Former Niagara forward Joe Tallari is second among ECHL rookies in goals. |
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – Former Niagara University men’s hockey player Joe Tallari signed a professional tryout contract (PTO) with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League (AHL), announced by the Sound Tigers Wednesday.
Playing the 2004-05 season with the Johnstown Chiefs of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), the former Purple Eagle forward currently is second among ECHL rookies with 32 goals and seventh among ECHL rookies with 51 points. He ranks fourth overall in the goals category and leads the Chiefs in points.
Tallari finished his collegiate career at Niagara with 124 points (60 goals, 64 assists), helping the Purple Eagles capture the 2004 College Hockey America Tournament Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. A finalist for the 2003 Hobey Baker Award, the first player from the CHA to earn such recognition, Tallari’s 55 points (26 goals, 29 assists) in the 2002-03 season still stands as the all-time CHA single-season points record, tying the CHA record for goals in a season.
Earlier this season, Tallari signed a PTO with the Cleveland Barons of the AHL, competing in one contest. Bridgeport is the AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders.
