aim for the Atlantic Hockey championship and NCAA Tournament in the year ahead.”
Nicolas Carrier ¦ Forward ¦ 5-foot-8 ¦ 175 lbs. ¦ Left ¦ Delson, QC ¦ Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL)
In the 2015-16 season with the Carleton Place Canadians, Carrier led all Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) skaters with 53 assists, ranking eighth in total scoring with 63 points (10+53) in 62 games. He also tied for second in the league with 18 power-play assists. Carrier scored six points in 16 playoff games as Carleton Place won the CCHL title and Fred Page Cup, earning a berth in Canada’s Jr. ‘A’ championship, the RBC Cup.
Prior to last season, Carrier played one season in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) with the Nanaimo Clippers. Carrier tallied 47 points (21+26) in 57 regular-season games with Nanaimo, and he followed that up with 10 points (5+5) in 23 playoff games as the Clippers advanced to the 2015 BCHL Championship.
Tyler Hayes ¦ Defense ¦ 5-foot-11 ¦ 175 lbs. ¦ Right ¦ Brighton, MI ¦ Topeka RoadRunners (NAHL)
Hayes played the last two seasons in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) with the Topeka RoadRunners, totaling seven goals and 33 assists for 40 points in 108 appearances. In 2015-16, Hayes tied for 10th among all NAHL defensemen with 30 points (5+25) in 57 games played while serving as an alternate captain for the RoadRunners.
Joey Molinaro ¦ Forward ¦ 6-foot ¦ 185 lbs. ¦ Left ¦ Mississauga, ON ¦ Amarillo Bulls (NAHL)
A former USHL draft pick, Molinaro spent the 2015-16 season with the Amarillo Bulls of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). The Mississauga, Ontario native led the Bulls in scoring last season, accumulating 45 points (16+29) in 56 games.
Prior to Amarillo, Molinaro played two seasons in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) with the St. Michael’s Buzzers and Mississauga Chargers. In 97 OJHL games, Molinaro scored 29 goals and 53 assists for 82 points.
Tyler Tomberlin ¦ Forward ¦ 5-foot-11 ¦ 185 lbs. ¦ Left ¦ Andover, MN ¦ Fairbanks Ice Dogs (NAHL)
Last season with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), Tomberlin ranked sixth among all NAHL skaters with 63 points (17+46) in 59 games. He also led NAHL skaters with a plus-34 rating. During the postseason, Tomberlin scored two goals and added six assists in 12 games, helping the Ice Dogs claim the Robertson Cup as NAHL champions.
Tomberlin split the 2014-15 season between the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League (USHL) and Fairbanks, totaling four goals and seven assists in 37 games. Tomberlin played three seasons at Andover High School in Minnesota from 2011 to 2014.
Carrier, Molinaro, and Tomberlin join Derek Brown, Kris Spriggs, and Ben Sokay up front. Hayes will be joined on the blue line by fellow freshmen Caleb Boman and Noah Delmas.
Niagara begins the 2016-17 on home ice, hosting the Holy Cross Crusaders at Dwyer Arena at 7:05 p.m. on both Friday, Oct. 7 and Saturday, Oct. 8.
