POTSDAM, N.Y.—For the second season in a row, the SUNY Potsdam men's hockey team (8-13-4, 6-7-1 SUNYAC) will travel to Plattsburgh State (14-10-1, 8-6) for the first round of the SUNYAC Tournament. The fifth-seeded Bears will take on the fourth-seeded Cardinals this Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Potsdam got hot down the stretch, using a 4-0-1 streak to propel itself back into the postseason. Graduate student assistant captain
Jack Loran (Massena, N.Y./New England Wolves) leads the Bears offense again with 11 points (6g, 5a). Junior assistant captain
Michael Campbell (Toronto, Ontario/Jersey Whalers) shares the scoring lead from the blue line with another 11 points (1g, 10a). Sophomore forward
Jakub Hall (Anchorage, Alaska/Richmond Generals) (6g, 4a) and junior forward
Mason Hoehn (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Richmond Generals) (4g, 6a) have also reached double digits with 10 points apiece. One big reason for the push is the consistent play of late of the line including junior forwards
Jeremy Quesnel (Alexandria, Ontario/Hawkesbury Hawks),
Mathieu Parent (Kapuskasing, Ontario/Renfrew Wolves) and
Max Klanow (Holly, Mich./Hawkesbury Hawks). In the last six games, Quesnell has three goals and three assists. Parent has two goals and three assists and Klanow has a goal and three assists. Hoehn, junior forward
Ryan Mahlmeister (Massapequa, N.Y./PAL Islanders) and sophomore forward
Jack McCandless (Victor, N.Y./Richmond Generals) amongst others have also turned in clutch big game performances in the last six contests.
Senior captain
Drew Rose (Brasher Falls, N.Y./Utica Jr. Comets) and Campbell along with senior goalie
John Werber (Skillman, N.J./Team Maryland) and sophomore goalie
Lenny Perno (Rochester, N.Y./Richmond Generals) have anchored a record-breaking Bears defense this season. Potsdam is on pace to shatter the program marks for goals allowed (78 in 2000-01 and 2015-16), goals-against-average (2.88 in 2001-02 and 2001-02) and save percentage (.916 in 2014-15). This season the Bears currently have allowed just 64 goals in 25 games and have posted a 2.53 G.A.A. and a .926 save percentage. Two-time SUNYAC Goalie of the Week Werber is a big reason. He's 5-5-3 in 13 starts with a 1.91 G.A.A. and a .942 save percentage, leading the conference in both categories. Perno (3-8-1), who was a member of the SUNYAC All-Rookie Team last season, has compiled a .914 save percentage and a 3.13 G.A.A. The Bears have been especially stingy when sophomore defenseman
Rocco Seery (Bloomingdale, Ill./East Coast Wizards) is on the ice. The sophomore leads the team in plus/minus.
The Cardinals took both of the regular season meetings during the year. Plattsburgh defeated the Bears 7-3 in the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena on January 22. Last Friday, the Cardinals claimed a 4-1 decision in Maxcy Ice Arena.
Plattsburgh is outscoring opponents 3.2 goals-per-game to 2.6 this season and enter the playoffs on a three-game winning streak. Kevin Weaver-Vitale leads the Cardinals offense with 23 points on seven goals and 16 assists, including two power play and game-winning goals. Jake Sacratini has seven goals and 13 assists for 20 points. Jack Ring (4g, 13a) and Jake Lanyi (3g, 14a) each have 17 points and Aaron Catron (10g, 6a) and Tyler Ramm (11g, 5a) have each contributed 16 points. Jacob Herne has posted a .910 save percentage to go with a 2.24 G.A.A and a 14-8-1 record between the pipes this season.
In the first round a year ago, Plattsburgh pulled out a 3-2 overtime win. Despite the outcome, Perno stole the show with a 63-save performance.
The Bears have reached the postseason in 32 of their 48 seasons. They have one conference title and NCAA Tournament appearance (1995-96). Potsdam and Plattsburgh have met 19 times in the ECAC and SUNYAC Playoffs.
For fans looking to attend Wednesday night's contest, all general public ticket sales will begin online at
https://gocardinalsports.com/sports/2023/5/2/plattsburgh-state-hockey-ticketing-website.aspx at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Members of the general public can purchase tickets either in person at Plattsburgh's Field House box office or by phone at (518) 564-4062 from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25. The Field House box office will reopen for in-person sales beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26.
There will be no general admission seating; the entire rink will be opened for reserved seating only, with the exception of the student sections. Tickets are $10 each, and all students from SUNYAC institutions will be admitted free of charge with a valid student ID.
For those that can't make it to Plattsburgh, live stats can be found here:
https://gocardinalsports.com/sidearmstats/mhockey/summary
The game will be streamed live here:
https://sunyacsportsnetwork.com/plattsburgh/
