Senior forward Dan Baco was first exposed to the Niagara Hockey experience at the young age of 10. To Baco, playing hockey as a Purple Eagle is much more than just playing for Niagara University. He is carrying on a hometown legacy.

“In Buffalo, there is a lot of pride in the players we produce. I hope to be one of the guys younger kids would want to be like,” stated Baco. “There is something special about playing for your hometown team.”

For this Niagara senior, becoming a Purple Eagle was always part of the plan. Hailing from Buffalo, N.Y., Baco watched first-hand as the Niagara men’s hockey team took the NCAA by storm during the 1999-00 season.  

“When I was 10 years old, my first exposure to Niagara Hockey was watching the 2000 team make it to the Elite 8,” Baco reflected. “That was the coolest thing in the world at the time. As kids, all we wanted to do was be just like the older guys. From then on, I knew I wanted to be a Purple Eagle.”

Baco spent years improving his game before he ultimately achieved his goal of becoming a part of the Niagara family. During his junior year of high school, the forward played for the Buffalo Lightning of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League (OPJHL), now the Buffalo Jr. Sabres, where he notched 22 goals, 41 assists and 63 points in 47 games.   

The Buffalo native left the comforts of home behind during his senior year of high school to begin his three-year stint with the Lincoln Stars of the highly respected United States Hockey League (USHL). Baco notched 16 goals, 22 assists and 38 points in 138 games for the Stars, and met his future Niagara teammate and Buffalo native, Chris Moran.

“Playing with Moran was probably one of the biggest things that helped me come here,” Baco said. “He loved playing for Niagara, and he made it seem like a culture you wanted to be a part of.” He had a lot of opportunities to go to bigger schools, but chose to stay here and be a part of something special…a legacy he passed down to me, and I hope to continue to pass down.”

The forward certainly has made an impact for the Purple Eagles during the last three seasons. During his freshman season, Baco was named to the now defunct College Hockey America (CHA) All-Rookie Team and was named CHA Rookie of the Week twice. In 32 games, he notched four goals, 11 assists and 15 points.

During his sophomore and junior seasons, Baco not only made an impact on the ice, but also in the classroom. The economics major was named to the CHA All-Academic team during the 2009-10 season, and to the Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA) All-Academic Team during the 2010-11 season. On the ice, he scored two goals, 8 assists, and 10 points between the two seasons.

For Baco, playing for Niagara has been a dream come true. The hometown legacy is something he wishes to pass on to his fellow Buffalo teammates.

“As players here, we need to reach out to younger kids and let them know that it’s possible to come here and it’s a great place to be,” Baco stated. “We’re not only representing the school, but representing the local hockey community. Buffalo has a lot of pride, and it’s our job to keep that legacy strong.” 

Written By: Amy Harvey, Athletic Communications Intern