PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Cardinal hockey is officially back for the Plattsburgh State men's ice hockey team in 2016-17. The Cardinals opened the season with a 4-0 exhibition win against the Cegep Andre-Laurendeau Boomerang on Saturday night at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena.
 
It was a battle in the early going. Both the Boomerang and the Cardinals traded jabs in the early going, but neither team was able to capitalize in the first period of play.
 
Cardinal sophomore Nick Belger (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Soo Eagles) broke the scoreless tie with nearly six minutes gone in the second period. Belger's score came on one of the Cardinals 10 power play opportunities on Saturday night.
 
Between the Cardinals and the Boomerang, there were a total of 23 penalties for 46 minutes throughout the entirety of the game.
 
Holding a slight 1-0 edge, Plattsburgh State got the insurance goal they were looking for when newcomer Noah Batis (Martinsville, Ind./Manchester Monarchs) found the back of the net on a feed from Belger with 3:41 gone in the third period.
 
Belger tallied again late in the third to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead. Lastly, Cardinal freshman Brady Pfaff scored his first goal in red and white with 1:15 left in the game and sealed the game at 4-0.
 
Cardinal goalies Brady Rouleau (Fort Macleod, Alberta/Quinnipiac University) and Joshua Davies (Gueph, Ontario/Brooks Bandits) split time in net to collectively earn the shutout. Rouleau made 14 saves while Davies tallied six.
 
The Cardinals will officially open the regular season next Saturday night, Nov. 5 at the Stafford Ice Arena when they welcome the SUNY Canton Kangaroos at 7 p.m.