Cardinals win PrimeLink

CRAIG KNOWLES
Staff writer

November 25, 2007 04:00 am

— PLATTSBURGH -- The Plattsburgh State Cardinals ended seven years of frustration in the Primelink Great Northern ShootOut Saturday night by defeating Norwich 5-3 to claim the 2007 championship in front of 1,955 at Stafford Ice Arena.
Plattsburgh shook off last year's 4-2 loss to Norwich in the tournament final to claim its first title since 1999.
The Cardinals jumped out early on the Cadets. With just 1:52 gone, Dan Sliasis stuck in the rebound after Norwich goalie David Thompson made the initial save. Ryan Burke got an assist.
"We were able to get the puck in deep and forecheck; playing to our strengths," Plattsburgh State coach Bob Emery said.
Early penalties forced four-on-four play. Plattsburgh's Joey Wilson was hit with 15 minutes in penalties -- five for hitting from behind and a 10-minute game misconduct -- while Nikita Kashirsky was called for hooking for the Cadets.
The Cardinals upped their lead to 2-0 while both sides were skating four aside. Riley Hill came down the near side and beat Thompson's glove side with Eric Greene assisting.
The Cadets got on the board late on a power-play goal with Sliasis off for hooking at 16:39. Kashirsky passed the puck from the post to the near side and Eric Ouellette slapped it in at 17:32.
Norwich tied it at 2 24 seconds into the second period when Nick DelGallo played the puck out from the boards and D.J. Fiamiani picked it up and slipped it between goalie Bryan Hince's legs.
The Cardinals answered back at 7:19 after Cadet Rapheal Robitaille was called for tripping, Nick Rolls's shot after the face-off nicked the goalpost and went in. Ryan Corry and Phil Farrow assisted on the play.
"We did a good job creating traffic in front of the net and getting to the net," Emery said. "We did not have a lot of pretty goals."
Plattsburgh extended its lead when Dylan Clarke went around the back of the net and passed in front to Eric Satim, who beat the goalie for a 4-2 Plattsburgh lead. Ward Smith also assisted on the goal.
Plattsburgh had another chance at a goal at 16:12 on a breakaway attempt, but Thompson thwarted it by reaching back for the puck.
Norwich made it a one-goal game again late in the second. Kashirsky went streaking down the far side and slipped the puck past Hince. Raph Robitaille and Chad Anderson assisted on the goal at 16:46.
Plattsburgh maintained its lead through the third, even though it was outshot 10-5 in the period.
"I was most happy the way we played with the lead and how smart we played with the lead," Coach Emery said.
Plattsburgh added to its lead at 17:34 when Satim tried for a wraparound. Thompson denied the attempt, but could not hang on and Andrew Willock was there to stick in the rebound for a 5-3 Cardinal advantage.
The shots were even at 24. Both goalies had many fine saves with Thompson finishing with 18 for Norwich, while Hince had 21 for Plattsburgh.
Hince was named to the all-tournament team along with Hill.
"We have confidence in our goalie so we aren't squeezing the sticks at the other end," Emery said. "He (Hince) is playing with confidence and allows our guys to play with confidence."
Rolls was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament and Sliasis was named outstanding rookie.
"We are a blue-collar team," Emery said. "This tournament gives us confidence going into conference play next week. We can never have too much confidence."
Plattsburgh State (9-1) will face SUNY Brockport and SUNY Geneseo next weekend at Stafford Ice Arena.
Next year's PrimeLink Great Northern Shootout will take place at Middlebury.
Middlebury 4
Saint John's 3
PLATTSBURGH -- Middlebury won the PrimeLink Great Northern Shooutout consolation, holding off Saint John's for a 4-3 victory.
Mickey Gilchrist scored the game-winning goal assisted by John Sullivan and Ian Drummond after St. John's had tied the game just three minutes prior.
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Plattsburgh State 5, Norwich 3
Plattsburgh State2 2 1 -- 5
Norwich1 2 0 -- 3
First period- 1, PSU, Sliasis (Burke), 1:52. 2, PSU, Riley (Greene), 6:40. 3, N, Ouellette ppg (Kashirsky), 17:32.
Second period- 4, N, Fimiani (DelGallo), 00:24. 5, PSU, Rolls (Corry, Farrow), 7:19. 6, PSU, Satim (Clarke, Smith), 8:50. 7, N, Kashirsky (Robitaille, Anderson), 16:46.
Third period- 8, PSU, Willock (Satim), 17:34.
Shots on goal:
Norwich8 6 10 - 24
Plattsburgh State12 7 5 - 24
Goaltenders (shots-saves): Thompson, N, 19-24. Hince, PSU, 21-24.
Powerplays (goals-opportunities): Norwich 2-5, Plattsburgh State 1-4.
Attendance: 1,955.
­--
St. John's 3, Middlebury 4
St. John's0 2 1 -- 3
Middlebury3 0 1-- 4
First period- 1, M, Townsend ppg (Graddock), 2:09. 2, M, McKenna (Suckoski), 12:16. 3, M, Graddock ppg (Townsend, Scoboda), 14:20.
Second period- 4, SJ, Broderson ppg, 15:16. 5, SJ, Eagles, 16:24.
Third period- 6, SJ Eagles (Freeman, Dorr), 3:34. 7, M, Gilchrist (Sullivan, Drummond), 6:47.
Shots on goal:
St. John's5 8 10 - 23
Middlebury17 8 7 - 32
Goaltenders (shots-saves): Wheeler, SJ, 32-28. Cherry, M, 23-20.
Power-plays (goals-opportunities): St. John's, 1-5. Middlebury 2-4.

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