CANTON, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's hockey team (6-17-2) fell at SUNY Canton (13-9-3) in a nonconference match up by a 5-3 score in the regular season finale on Saturday night. Despite the loss, the Bears got the help they needed to claim the final spot in the upcoming SUNYAC Playoffs. Sophomore forward Robert Clerc (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Oswego State) scored twice for the Bears in tonight's game and senior assistant captain Tyler Young (Massena, N.Y./Kanata Lasers) netted the other marker.
 
Potsdam outplayed the Kangaroos in the first period and outshot them 13-9. However, Jake Mayette opened the scoring at 8:15. Just over two minutes later, Clerc tied the game with assists from senior assistant captain Sean Winikates (Phoenix, Ariz./Philadelphia Jr. Flyers) and sophomore forward Jack Bloem (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Connecticut Rangers). The Bears struggled to take advantage of a couple power plays as the period wound down and Noah Robinson scored at the 18:17 mark to put Canton back on top.
 
The second period was evenly played and the teams traded a goal each. Clerc struck again at 9:58 to get the Bears even on helpers from sophomore forward Thomas Terranova (Middletown, N.J./Syracuse Stars) and Bloem. After killing off a double minor, Potsdam was called for a slash at 18:04. Just nine seconds later Tyson Bruce scored on a power play and the Roos took a 3-2 advantage into the second intermission.
 
The Bears took overlapping penalties near the midway point of the third, resulting in a five-on-three power play for Canton. Sean David took advantage and gave the Roos a 4-2 lead at 9:03. Canton then took simultaneous minors at 11:48 for a Potsdam two-man advantage. At 12:33, Young got Potsdam back within one with an assists from freshman defenseman Ryan Lieth (Warwick, N.Y./New York Apple Core) and senior captain Vincent Guimond (Sorel-Tracy, Quebec/Gloucester Rangers). Potsdam pulled sophomore goalie Michael Paglucca (North Reading, Mass./New Hampshire Avalanche) for an extra attacker with 22 seconds left and Sam Shepard scored an empty-netter two seconds later to ice the game.
 
Pagalucca finished with 24 saves. Austin Washurak made 18 saves for Canton in the first 29:58, but Michael Cersuolo earned the win in relief with 10 stops in the last 29:47.
 
Potsdam was 1-for-8 on the power play and the Kangaroos were 2-for-6.
 
As the sixth seed in the SUNYAC Tournament, the Bears will prepare to face third seeded Buffalo State on the road Wednesday night.