The SUNY Potsdam men's hockey team enters the 2022-23 season campaign with a veteran-heavy roster. After a year away due to the pandemic, last year's Bears returned to the ice with many untested players and had to overcome some lingering illness along the way. After a slow start, Potsdam finished the year with a 4-2-1 stretch. This season, the Bears squad features 22 of its 29 players with at least a season of playing experience. Four Bears are graduate students, six are seniors and six more are juniors. The wealth of playing experience should help the program get off to a faster start this season.
 
Forward
Graduate student Robert Clerc (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Oswego State) is back to pace the offense again. He had four goals and 10 assists for 14 points in 20 games a year ago, leading the team in scoring for the second straight season. Junior Josh Bifolchi (Ottawa, Ontario/Mississauga Chargers) had three power-play goals in his first year. In 21 games, he scored five goals and assisted on three others for eight points. He's also the two-time defending SUNYAC javelin champion in the off-season. Massena native and junior Jack Loran (Massena, N.Y./New England Wolves) had two goals and four assists for six points in the first 14 contests of his career. Senior Nick Alfieri (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres) played in all 22 contests last season and totaled a goal and four assists. Graduate student Michael McArthur (St. Thomas, Ontario/Oswego State) scored a goal and assisted on four and his brother, sophomore Garrett McArthur (London, Ontario/Marham Royals), recorded a goal and three assists in 20 games. Graduate student Jack Bloem (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Connecticut Rangers) was limited to three goals in just 10 games in 2021-22. He looks to rebound with a healthy fourth year on the ice.
 
Of the other five returning forwards, only senior Justin Vernace has played in two seasons. He saw time in 18 contests last year and had a goal and an assist. Juniors Jack Ludwig (Sylvania, Ohio/Chippewa Steel) (1g-2a-3pts, 20gp), Victor Nikiforov (Hauppauge, N.Y./New Hampshire Avalanche) (1-0-1, 16gp) and Michael Olszewski (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Cobourg Cougars) (2-0-2, 11gp) and sophomore Andrew Lantry (Massena, N.Y./New England Wolves) (1-0-1, 10gp) all showed flashes last season, but will be looked to for a bigger impact this year.
 
Five freshmen join the offensive ranks. Mason Hoehn (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Richmond Generals) played in 25 games for the Springfield Jr. Blues (5-3-8, 25gp) before moving to the Richmond Generals where he had three goals and an assist in four games. Jeremy Quesnel (Alexandria, Ontario/Hawkesbury Hawks) was an offensive force for the Hawkesbury Hawks, recording 37 points on 16 goals and 21 assists in 51 games. Mathieu Parent (Kapuskasing, Ontario/Renfrew Wolves) also put up strong numbers with the Renfrew Wolves, tallying 17 goals and 26 assists for 43 points in 55 games. Ryan Mahlmeister (Massapequa, N.Y./PAL Junior Islanders) was a solid contributor for the PAL Junior Islanders, totaling nine goals and 14 assists for 23 points in 47 games. Max Klanow (Holly, Mich./Hawkesbury Hawks) also arrives from the Hawkesbury Hawks, where he contributed two goals and six assists in 47 contests.
 
Defense
Seven of Potsdam's eight blueliners are familiar faces. Senior Ryan Lieth (Warwick, N.Y./New York Apple Core) has seen action in 40 games for the Bears, including 16 last year. Senior Connor Cruickshank (Brampton, Ontario/Brampton Admirals) played in 16 games last year and has competed 36 in his two seasons. Graduate student Justin Geary (Clifton Park, N.Y./Wilkes University) provided some offense with his two-way play for five points on two goals and three assists in 17 games last year.
 
Junior Tyler Lisieski (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Vermont Lumberjacks) and sophomores Drew Rose (Brasher Falls, N.Y./Utica Jr. Comets), Carter Lennon (Kitchener, Ontario/Georgetown Raiders) and Nolan Towne (Stockholm, N.Y./Seahawks) will be a greater part of the defense this season. Brasher Falls native Rose saw the most action of the four, scoring two goals and adding seven assists, while playing 19 games. Stockholm native Towne played in 10 games, Lennon saw time in eight and Lisieski was in six. Freshman Michael Campbell (Toronto, Ontario/Jersey Whalers) is the only new addition. He generated impressive offensive numbers from the blue line last season with the Jersey Shore Whalers, scoring nine goals and assisting on 14.
 
Goal
The Bears have four goaltenders on the roster this season. Senior Connor Green (New Port Richey, Fla./Tampa Bay Juniors) returns with the most experience. Green played well, registering a .908 save percentage and a 3.83 goals-against-average. Sophomores Nico Gamarra (Milton, Vt./Islanders Hockey Club) and John Werber (Skillman, N.J./Team Maryland) each saw very limited time. Gamarra was impressive in his one start, posting a 1.90 G.A.A. and a .938 save percentage. Werber joined the team in the second semester and made 39 saves in his lone action. Joining the Bears is senior Stephen Friedland (West Bloomfield, Mich./New England Wolves. In two seasons with Lindenwood University's ACHA Division I program, Friedland posted a 9-1 record with a 1.91 G.A.A. and a .930 save percentage.
 
Schedule
The Bears face their normal challenging schedule in 2022-23, playing six games against teams ranked in the preseason poll. Potsdam opens up the year on Saturday afternoon in Geneva, N.Y., squaring off with No. 5 Hobart College at 4 p.m. The Bears also play nonconference contests with Stonehill College and Hamilton College when they host the programs and Canton during the North Country Tournament on November 26-27. Potsdam will face No. 13 Oswego State in a nonconference meeting at the Plattsburgh Cardinal Winter Classic on January 6. The following day, the Bears will either square off with the host Cardinals in a nonconference matchup of Wentworth Institute of Technology in the championship or consolation. Potsdam will play four nonconference contests with Route 11 Rival SUNY Canton. The Bears will play at the Roos House on November 15, before playing a home-and-home series with Canton on December 9-10, starting at Maxcy Ice Arena. The final meeting will be a neutral site showdown at Massena Arena on January 11. The Bears dive right into SUNYAC play on November 4 at SUNY Cortland. They open up at home against No. 2 SUNY Geneseo at 7 p.m. on November 11.
 
All home games will be streamed live on potsdambears.com with Potsdam alum Warren Potter handling the play-by-play and Bears Hall of Fame Coach John Horan providing the color and analysis.


See the Bears full schedule here.
 
Watch the season opener at Hobart here.
 
Follow the live statistics from Hobart here.