WINTHROP, Mass. – For his efforts in Friday’s 1-1 tie against the Penn State Nittany Lions, Niagara freshman goaltender Joe O’Brien was named the Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Week on Tuesday.
Making his first collegiate start, O’Brien stopped 39 of 40 shots to help the Purple Eagles keep pace against the high-flying Nittany Lions offense. The game started with O’Brien making 14 saves in the opening period, and he continued to stop another 11 in the second period as Derian Plouffe scored a late power-play tally to give Niagara a 1-0 lead heading into the third. The shutout bid was spoiled, however, with 3:01 left in regulation by a power-play goal from Penn State’s Dylan Richard. O’Brien made an additional six saves in the overtime stanza as both teams generated plenty of chances to clinch the win.
O’Brien’s performance in the tie marked the fourth time in seven games this season that a Niagara goaltender accumulated 38 saves or more in a game. O’Brien also becomes the third current Purple Eagles goaltender to make at least 39 saves in his first career start; fellow freshman Guillaume Therien stopped 41 shots in a 5-2 loss at St. Lawrence on Oct. 9, and junior Jackson Teichroeb made 39 saves in a 2-1 loss to Clarkson back on Oct. 5, 2013.
The Purple Eagles return to action this weekend with a road matchup at No. 12 Michigan Friday night at 7:35 p.m. along with an exhibition matchup with the USA National Development Team Saturday night at 7:00 p.m.
