Published: July 11, 2007 12:06 am            

COLLEGE HOCKEY: NU shows off Dwyer renovations to select fans

LEWISTON — We interrupt our regularly scheduled disenchantment with local hockey to report that about two dozen Niagara Purple Eagles fans seem genuinely enthused with the program’s off-season progress.

Niagara invited season-ticket holders to campus Tuesday for a tour of Dwyer Arena, which is currently undergoing a $1 million renovation, and to hopefully convince them to upgrade to seats in the new premium club section.

The 93 premium club seats — which include meal service, climate control, access to a cash bar, a game program and printed statistics at intermissions — will initially be offered only for season-ticket purchase, at a price more than four times as much as general admission season tickets.

But rather than scoff at the sales pitch, the diehards at Dwyer showed appreciation for the access granted by Niagara’s athletics department.

“Everybody had a suggestion,” Athletics Director Ed McLaughlin said. “That’s a good thing. We have a dedicated group of fans that came out on a hot day to see the improvements that we’ve made.”

In addition to the premium club section, Dwyer will have new chair-back seating behind the west goal and boards featuring seamless glass, spring-loaded to lessen the impact when players collide into them.

Yet, McLaughlin said improving the fan experience was the chief priority of this renovation project. Once Dwyer is completed, the Purple Eagles will turn their attention to announced plans to install a synthetic-turf field and stadium lights for the soccer and lacrosse teams’ benefit.

“For us right now, this is a sign of progress,” McLaughlin said.

Niagara also revealed the men’s and women’s hockey team’s upcoming schedules.

The refurbished Dwyer will entertain its first crowd on Oct. 6 when the women’s team hosts Waterloo in an exhibition. The men’s team will host an exhibition with York on Oct. 7.

The men’s team will play Bowling Green in its home opener Oct. 18. The originally scheduled opponent, Union, backed out of a verbal commitment to play the home opener, according to multiple Niagara sources. The women’s team’s home opener is Nov. 2 against Cornell. Both home openers are 7 p.m. starts.

Men’s coach Dave Burkholder was eager to discuss a 2007-08 schedule that he claimed could include “as many as eight to 12 games against top 10 teams.” Games at Cornell on Jan. 4 and 5 and at home against St. Lawrence on Feb. 1 right now look to be Niagara’s toughest.

Burkholder also said he is excited about the Purple Eagles’ seven-member recruiting class that is expected to be announced next week.

Contact reporter Jonah Bronstein at 282-2311, ext. 2258.

        

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