The Niagara University female student-athletes celebrated National Girls and Women in Sports Day by hosting a sports clinic for the three local middle schools from the Niagara Falls district. The clinic included instruction in women’s lacrosse, ice hockey, soccer, volleyball, softball, and basketball. Lunch was generously donated by SODEXHO Marriott. Student-athletes, coaches and administrators spoke to the girls about their experiences in athletics, the importance of good academics and hard work.

This week representatives from the Niagara women's tennis team spent November 22 with the residents of Fairfield Nursing Home playing Connect 4, cards and other board games.

The Niagara University Women's athletic teams celebrated National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) by holding a clinic for middle school girls from the three local Niagara Falls district middle schools.

The Niagara University Women's athletic teams celebrated National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) by holding a clinic for middle school girls from the three local Niagara Falls district middle schools.

The NGWSD clinic, which Niagara University has held on-campus for the past three invites the middle school girls to spend the day on campus interacting with the female athletes, coaches and administrators from the university.

The first hour in the morning provided instruction in ice hockey, lacrosse and volleyball, while the second hour allowed instruction in basketball, soccer and softball. All participants were allowed to choose one sport each session. Lunch was provided by Sodexho Marriott Corporation.

After lunch, Women's Ice Hockey Coach, Margot Page and Assistant Women's Basketball Coach, Christie McGee spoke to the girls about the importance of participating in sports and doing well in school. Gretchen Turner, Littleton, Massachusetts, senior spoke about her sport, swimming and diving. Rebecca Warmack, Idaho Springs, Colorado, junior spoke about participating in cross-country and Kendra Daigler, North Tonawanda, sophomore, spoke to the girls about her experiences competing in tennis.

All participants were given a gift bag containing women's team media guides, schedule posters and a voucher for two free tickets to a women's basketball or ice hockey home game. Envelopes addressed to the girls parents that contained a letter from the Women's Sports Foundation informing parents on how to better support their daughters and women's sports was also included in the gift bag. Girls interested in attending a particular sports camp this summer were asked to complete and turn in a request form. Forms were chosen at random and those selected received, hockey pucks, t-shirts, bobblehead dolls and mugs.

Click to see photos of the NGWSD clinic.

The Niagara University men's swim team helped to beautify a park on Main Street in Niagara Falls in an effort to restore the area to what it once was. The student-athletes planted holly bushes, decorative grass and small flowering bushes. Area businesses donated the bushes, fertilizer and tools. The team enjoyed the opportunity to plant the bushes to benefit the community. The park is a start to bring more attractive businesses back into the Main Street area.

This week representatives from the Niagara men's and women's hockey teams participated in the opening of a special reading campaign at Hyde Park Elementary School in Niagara Falls. The student-athletes spent time in each classroom, encouraging the students to read as part of the 25-Book Campaign, distributing posters and signing autographs.

Niagara University, NY (December 8, 2002) - Niagara women's hockey team head coach Margot Page recently spoke at the Milk Energy Penalty Free Sweepstakes press conference at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Page joins an elite group of spokespersons that includes well known host of Hockey Night in Canada Ron MacLean and Former NHL and Team Canada player Paul Henderson most famous for the game- winning goal in the 1972 Summit Series against the Russian national team.

The Milk Energy Penalty Free Sweepstakes is open to any amateur hockey team in Ontario that plays a penalty free game between December 7th 2002 and January 31st 2003. Each member of the team receives a momento acknowledging their penalty free play. The Milk Energy Penalty Free Sweepstakes has promoted and rewarded clean play for fifteen years with phenomenal results, over 78,000 entries with 62% of these entries winning or tying their penalty free games.

"The Milk Energy Penalty Free Sweepstakes encourages players, coaches and parents to play by the rules and teach the game of hockey in a manner which everyone benefits" says Coach Page.

For more information on the Milk Energy Penalty Free Sweepstakes contact the HDCO at www.hdco.com or by phone at 1-888-THE-HDCO.

Niagara University, NY (September 26, 2002) - The Niagara University women's hockey program is teaming up with the Buffalo Sabres for the second straight year to introduce girls between the ages of 7-14 to the game of hockey and instruction from some of the area's best coaches. Niagara has a firm belief in the importance of contributing to the local areas grass roots program.

