Hockey Cards back in action

By JOHN CORYER
Staff Writer

January 04, 2008 04:00 am

— 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).
Following this weekend's tournament, the Cardinals play two non-conference games -- one at Norwich University on Tuesday at 7 p.m. and the other at home against Skidmore College the following Tuesday -- before returning to SUNYAC regular season play.
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Plattsburgh State Cardinals
Head coach: Bob Emery
2007-08 record: 12-2 overall
Conference record: 9-0 SUNYAC
Leading scorers
Player G A PTS
Jr. F Riley Hill 9 11 20
Fr. F Dylan Clarke 9 8 17
So. D Ward Smith 413 17
Fr. F Eric Satim 5 9 14
So. F Joey Wilson 3 11 14
Goaltenders
Goalie W-L GAA
Fr. Bryan Hince 10-2 1.91
Fr. Simon LeBlanc 2-0 2.01
Game results
Morrisville W, 5-1
Morrisville W, 6-2
Potsdam W, 11-1
at Oswego W, 4-2
at Cortland W, 5-2
at Buffalo State W, 6-1
at Fredonia W, 3-0
at Elmira L, 2-3
St. John's W, 4-3 OT
Norwich W, 5-3
Brockport W, 6-1
Geneseo W, 5-4 OT
at Middlebury L, 2-3
at Williams W, 8-1
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Tufts Jumbos
Head coach: Brian Murphy
2007-08 record: 3-3-1 overall
Conference record: 2-2-1 NESCAC
Leading scorers
Player G A PTS
Sr. F Ross Gimbel 3 4 7
Fr. F Lindsay Walker 1 6 7
Sr. F Kurt Herzog 3 3 6
Goaltenders
Goalie W-L-T GAA
Sr. James Kalec 3-2-1 3.29
Sr. Issa Azat 0-1-0 5.02
Game results
Williams W, 3-2
Middlebury L, 1-5
Neumann L, 3-6
Morrisville W, 5-4
at St. Anselm T, 3-3
at New England College L, 1-3
Connecticut College W, 5-3
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Trinity Bantams
Head coach: David Cataruzolo
2007-08 record: 4-2-1
Conference record: 1-2-1 NESCAC
Leading scorers
Player G A PTS
Sr. F Matthew Crim 33 6
Jr. F Chris Powers 1 5 6
5 players tied with five points.
Goaltenders
Goalie W-L-T GAA
So. David Murison 3-1-02.00
Fr. Wesley Vesprini 1 1 1 3.59
Game results
at Amherst L, 1-4
at Hamilton T, 1-1
Wesleyan W, 4-1
Amherst W, 5-4, OT
Babson L, 1-7
Mass-Boston W, 8-0
Salve Regina W, 5-3
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St. Scholastica Saints
Head coach: Mark Wick
2007-08 record: 4-7-2
Conference record: 2-4-1 NCHA
Leading scorers
Player G A PTS
Jr. F A.J. Tucker 8 10 18
Jr. F Trevor Geiger 4 8 12
So. F Jordan Chong 6 5 11
So D Jordan Baird 6 4 10
Goaltenders
Goalie W-L-T GAA
Jr. Steve Bounds 2-2-1 1.96
Sr. Tyler Johnson 2-3-1 3.50
So. Zach Kleiman 0-2-0 6.04
Game results
Wisc.-Eau Claire L, 3-5
St. Thomas L, 2-3
St. Mary's W, 7-4
at Hameline T, 1-1
at Augsburg W, 3-2
Wisc-River Falls L, 3-6
Wisc-Stout L, 5-6
Bethel L, 4-7
at St. Norbert T, 2-2
at Lake Forest W, 2-1
Wisc.-Eau Claire L, 2-4
Wisc.-Stevens Point W, 5-0
at Wisc.-Superior L, 2-4