Recent Niagara men’s hockey alums Juliano Pagliero (’09), Egor Mironov (’10) and Ryan Olidis (’10) have all recently signed pro contracts with the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League.

After a year of playing pro hockey in Italy, one of Niagara’s best goalies is back playing hockey in North America. As a Purple Eagle, Pagliero was a rock, finishing with a 47-32-11 record, a 2.61 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. The Dalroy, Alberta natives collegiate career was littered with awards and accolades, earning the College Hockey America Player of the Year award as a senior, while also earning All-CHA Second Team laurels as a sophomore, and First Team honors as a junior and a senior.

Pagliero was also the netminder who backstopped the Purple Eagles to a 3-2 win over Bemidji State in the 2008 CHA Championship game at Dwyer Arena, which gave Niagara it’s third NCAA Tournament berth.

Mironov was a solid contributor for the Purple Eagles and was part of one of the more memorable moments in recent Niagara history. In a game against Canisius during the 2008-09 season, the Purps racked up three shorthanded goals in a 69 second span, with Mironov scoring the middle goal. In 137 games played, the Thornhill, Ontario native scored 52 goals, 38 assists and 90 points, while earning All-CHA Second Team accolades as a junior.

Olidis played in 116 games for the Purple Eagles, notching 22 goals, 32 assists and 54 points for the Purple Eagles. The Uxbridge, Ontario native had a career-year as a senior, finishing second on the team in scoring with a team-high 14 goals, 19 assists and 33 points. Olidis played exceptionally well during the 2010 CHA Tournament, scoring a goal and two assists in two games.

Niagara alums have been busy this summer, with Sean Bentivoglio (’07 – Augsburger – DEL), Jim Burichin (’10 – Texas Brahmas – CHL), Tyler Gotto (’10 – Toledo Walleye – ECHL) and Chris Moran (’10 – Elmira Jackals – ECHL) all signing professional deals.