Niagara Announces 2007 Athletics Hall of Fame Class

NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. - The Niagara University Athletics Department inducted four members into the Niagara Athletics Hall of Fame, Saturday. Men's hockey players Peter DeSantis ('00) and Mike Isherwood ('00), men's basketball standout Ollie Harper ('79) and men's soccer coach Al Montanga (69-70) were honored in St. Vincent Hall as the Hall of Fame Class of 2007.

Niagara University President Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M. and Niagara Director of Athletics Ed McLaughlin were on hand to distributed the awards to the class.

Mike Isherwood, ‘00

One of the most versatile hockey players to step on the ice in a Niagara sweater, Mike Isherwood can be found in the all-time Niagara record books for numerous accomplishments. 

Isherwood is tied for second with 145 points, ranks sixth with 56 goals and second in assists with 89. He also ranked second in game-winning goals with 12, fifth in power-play goals with 20 and is tied for fifth in short-handed goals with three.  He is even in the record books for penalty minutes, as he ranked 11th with 112 minutes.  To put it simply, the man did it all when he was on the ice.

Aside from being named Most Valuable Player in the 1998-99 season, or winning the “Unsung Hero Award” in the 1997-98 season and “CLAW Award” in the 1999-00 season, Isherwood is also considered an All-time Captain for NU Hockey.  He held the title in his sophomore, junior, and senior years. 

Isherwood was a member of the 1999-00 NCAA Tournament Team.  He was named first team All-CHA and also earned a spot on the CHA All-Academic Team as a senior. 

“It is truly an honor, and thank you for endowing such an honor on me,” Isherwood said. “This could not be possible without the help of my former teammates and coaching staff, in particular the senior class, all of whom I feel are just as worthy of this honor. Without them and their commitment to the program and school, we would not have experienced the success that we did, ultimately putting Niagara University on the college hockey map.”

Following his departure from Niagara University, Isherwood went on to play professional hockey in a short stint with the AHL’s Cincinnati Mighty Ducks.  He also played in the ECHL with Dayton Bombers. 

Mike, his wife, Marlene, and sons, Tyler and Dylan, currently reside in Wainfleet, Ontario.

Peter DeSantis, ‘00

Peter DeSantis was an outstanding offensive hockey player at Niagara University, allowing him to engrave his name in the Niagara record books.  He got to do so very close to home as well. 

The Niagara Falls, N.Y., native was ranked sixth in the NCAA in goals per game with .77, and 25^th in points per game with 1.4 during the 1996-97 season.  He became used to being a leader in the points category as he was third on the team in the 1996-97 season, second on the team in the 1997-98 season, and fourth in the 1998-99 season. 

 He led the team in goals in the 1996-1997 and 1998-1999 seasons, helping him to rank second on the career charts with 67 goals. DeSantis also ranks fourth in points with 135, sixth in assists with 68, sixth in power-play goals with 18 and first in game-winning goals with 13. 

He was a member of the 1999-00 NCAA Tournament Team, a 100-point club member, and was named team’s Most Valuable Player for his performance in the entire 1996-97 season. 

“Being inducted into the Niagara University Hall of Fame is the highest honor I could receive from the place I treasure so deeply,” DeSantis said. “To be selected as a member of this special 2007 class, it affords me another opportunity to again cherish what wonderful gifts this University has given to me.  The principles and values I have gained from Niagara not only made me a better athlete and student, but a better person and man who is successful in life.  As we take our place in Niagara University history, the joy and excitement we feel will continue to carry on as our Purple Eagle pride will forever shine bright.” 

Peter, his wife, Monique, and daughter, Ava, currently reside in Columbus, Ohio.

Ollie Harper, ‘79

As a Niagara Falls High School basketball star, Ollie Harper must have known he was going to be an amazing division-1 basketball player.  He definitely was, as he was one of the first local players to receive a basketball scholarship to play for Niagara University. 

He made his mark playing for the Purple Eagles by earning an ECAC Player of the Week award in the 1975-1976 season.  Harper was also second on the team in scoring in his senior year with 15.6 points per game, and is ranked 16^th in career scoring in the Niagara University record books with 1,302 points.  

In all four years that he spent with the men’s basketball team, Harper was a starter, and averaged double figures in scoring. 

“I’m certainly very happy and very honored to be inducted to the Hall of Fame,” Harper said, “It’s one of the highlights of my life.  I was very fortunate to play as a four year starter, with four other hall of famers.  I am very thankful to the people responsible for nominating me, and voting me in.  This is a real proud moment for my family and I.”

After he graduated from Niagara University, Harper pursued a career in facility management, and has had a 20-plus year career in that field.  He is currently employed by the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission, which is responsible for the management and operation of Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, the D.C. Armory, and other facilities in the Washington D.C. area.

Harper, his wife, Linda, son, Justin, and daughters, Corinza and Lache, reside in Washington, D.C.

Coach Al Montagna

Without Al Montagna, it is very possible that Niagara University may not even have a soccer team today. 

At the young age of 22, Al Montagna had a dream to once be a successful, winning coach.  As he was taking graduate classes at Niagara University, Montagna realized there was no soccer team.  After some persuasion with the legenday athletic director,“Taps” Gallagher,” Montagna’s dream came true. 

He made trips to all of the dorm buildings in search for students who had any kind of soccer knowledge.  After he had found five men who had some kind of experience in the sport, Montagna found other students who had been athletic before, but not in the sport of soccer. 

In 1968, after a bit of a hunt, Coach Montagna had put together Niagara University’s first club soccer team.  He tried to schedule games against rival schools like St. Bonaventure, but was let down when he heard replies like, “we don’t play club teams.” 

After only two seasons as a coach, Montagna’s team became nationally recognized as a great soccer team. 

Montagna was relieved of his coaching position after the best soccer years in school history.  His players from the 1969 and 1970 teams still hold places in the Niagara University record books, some of which may never be broken.

“To be inducted to the Hall of Fame was beyond my wildest dreams,” Montagna said, “I had a passion and drive to be a winning coach, and my players had that same gut feeling.  I will always be forever grateful to Niagara University.  Those years were definitely the highlight of my life.”

Al currently resides in Plymouth, Mass.