By Collin Bolebruch
Approaching winter break, Plattsburgh men’s hockey knows its learning has to translate into winning soon. It made progress in losing last weekend.
“Honestly, I thought it was one of our better games,” head coach Steve Moffat said. “We just came out on the short end of the stick.”
The Plattsburgh Cardinals (4-4, 2-2) lost 0-1 to the Norwich Cadets (3-3-1) in the opening round of the LayerEight Shootout at Chip Kenyon ‘85 Arena in Middlebury, Vermont on Nov. 29. Plattsburgh then won 5-3 over the Marian Sabres (4-4) in the consolation game Nov. 30.
The hosting Middlebury Panthers (4-2) then won the tournament with a 2-0 victory over Norwich.
Plattsburgh entered the weekend as back-to-back reigning champions. For the first time since 2019, the Cardinals lost the first game of the annual tournament.
NORWICH
Since the hiring of Moffat, the Cardinals have gone 2-6-2 against the rival Cadets, including a 1-2 overtime loss in the 2023 NCAA First Round. Plattsburgh’s wins came in the 2022 and 2023 Shootouts.
Friday’s loss was the first time Plattsburgh was held scoreless against Norwich under Moffat.
The Cardinals allowed the least scores and shots in a loss this season. Graduate defenseman Kevin Weaver-Vitale said the performance was the result of hard work.
“I think we finally bore down with our defensive structure,” Weaver-Vitale said. “We’ve been working on it a lot in practice.”
Plattsburgh went scoreless on two power plays, while Norwich’s winner came from one of its two attempts.
Plattsburgh led in shots 30 to 23, recovering from a five to 13 first period. Over the second and third periods, Plattsburgh led 25 to 10.
Senior Jacob Hearne started in net, saving 22 shots. Sophomore Eli Shiller missed the previous three games and Hearne has stepped in as the lone starter.
Three forwards — seniors Luk Jirousek, captain, and Jagger Benson and junior Joshua Belgrave — also missed the contest. Jirousek has been absent with an injury since Nov. 16.
“Everyone knows how to play hockey on our team,” Weaver-Vitale said. “It’s a good opportunity for the freshmen to jump in and learn and play in big games.”
During the first period, the Cardinals did too much deliberating, Moffat said. Plattsburgh didn’t register a shot for the first nine minutes.
“I thought we had a lot of good chances in the first — we just didn’t shoot the puck,” Moffat said.
The first intermission marked a turnaround in the Cardinals’ aggression, as they shot 14 times in the next period.
“We finally started to shoot a little bit more and create some more offense,” Moffat said.
The third period looked even better for Plattsburgh defensively, allowing just four shots. The final stanza saw three of four total power plays.
At 13:17, junior forward Jake Sacratini committed an interference penalty, giving Norwich another two minutes man-up. Plattsburgh held Norwich shotless for the first 1:45, until the Cadets scored the game-winner on its first attempt on net.
“We can’t take a penalty with six minutes left,” Moffat said.
Hearne was pulled for the final 1:37 to no success.
“That’s a step in the right direction,” Moffat said. “I thought the effort was there. I thought the energy was there. I thought the emotion was there. I’m pleased with that.”
MARIAN
Since Marian men’s hockey was founded in 1995, the Sabres and Cardinals had never faced off prior to Saturday.
Junior forward Riley Sutherland stepped up offensively with two goals — matching his career total. Plagued by injuries, the Cardinals have had to rely on its down-the-bench players for scores.
“I thought guys stepped right up and played really well,” Moffat said.
Additional scorers included sophomore forward Aaron Catron, unassisted, rookie forward Patrick Cole — his career first — and senior defenseman Jack Ring.
Rookie forward Brody Spencer-Ha tallied three assists, including the initial and game-winning goals.
Sutherland, Benson, rookie forward Blake Hall and junior defensemen Lonan Bulger and Brannon Butler all added an assist each.
Plattsburgh didn’t score on its lone power play and killed three of four penalties. Marian outshot Plattsburgh on the day 38 to 32.
Hearne started again, recording 35 saves — a season-high.
Sutherland scored the game’s first goal just 49 seconds in. Marian responded at 4:53 on the power play for the second man-up goal allowed for Plattsburgh this weekend.
Two more Plattsburgh goals before the 10-minute mark put the Cards up 3-1 early in the game, forcing Marian to switch goalies.
Marian cut into the margin before the end of the first period, scoring on Hearne at 17:16. The Sabres built on that momentum, tying the game 2:28 into the second.
The Sabres again went on the power play at 18:16. Sutherland flipped the script and scored short-handed.
Plattsburgh has four short-hand goals this season compared to three on the power play.
“Our power play needs a bit of work, but it’s coming along,” Sutherland said. “We’ve had a solid penalty kill. We’ve been really gritty.”
Ring put in one more for extra insurance to give Plattsburgh the win. The Cards have now gone 1-1 in three consecutive weekends.
THIS WEEKEND
The Cardinals have a chance to get back on the upturn with two SUNYAC games this weekend ahead of the team’s winter break.
Plattsburgh hits the road to play the Fredonia Blue Devils (3-7, 1-3) on Dec. 6 and the Buffalo State Bengals (5-2, 4-0) on Dec. 7.
The Bengals have been impressive this season, defeating both Cortland and Oswego, earning United States College Hockey Online poll votes along the way.
Sweeping their first weekend of the season would go a long way in getting back on the right track.
“We’re going to have to start winning,” Sutherland said. “We’re a young team but we’re coming along. I think after this game, we’re turning the corner.”
