By Nick Veronica

With its offense down nearly half a goal per game from last season, Niagara’s hockey team could use a boost. But that won’t be coming from former leading scorer Ryan Murphy.

Murphy was suspended from the team in October, reportedly due to a driving while intoxicated charge. Coach Dave Burkholder said Murphy would be suspended half the season, eligible to return on Jan. 13.

But Murphy has not been listed on the team’s roster and a Niagara spokesperson confirmed today that Murphy is no longer with the program.

Murphy led Niagara in scoring last season and was sixth in Atlantic Hockey with 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists) as the Purple Eagles earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.

Murphy would’ve been a senior this season. The spokesperson did not know if Murphy is still enrolled at the university.

Niagara, which is scoring just 2.65 goals per game (38th of 59 nationally) after averaging 3.05 last year, is 5-12-3 overall but sits in the middle of the pack in Atlantic Hockey at 5-5-3. Niagara hosts Holy Cross this weekend.