PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men's ice hockey team is set to host its annual W.B. Mason Winter Classic at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena this Friday and Saturday, Jan. 3-4. The two-day, four-team tournament, which began in 1982, features host Plattsburgh State, the Wentworth Institute of Technology, Endicott College and Elmira College.
 
Endicott and Elmira meet at 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 3, followed by a 7 p.m. game between Plattsburgh State and Wentworth. The consolation game is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4, with the championship game slated for 7 p.m.

First held from Dec. 3-4, 1982, the Winter Classic has served as the Cardinals' annual home tournament. Though the dates and title sponsors have changed throughout the years, the Classic has remained a staple of Plattsburgh State's schedule. The Classic has featured 44 teams during its existence with each team this year being a repeat attendee. Elmira is making its fourth appearance in the Winter Classic, while Endicott and Wentworth are each competing for the second time.

Fans who wish to attend any of the games may purchase $10 single-day tickets online at tickets.plattsburgh.edu or on-site beginning an hour and a half before each game at the Plattsburgh State Field House Box Office. Plattsburgh State students with a student ID will not be charged, and Cardinal men's ice hockey season-ticket holders are covered under the yearly package. For additional information on ticketing, you may also call the box office at 518-564-4062.
 
Host Plattsburgh State, which enters this weekend at 3-6-1 overall, will look to claim its 23rd Winter Classic championship. The Cardinals have won the Winter Classic each of the last two years. In last year's tournament, the Cardinals defeated Connecticut College, 5-2, in their first game. Plattsburgh State then played Saint Anselm College to a 1-1 overtime tie before winning the shootout 1-0 in four rounds to garner the tournament title. Plattsburgh State, which has played four opponents this season that were ranked in the top five of the USCHO Division III Men's Poll at the time of the game, is led in goals scored by freshman defenseman Ryan Hogg (Duncan, British Columbia/Islanders Hockey Club) with four. Junior forward Liam Lawson (Vancouver, British Columbia/Powell River Paper Kings), senior forward Joe Drabin (Rochester, N.Y./Wenatchee Wild) and senior forward Ryan Kuhn (Wheatfield, N.Y./Niagara University) are in a three-way tie for the team lead in points (6). Drabin and Kuhn each have a team-high five assists. Junior goaltender Jimmy Poreda (Tonawanda, N.Y./Connecticut Jr. Rangers), a two-time PrestoSports State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Men's Ice Hockey Goaltender of the Week in 2019-20, has played to a 3-5-1 record with 249 saves, a .915 save percentage, a 2.63 goals against average and one shutout in nine starts.  
 
Wentworth enters its matchup against the Cardinals with a 4-6-1 record in 2019-20, including a 5-2 loss at Becker College in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play on Saturday, Dec. 7. Wentworth, which is making its second appearance in the tournament, also took part in the Winter Classic in 1999-2000. Wentworth is led offensively by senior forward Georgy Gorodetsky, who leads the Leopards in goals (6), assists (11) and points (17), while ranking tied for 13th in NCAA Division III men's ice hockey in points per game (1.55). Senior forward Adam Tracey (15 points), senior forward Nate Chase (13) and sophomore forward Jake McKenelley (10) join Gorodetsky with double-digit point totals. In goal, sophomore Thomas Draper (3-5-0) has 227 saves, a .876 save percentage and a 3.80 goals against average in nine games played (eight starts).    

Endicott comes into the tournament with a 7-4-0 record, including a 3-1 loss to Colby College in its last game on Tuesday, Dec. 31. The Gulls have two wins over opponents that were ranked at the time of the game – defeating then-No. 14 Curry College, 2-1, on Friday, Nov. 8 and then-No. 11 University of New England, 4-2, on Friday, Nov. 22. Freshman forward Zach Mazur has tallied five goals and a team-best eight assists for a team-leading 13 points. Junior forward Jake Simona has recorded a team-leading six goals and three assists to rank second in points (9). Senior forwards James Winkler and Luke Rodgers have garnered eight points each in 2019-20. In goal, sophomore Conor O'Brien (7-3-0) has garnered 291 saves, a .942 save percentage, a 1.79 goals against average and one shutout in 10 starts. Endicott is competing in the Winter Classic for the second time with its first appearance coming in 2017-18.

Opposite of Endicott on Friday is Elmira, which has played to a 5-3-1 record in 2019-20. In its most recent game, Elmira bested Lebanon Valley College, 7-1, in United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) play on Saturday, Dec. 7. The Soaring Eagles, who also appeared in the Winter Classic in 1999-2000, 2005-06 and 2012-13, are competing in the tournament for the fourth time. Earlier this season, Elmira defeated then-No. 10 Utica in a UCHC road game on Saturday, Nov. 23. Senior forwards Matthew Cuce, Connor Powell and Nick Ford are tied for the team lead in points (11). Cuce has tallied a team-high five goals, while Powell and Ford are tied for the team lead in assists (7). In goal, junior Chris Janzen (5-1-0) has tallied 165 saves, a .943 save percentage, a 1.67 goals against average and one shutout in six starts on the season. Freshman netminder Logan Bateman (0-2-1) has 94 saves, a .922 save percentage and a 2.61 goals against average in three starts.        

All games throughout the classic will be available through live statistics (http://gocardinalsports.com/sidearmstats/mhockey) and live video (http://gocardinalsports.com/sports/2017/10/3/mens-ice-hockey-video-stream.aspx).

Past Cardinal Classic Champions:
2018-19: Plattsburgh State
2017-18: Plattsburgh State
2016-17: Neumann
2015-16: Plattsburgh State
2014-15: Amherst
2013-14: Hobart
2012-13: Amherst
2011-12: Plattsburgh State
2010-11: Plattsburgh State
2009-10: Plattsburgh State
2008-09: Plattsburgh State
2007-08: Plattsburgh State
2006-07: Neumann
2005-06: Plattsburgh State
2004-05: Utica
2003-04: Babson
2002-03: Plattsburgh State
2001-02: Plattsburgh State
2000-01: RIT
1999-2000: Plattsburgh State
1998-99: Plattsburgh State
1997-98: Plattsburgh State
1996-97: Plattsburgh State
1995-96: Army
1994-95: Plattsburgh State
1993-94: Plattsburgh State
1992-93: Salem State
1991-92: Plattsburgh State
1990-91: Plattsburgh State
1989-90: Plattsburgh State
1988-89: Merrimack
1987-88: Army
1986-87: Merrimack
1985-86: Plattsburgh State
1984-85: Plattsburgh State
1983-84: RIT
1982-83: Concordia