NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Niagara University Director of Athletics Simon Gray has announced that head men’s ice hockey coach Jason Lammers has received a contract extension through the 2023-24 season.
“In just two years, Jason’s integrity, passion, and skill has established him as a leader on our campus, in our conference, and throughout the Niagara community,” Gray said. “His dedication to recruiting and developing the highest-caliber student-athletes has raised our hockey program’s on-ice competitiveness and academic outcomes. From day one, Jason has inspired with his vision for what Purple Eagles hockey can provide Niagara University and I am elated at this mutual commitment to his leadership.”
Lammers guided the Purple Eagles to their first-ever Atlantic Hockey championship game in March 2019. Niagara eliminated archrival Canisius, defending champion Air Force, and RIT during the team’s thrilling postseason run. Niagara has improved its record in each of his two seasons at the helm and finished the 2018-19 campaign with 17 wins which are the most by the program since the 2012-13 season.
The Purple Eagles have landed three players – Derian Plouffe, Noah Delmas, and Ludwig Stenlund – on all-conference teams during Lammers’ tenure. Stenlund was also named 2018-19 Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Year and was runner-up for the prestigious Tim Taylor Award, given annually to the top rookie in the nation. Stenlund’s dominant freshman season saw him tie for the national lead in shorthanded goals (3) and power play goals (10). Stenlund’s 23 goals were tied for second in the country among all skaters. He scored six more goals than the next-closest rookies during the 2018-19 season. Stenlund also scored in eight consecutive games to break the previous program record of five, and broke the Niagara rookie records for points (42) and goals.
Stenlund was just one of the 11 rookies that made up the nation’s highest-scoring freshman class last season (50 G, 76 A). The Purple Eagles’ power play has vastly improved over the past two years, climbing from 57th at the end of 2016-17 to 19th at the end of 2018-19. The team as a whole has also become stronger and tougher to play against. Niagara debuted as the 58th-ranked Division I team in terms of RPI at the onset of the 2017-18 season. After their tremendous run to the championship this past spring, their RPI pegged them as the 43rd-ranked team at season’s end.
Over the past two seasons, the Purple Eagles have had two of their most successful years academically. 23 players were named to the 2019 Atlantic Hockey All-Academic Team, with a program-record 25 earning the distinction in 2018. Sean King was one of nine AHA Student Athletes of the Year in 2018 after posting a 4.0 GPA.
“As a staff, we are grateful for this contract extension and continued opportunity,” Lammers said. “Thank you to Niagara University leadership, specifically Father Maher and Simon Gray, the campus community, and the communities of Niagara Falls and Lewiston, for their support. We are committed to making Niagara University regionally dominant and national prominent. We are excited to ignite, educate, empower, and serve our student-athletes this year and for years to come.”
With Lammers assistance, three players have been invited to NHL development camps. Delmas has participated in camps with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes, Stenlund with the New York Islanders, and Eric Cooley with the Buffalo Sabres.
Four Purple Eagles – Johnny Curran, Nick Farmer, Keegan Harpur, and Plouffe – have signed professional deals during Lammers’ tenure. Curran and Farmer will make their debuts this winter, while Plouffe has won two league championships (Toronto Marlies – 2018, Newfoundland Growlers – 2019).
The Purple Eagles have also been very involved in the local community, volunteering and participating at events benefitting organizations including the Niagara Jr. Purple Eagles. Last month, the team signed 7-year-old Jack Marchetta through Team IMPACT.
