POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's hockey team (6-15-2, 1-12-1 SUNYAC) took the red-hot Plattsburgh State Cardinals (14-8-1, 9-4-1) to the limit before falling 3-2 in overtime. The Cardinals are now 8-0-1 in their last nine games. Bears junior goaltender Brendan McMenimen (Merrimac, Mass./Islanders Hockey Club) played one of his finest games of the season, stacking up 45 saves. Freshman Massena native Tyler Young (Massena, N.Y./Kanata Lasers) and junior defenseman Kyle Thacker (Mississauga, Ontario/North York Rangers) each scored for Potsdam.
 
There was no scoring in the first period as both teams combined to go 0-for-3 on the man advantage. Plattsburgh outshot the Bears 11-7.
 
The contest's first three goals were scored in the first 5:58 of the second period. Young beat Cardinals senior goalie Brady Rouleau (Ford MacLeod, Alberta/Quinnipiac) to open the scoring at 2:16. Just 58 seconds later, Plattsburgh junior defenseman Ayrton Valente (Woodbridge, Ontario/Mississauga Chargers) tied the game. Freshman forward Joe Drabin (Rochester, N.Y./Wenatchee Wild) scored a power-play goal at 5:58 and the Cardinals never trailed again. McMenimen made 16 more saves, but the Bears found themselves down 2-1 entering the second intermission.
 
Plattsburgh killed off a penalty 2:36 into the third period, but Potsdam evened the game seven seconds later. Thacker struck at 2:43 with assists from freshman forward Bryce Ferrell (East Amherst, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres) and junior forward Dylan Vander Esch (San Jose, Calif./Hartford Wolfpack). McMenimen turned aside all 15 shots he faced in the third to force overtime.
 
At 3:22, Cardinals sophomore defenseman Jakob Engvall (Jonkoping, Sweden/Ogden Mustangs) scored the game-winner on a high shot from between the faceoff circles.
 
Rouleau made 28 saves on the night. Plattsburgh was 1-for-6 on the man advantage and Potsdam was 0-for-4.
 
After their last home game, the Bears honored seniors Nick Casacci (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Connecticut Oilers), Alex Goodhue (Traverse City, Mich./Atlanta Jr. Knights), Tommy Telesca (Selden, N.Y./New York Bobcats), Logan Brown (North Woodstock, N.H./Boston Rangers), Vinny Caligiuri (Shoreham, N.Y./Hartford Wolfpack) and Jake Butler (Atlanta, Ga./Smith Falls Bears).
 
Potsdam wraps up the season next weekend when the Bears travel to Brockport and Geneseo.

 

Retiring Dean of Students and long time men's hockey academic coordinator Chip Morris (Center) drops the puck for Cardinal captain Kyle Hall (left) and Bears senior captain Nick Casacci (Right).

Potsdam Bears Men's Hockey Class of 2017 with their families