POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's hockey team (6-17-2, 5-9-2 SUNYAC) used a late burst to claim its fourth SUNYAC playoff appearance in the last six seasons. The sixth-seeded Bears travel to third-seeded Buffalo State (12-11-2, 8-7-1) on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m.
Eight Bears reached double digits in scoring this season. Sophomore forward Rob Clerc (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Oswego State) led the way offensively with a career-high 19 points nine goals and 10 assists. Senior assistant captains
Bryce Ferrell (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres) (9g-8a) and
Tyler Young (Massena, N.Y./Kanata Lasers) (5g-12a) each registered 17 points and sophomore forward
Thomas Terranova (Middletown, N.J./Syracuse Stars) had 15 on three goals and 12 assists. Senior captain
Vincent Guimond (Sorel-Tracy, Quebec/Gloucester Rangers) scored a team-high 10 goals to finish with 12 points and junior defenseman
Joseph Richardson (Palm Beach, Fla./PAL Islanders) (2g-9a) contributed 11 points from the blue line. Junior forward
Joey Sollazzo (Ottawa, Ontario/Navan Grads) (3g-7a) an freshman defenseman
Ryan Lieth (Warwick, N.Y./New York Apple Core) (2g-8a) round out the leaders with 10 points apiece.
Sophomore
Michael Paglucca (North Reading, Mass./New Hampshire Avalanche) saw the lion's share of time between the pipes this season, posting a 4-11-2 record, a .890 save percentage and a 3.44 goals-against-average. He is backed up by fellow sophomore
Ryan Glander (Campbell Hall, N.Y./Rochester Junior Monarchs) (1-4, .870, 3.57) and freshman
Connor Green (New Port Richey, Fla./Tampa Bay Juniors) (1-2, .874, 4.04).
The Bears and Bengals split their two meetings this season. Buffalo State defeated Potsdam 6-3 in Maxcy on November 15 and Ferrell scored both goals as Potsdam rallied to down the Bengals 2-1 in overtime on the road on February 7. The teams have faced off three times in the SUNYAC Playoffs, with Buffalo State winning each meeting. Buffalo State won a 4-3 decision in 2012 in Buffalo. In 2015 in Maxcy, the Bengals defeated the Bears 6-2. Buffalo State held off a late Potsdam charge for a 4-3 win in Buffalo in 2018.
The Bengals enter the postseason having won just twice in their last four games despite having the conference's third best offense (3.12 goals-per-game) and defense (2.60 gaa). They are led by three 20-plus point scorers. Nikita Kozyrev is the top scoring freshman in the league with nine goals and 23 assists for 32 points. Zach Remers has the SUNYAC's seventh most points with 26 on 13 goals and 13 assists. Vadim Vasjonkin has scored 11 goals and assisted on 13 others for 24 points. Buffalo State has regularly rotated three goalies in the net this season. Emil Norrman is 6-7 with a .934 save percentage and a 2.24 G.A.A. Trevor Micucci is 4-2, .918 and 2.24 and Connor Minch is 2-2-2, .891 and 3.12.
Tickets for Wednesday's game go on sale one hour prior to faceoff and are $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 5-12. Any SUNYAC school students are free with valid ID.
