PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men's ice hockey team will return a familiar face behind the Cardinals' bench on game days, as Steve Moffat rejoins the coaching staff for his second stint.
 
Moffat will replace Mike Coppola who was the assistant coach for the past three seasons.
 
"I would like to thank Mike Coppola for the three years he gave to the hockey program here," said Plattsburgh State men's hockey coach Bob Emery. "Mike had a tremendous work ethic and passion for the game. There is no doubt he will be successful in his future endeavors. We here at Plattsburgh State wish him the best," Emery added.
 
Moffat returns to Plattsburgh State with three years of head coaching experience after leading the Castleton Spartans during that span. Before Castleton, Moffat was the assistant coach at Plattsburgh State for 13 years. In his 13 year tenure, the Cardinals enjoyed a wealth of success posting a 269-96-29 (.720 win percentage) overall record and a .772 (144-39-10) win percentage in the SUNYAC. The Cardinals won seven SUNYAC Championships and one NCAA Division III National Championship during Moffat's time.
 
As a player, Moffat also flourished in the Cardinal uniform. He was a two-time All-American posting 205 career points on 106 goals and 99 assists in 125 total games. Moffat was also enshrined into the Plattsburgh State Hall of Fame, as a member of the 2010 class.
 
After graduating from Plattsburgh State in 1998, Moffat played professionally in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) for the Northeast Division champion Columbus Chill in 1998-99. The following season, he helped the Florida Everblades clinch the ECHL's best record and 2000 Southeast Division crown.
 
"Steve [Moffat] comes back with a ton of experience," Emery stated. "We are very fortunate that he was interested in coming back. He is very approachable and is a very good coach. I worked with him for years and we had some great teams. He is a very close friends with almost all of the former players he has coached during his time at Plattsburgh State. I am sure he will find the transition seamless," said Emery.
 
The Plattsburgh State men's ice hockey team opens up its 2016-17 season on Nov. 5 against SUNY Canton at 7 p.m. in the Stafford Ice Arena.