Written by: Michelle Kokot, Athletic Communications Assistant 

Ask any hockey player.
 
Whether it be college or professional, youth or high school, they all have the same goal in mind—suiting up for a National Hockey League team.  It doesn’t matter what age, or what level you play at, step onto the ice and suddenly you have morphed into a legend of the game. 
 
Every slap shot is an Al MacInnis signature boomer that struck fear into goaltenders.  Every crunching body check is 6-foot-9 Zdeno Chara leaving the opponent crumpled on the ice.  Every deke is Sidney Crosby shaking off a token defenseman before slipping a backhand past the netminder.
 
It was no different for a five-year old C.J. Chartrain when he laced up his skates and played in his first organized hockey game. 
 
Seventeen years later, the dream of competing with top NHL athletes is not only still running through his mind, but within reach after participating in the Washington Capitals Prospect Development Camp this past summer.
 
The 6-foot-1 defensemen was one of 46 prospects invited to the annual development camp in mid-July and the experience in the U.S. capital has intensified his desire to strive for the pros. 
 
“Getting a taste of it during the summer was definitely a great experience and one that I was very excited about,” Chartrain said.  “Once you get there everybody is so competitive and it just makes you want it more.  I need to continue working hard to get bigger, stronger and faster in order to compete at that level.”
 
Three years ago, Niagara head coach David Burkholder jumped at the opportunity to have the South Kent Prep graduate play under his wing, and it took little time for Chartrain to establish himself as a force behind the blue line.  The senior is now one of the most experienced Purple Eagles, having played 102 games in three seasons. 
 
“The best part of C.J.’s career so far is that he just keeps getting better,” Burkholder said of his defenseman.  “He gets bigger and stronger every year.  He’s earned powerplay time, is one of our best penalty killers and can also be a shutdown defender.  He does an awful lot for our team in a lot of areas.”
 
Chartrain enters his final season accounting for 10 goals and 28 assists. He finished his junior campaign playing in a career-best 36 games while setting a career-high in goals with six and tying a career-best in points with 14.
 
“This experience is huge in regards to C.J.’s confidence level,” added Burkholder.  “For him to go out and play with the Capital’s best prospects and top draft picks is going to go a long way for him to realize how good he is.  I think he’s going to play on television some day and hopefully this will help him fulfill that.”
 
For many, the thought of having a career in hockey is farfetched, but Chartrain has been around a fair share of individuals, both at Niagara and at home, who have realized their childhood dream.
 
His father, Andre Chartrain, signed a four-year NHL contract with the Quebec Nordiques in 1981 and played for four years in their minor league system.  At NU, the program is home to 21 professional athletes, whether in the United States or abroad.  Last season, Chartrain’s former teammates, Scott Arnold and Chris Noonan both joined the professional ranks. 
 
Arnold netted a two-year NHL deal with the Phoenix Coyotes, making him the sixth Purple Eagle to ever sign an NHL contract.  Eight days later, goaltender Noonan signed an amateur try-out deal with the Toronto Marlies, the American Hockey League affiliate for the Toronto Maple Leafs. 
 
“It’s a big motivation,” Chartrain said of his prior teammates.  “Those guys that played here were obviously great players and I’d love to follow in their footsteps.”
 
There are many things that have legitimized Niagara’s hockey program—conference championships, wins over top-ranked teams and three NCAA Tournament berths.  Having an abundance of Purple Eagles finding success at the professional level is just another step, and Burkholder is proud to be a part of a system that helps those players achieve that.  
 
“We tell every parent, every hockey player that we bring in on visits that Niagara University is a great place to realize your goals,” Burkholder said.  “That is first and foremost your education, and if you come here and live your life the proper way, you could be a pro hockey player.”
 
For the next seven months though, the possibilities stemming from this past summer’s experience will be pushed aside as Chartrain prepares for the upcoming Niagara season. 
 
“Now it’s all about this team,” Chartrain said.  “The goal is to win an Atlantic Hockey championship and go to the NCAA tournament.  I just want to come into my last year and really take it all in, contributing as much as possible on and off the ice.” 
 
Though his future is yet to be determined, one thing is for certain.  When the 2012-13 season opener rolls around on October 6th, C.J. Chartrain’s final season as a Purple Eagle begins with the same goal as 27 other guys in the locker room.