Published: August 21, 2008 08:32 am      

PRO HOCKEY: NU’s Ehgoetz heating up on the ice

Hopes to re-sign with Cincinnati Cyclones soon.

Barret Ehgoetz has already succeeded at one level. Now he’s doing it at the next level.

The 2005 Niagara University graduate and former Purple Eagles captain is resting and relaxing this summer, and it is a well-deserved vacation.

The Kincardine, Ontario native, who is splitting time this summer between Cincinnati and his hometown, earned a B.A. in Business — and was all business on the ice this season — finishing with a career-best 62 points in 70 games. This season continued the ascent of his career. In his rookie 2005-06 season, the left winger totaled only 30 points in 64 games with Utah of the East Coast Hockey League. The next season he registered 44 points in 69 contests with the Cincinnati Cyclones, a big step up.

This season, he averaged nearly a point per game for the Cyclones. And, he hopes to be rewarded financially and is expected to re-sign with the Cyclones in the next week or so.

“I think I’ve done all right,” Ehgoetz said. “The first year I had a little bit of a rough start. It (the professional game) is a lot different than the college game — the length of the season and the style of play. Obviously the level of play is better. I would have liked to do better than I did (in Utah), but since I have come to Cincinnati, I think things have gone well. It’s been a lot of fun here, and I’m really enjoying it.”

Offensive production is not exactly a novel concept for Ehgoetz, who ranks first in NU history in goals (71), assists (95) and points (166).

“Just having a little more experience will go a long ways towards that,” Ehgoetz said of his offensive production improving at the professional level.

“I've gotten more opportunities to play and have been put in more offensive situations in games with some good offensive players. We had a good offensive team this season and had a lot of guys who could put the puck in the net. No matter who you played with on any given night, there was a pretty good chance you were going to get in on a goal somewhere along the line.”

Besides having a marvelous season — Ehgoetz became a champion — as the Cyclones captured the Kelly Cup. He also helped the Purple Eagles get into the NCAA Tournament in 2004.

“It’s tough to compare,” he said of the two accomplishments. “In the pros, there are four seven-game series and it’s a lot more drawn out. It’s nine weeks from the start to the end of the playoffs. In college, everything all came together during a two-week period — winning the CHA Tournament and getting into the NCAA’s.

“Both are exciting and I would not take anything away from either one by comparing them,” he said.

Of course, Ehgoetz relishes the fact that unlike his time at Niagar, he’s now getting paid to do something he loves. But he realizes his tenure as a Purple Eagle was a huge step in his progression as a player.

“I loved it there,” he said. “It was a chance to play with a lot of great players.”