By Janet Schultz; Photos by Janet Schultz©
The ACHA Niagara University Women’s D2 ice hockey team celebrated members of the military at their game on Sunday. The Veterans Celebration was coordinated by NU’s Lili Drzazgowski.
They opened the afternoon with the NU ROTC Cadets presenting the colors.
NU President Mahar presented the Command Sergeant Major Fred E. Kirtchen Scholarship to Specialist Laney Provorse of the New York Army National Guard.
Laney serves as a paralegal specialist with the 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry Regiment. She enlisted in August 2024 and completed her rraining in August 2025. She continues to serve while persuing her educaiton and career goals at NU.
She has spoken about the discipline, responsibility, confidence and sense of purpose that miliarty service has brought into her life, the exactly qualities the scholarship embodies.
The Scholarship honors a decorated Army veteran whose commitment to military leadership and Niagara University left a lasting impression. Kirtchen served in Army Special Forces which included two tour sof duty in Vietnam, receiving the Silver Star, Bronze Star for Valor and the Purple Heart. After his passing in 1992 the ROTC alumni from the classes of 1979, 1980 and 1981 set up the scholarship in his honor.
Following the presentation, Laney dropped the ceremonial puck.
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The NU Women’s D2 team took on the University of Pitt, a team they faced at the Showcase Tournament at Cornerstone Arena earlier this fall. In ACHA rankings U of Pitt is #2 and NU is #3 after this game.
Pitt opened the scoring at 13:41 of the first period. Niagara’s Brooke Kwiecien answered back at 9:09 tying the score for a little more than 3 minutes when Pitt’s Francesca Amico answered back and the first period ends 2-1 in favor of the visitors.
In the second period Niagara’s Jaylan Melcher got one past Goalie Ella Venters and that period ends in a 2-2 tie.
Pitt’s Fletcher Lyttleton got one past NU’s Em Bandkohal at 9:05 of the third. While it looks like this winning goal would be it; NU kept fighting and with faceoff’s in their end with 44 seconds and 30.7 seconds left NU just could get one past the Pitt goalie and the game ends 3-2 in favor of U of Pitt.
NU is now 3-5-1 on the season and face the SUNY Brockport on November 14 and 15 at Cornerstone Arena in Lockport.
In ACHA standings, NU players have made their mark with Lili Drzazgowski sitting in the #8 spot in scoring with 3 goals and 2 assists. At #9 is Jaylan Melcher also with 3 goals and 2 assists; Brooke Kwiecien with 4 goals and Alexandria Franke with 2 goals and 2 assists. Melcher is listed as the #2 on defense in the CHE while Drzazgowski is #7 in offense.
NU’s goalies are #4 and #5 with Katelyn Mercer and Victoria Zannese, respectively.
(Photo Album to Come)