The Oxygen Icebreakers program is a five week long program that consists of three on-ice instructional sessions at three area rinks, followed by one session at Niagara's own Dwyer Arena to attend the October 18th, 2002 Niagara vs. Findlay home opening game. It will be a special evening for the Purple Eagles as the school will be presented with two banners commemorating the success of the Frozen Four team from one year ago. The final session will be held at the HSBC Arena, and includes tickets for the November 9th, 2002, Atlanta vs. Buffalo game. The Buffalo Sabres Head Coach Lindy Ruff and Niagara's Margot Page will serve as the program's spokespersons. Page will be traveling to all of the different sites. Niagara's location will be headed up by assistant coaches Katie Lachapelle and Heather Reinke along with athletes from the program.

Coach Page is very excited about the role that the women's hockey team is playing in this program. Page and her athletes contribute to the community on a regular basis. They recently helped in the Gorge Clean Up on September 14th, 2002. "I am pleased that Niagara University women's hockey can be a part of something this exciting. This will definitely increase awareness and participation in women's and girl's hockey in the area. We have great female role models on our team who will be helping out with the ice sessions. It is wonderful to see these student athletes giving back to the sport they are so passionate about" says Page.

Niagara University, NY (October 3, 2002) - The Niagara University women's hockey team completed their second Oxygen Icebreakers session this past Tuesday at the Dwyer Ice Complex. Members of the women's hockey team and assistant coaches Katie Lachapelle and Heather Reinke ran the session geared toward teaching local girls the game of hockey.

The last session will be held next Tuesday October 8, 2002 from 5:45 p.m.-7:00 p.m. at the Dwyer Ice Arena. Sessions are also being run at the same time at two satellite locations. Head Coach Margot Page will be at the Nichols Arena location next week, while Buffalo Sabres Head Coach Lyndy Ruff will be guest instructor at the Niagara University location.

Niagara University, NY (October 12, 2001) - As part of the revitalization committee, the Niagara University women's hockey team organized a clean up of part of the Niagara River Gorge. This community service event is part of an ongoing effort to promote the beautification of Niagara Falls.

On October 6, the hockey team volunteered three hours of their Saturday to pick up trash at the Gorge from Devils Hole to Whirlpool State Park. The ladies split up into two teams to cover both the top and bottom of the area.

The project was such a success that the Purple Eagles are looking to make this a bi-yearly community service event during the fall and spring seasons.

Niagara women's hockey assistant coach Heather Reinke, who is in charge of community service, was very pleased with the turnout for this first time event. "We felt this was the best way to not only help beautify the area of Niagara Falls, but also to help give back to a community that is so supportive of our team."

The Home Depot and Niagara University Food Service who donated needed supplies and refreshments aided Niagara in the project. The Purple Eagles would like to thank these people along with everyone else who participated toward the success of the event .

Niagara University, NY (October 12, 2001) - Before they took the field as opponents, they shared a moment as Americans.

In a recent trip to New York City to take on Manhattan College the Niagara University women's soccer team showed support to their conference rivals in the midst of the events that occurred September 11, 2001. Before kick off of their September 30 game with Manhattan the Purple Eagles exchanged angel pins with the lady Jaspers to remind them Niagara University sympathizes with those on the team affected by this recent tragedy.

In addition assistant coach John DiPasquale, who also teaches social science at Lakeshore Catholic High School presented a check of $5000.00 to a local New York City elementary school on behalf of Memorial High School and Lakeshore Catholic High School in Hamilton, Ontario. The check was given to the school to aid in disaster relief efforts. Lakeshore Catholic alumni and Niagara women's soccer players, Sara Pinelli (Port Colborne, ONT) and Betsy Elmer (Sherkston, ONT), were also on hand to present the donation. Niagara women's soccer head coach, Peter Veltri was pleased with the events of the weekend. "We not only came here this weekend to play soccer, we came to show our support for our fellow Americans. We wanted to send the message that all those affected by this attack on humanity will be in the thoughts and prayers of the Niagara community."