POTSDAM, N.Y.—Potsdam senior captain Sy Nutkevitch  and sophomore forward Adam Place each recorded two goals and two assists to lead the SUNY Potsdam men's hockey team (4-3, 3-3 SUNYAC) to a 5-3 win over Brockport (1-6-1, 1-5-1). Bears freshman forward Trevor Cope also had a four-point night with a goal and three assists.

Potsdam opened the game with a fast pace and scored the first goal just 2:31 into the contest. Nutkevitch scored on a rebound off a shot from Cope. Potsdam then successfully killed a 1:47 five-on-three power play at the 10:24 mark, but Brockport picked up some momentum. At 15:22, Golden Eagle sophomore forward Chris Cangro poked home a rebound to tie the score.

The Bears ramped up their play in the second period and scored three straight goals in the in the first five minutes. Cope found the net 1:26 into the period. Place scored the next two at 3:38 and 5:13 to increase the lead to 4-1. At 9:21, junior defenseman Mike Hayward scored a power-play goal to get Brockport back to within 4-2. The teams traded penalties for the rest of the period and the score remained the same into the second intermission.

After Golden Eagle sophomore defenseman Patrick Hayden was whistled for a boarding major and a game misconduct, the Potsdam offense picked up again. Nutkevitch scored his second of the contest at 2:34. Less than two minutes later Brockport senior forward James Cody  cut the lead to 5-3 on the power play. Over the game's final 15 minutes, 10 penalties were called, but the Golden Eagles got no closer.

Bears freshman goalie Dylan Ellis made 37 saves, including 17 in the final period, to pick up his third win of the season. Brockport senior goalie Oliver Wren  finished with 32 saves.

Potsdam was 1-3 on the power play and the Golden Eagles finished 2-11.

“I was extremely happy with how our guys responded to Brockport's challenges tonight,” said Bears Head Coach Chris Bernard. “Our guys come to the rink and want to get better every day. They work hard every day and put the team before themselves.”

Bernard was especially pleased with Nutkevitch and his freshman goaltender.

“That's why he's our captain,” added Bernard. “He's a two-way player and he can do it all. I think Dylan Ellis made every big save for us he could all weekend and gave the defense confidence to do its job.

Potsdam is back in action on Dec. 2, when the Bears host SUNY Cortland at 7 p.m.