POTSDAM, N.Y.—Plattsburgh State (14-7-3, 10-4-1 SUNYAC) defeated the SUNY Potsdam men's hockey team (4-16-1, 3-11-1) 5-2 on the Bears' Senior Night. Senior forward
Michael McArthur (St. Thomas, Ontario/Oswego State) and freshman
Jack Ludwig (Sylvania, Ohio/Chippewa Steel) each scored for the Bears.
Cardinals junior defenseman Ryan Hogg (Duncan, British Columbia/Islanders Hockey Club) opened the scoring at 6:16 of the first period, as the puck snuck between the pads of Potsdam junior goalie
Connor Green (New Port Richey, Fla./Tampa Bay Juniors). At 12:06, McArthur tied the game from the top of the crease. Senior forward
Robert Clerc (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Oswego State) and Ludwig assisted on the goal. Plattsburgh regained the lead just 18 seconds later as sophomore defenseman Cory Doney (Northfield, Vt./Vermont Lumberjacks) scored on a shot from the left point that Green never saw. The score was unchanged at the first intermission.
Hogg scored his second on the power play at 6:22 of the second period after the Bears were called for a cross check. The Cardinals outshot the Bears 11-6 in the second period and led 3-1 after 40 minutes.
Junior forward Brendan Young (Lefroy, Ontario/Blind River Beavers) extended Plattsburgh's lead to 4-1 at 3:24 of the third period. At 12:08, junior forward Adam Tretowicz (Baldwinsville, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres) netted the fifth goal for the Cardinals. Just over four minutes later Ludwig scored his first career goal to make it a 5-2 contest. Freshmen forwards
Garrett McArthur (London, Ontario/Markham Royals) and
Josh Bifolchi (Ottawa, Ontario/Mississauga, Ontario) picked up the assists. The final minute of the contest was chippy and saw five misconducts and four minor penalties called in the last 29 seconds.
Green finished with 28 saves and five goals allowed in the first 52:08 and senior
Michael Paglucca (North Reading, Mass./New Hampshire Avalanche) stopped all seven shots he faced in the last 7:52. Freshman goalie Jacob Hearne (Ennismore, Ontario/Toronto Jr. Canadians) made 27 saves for the victory.
After the contest, Potsdam honored seniors
Chris Gratton (Pottstown, Pa./Walpole Express),
Ethan Clark (Seven Valleys, Pa./New Hampshire Avalanche), Paglucca,
Ben Thompson (Canterbury, Conn./New Hampshire Avalanche),
Thomas Terranova (Middletown, N.J./Syracuse Stars),
Michael McArthur, Clerc,
Jack Bloem (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Connecticut Rangers),
Justin Geary (Clifton Park, N.Y./Wilkes University) and
Brett Horn (Cary, N.C./Humboldt Broncos).
The Bears wrap up the season next Saturday, February 19, at Morrisville with a 7 p.m. contest.
