PLATTSBURGH -- In recent years, the Plattsburgh State men's hockey team needed the break between the first and second semesters.

That, however, isn't the case this season.

Plattsburgh State opens second-half play today and Saturday when it hosts the annual Cardinal Classic at the Stafford Ice Arena.

Today's opening round has Trinity vs. St. Scholastica at 4 p.m., followed by the Cardinals vs. Tufts at 7 p.m.

The third-place game and championship contest is scheduled for 4 and 7 p.m. on Saturday.

The Cardinals finished first-half play with a 12-2 overall record and a 9-0 mark in the State University of New York Athletic Conference.

Plattsburgh State's last game before the break was an 8-1 win at Williams College on Dec. 8.

"When we haven't played well, we've look forward to the break," said Plattsburgh State head coach Bob Emery. "But, when you're going well, like we were in the first semester, you want to get back and play.

"I'm not concerned about the layoff because the other teams in the tournament have been on break as well. All the teams are going to have some growing pains over the weekend."

Hard work resulted in a successful first half for the Cardinals and Emery doesn't expect the formula for success to change any.

"We have no superstars on this team and we have to outwork opponents in order to be successful," he said. "We also have to do all the little things.

"We don't know a lot about the other teams in the tournament, but I do know Tufts is much improved. There's a lot of parity in Division III hockey and that wasn't the case 10 years ago.

"We need to continue to get the strong leadership we did in the first semester."

The Cardinals did not lose any players and did not add any players for the second half of the season.

Tufts (3-3-1, 2-2-1) and Trinity (4-2-1, 1-2-1) both compete in the New England Small College Athletic Assocation (NESCAC), while St. Scholastica, Minn. (4-7-2, 2-4-1) competes out west in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA).