PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — The Plattsburgh State men's ice hockey team used a five-goal second period in defeating Castleton University, 8-1, on Saturday night at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena. The win is the Cardinals' first of the season.

Plattsburgh State (1-1-0) begins State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play with a home game against SUNY Cortland at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 5, at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena. Castleton (1-1-0) next hosts Saint Anselm College for a non-conference game at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 5, at Spartan Arena. 

Following an emotional pregame ceremony honoring all-time Cardinal great Chris Panek, the Cardinals came out and scored a goal 15 seconds into the game to take a 1-0 lead. Sophomore forward Carson Gallagher (Courtice, Ontario/Sacred Heart University) scored his first collegiate goal with a wrist shot from the slot that found the upper-right corner of the net. Sophomore forward Bennett Stockdale (Ottawa, Ontario/Alabama Huntsville) garnered the assist.

Stockdale then scored the next two Cardinal goals to push the Plattsburgh State lead to 3-0 headed into the first intermission. At the 4:23 mark, Stockdale took a pass from Gallagher in front of the net and finished with a low wrist shot. Junior defenseman Jacob Modry (Albany, N.Y./Merrimack College) tallied the secondary assist. Stockdale then scored a shorthanded goal with an incredible individual effort at 19:43.2 of the period. Stockdale forced a turnover behind the Spartan goal, skated in front of the net, and scored with a deke. 

The Cardinals would outscore the Spartans, 5-1, in the second period to stretch their lead to 8-1. 

Modry scored his first Cardinal goal 36 seconds into the second period to make the score 4-0. He took a cross-ice pass from junior forward Mitchell Hale (Oakfield, N.Y./Johnstown Tomahawks) and unleashed a wrist shot from inside the top of the left circle for the goal.

Just over two minutes later on a Cardinal power play, first-year forward Luk Jirousek (Whitehorse, Yukon/Alberni Valley Bulldogs) scored his first collegiate goal with a wrist shot from outside the top of the left circle that went in just under the crossbar to make the score 5-0. First-year defender Jack Ring (Hingham, Mass./Northeast Generals) and Gallagher assisted on the goal that was scored at 2:43.  

Sophomore forward Joey Mancuso (Pottstown, Pa./Connecticut Jr. Rangers) made the score 6-0 with his first collegiate goal at the 7:31 mark. Hale skated into the right side of the offensive zone and found Mancuso skating through the slot with a cross-ice pass. Mancuso promptly scored with a low wrist shot. Junior defenseman Ryan Hogg (Duncan British Columbia/Islanders Hockey Club) recorded the secondary assist.

Plattsburgh State extended its lead to 7-0 on the first Cardinal goal for junior forward Marcus Mitchell (Kelowna, British Columbia/University of Alaska Anchorage) at the 13:12 mark. Jirousek played a pass from near the blue line to Mancuso in the slot, who then played a pass to Mitchell right outside the crease. Mitchell used a deke to finish for a power-play goal.

Castleton's lone goal was scored by senior forward Connor Rider at 16:52 of the second period. Plattsburgh State's sophomore goaltender Anthony Del Tufo (Livingston, N.J./Philadelphia Revolution) made an initial save off a shot by graduate-student forward Glenn Wiswell. However, Wiswell got the rebound behind the goal line and found a trailing Rider in the slot, who quickly fired a shot for the goal before Del Tufo could get back into position. Senior defenseman Andrew Barber also assisted on the goal that made the score 7-1.

Hale capped off the scoring in the second period and the game with a shorthanded goal at 18:48. Ring took a shot that hit off the post, but Hale got to the rebound and stuffed the puck into the net before the goaltender could figure out where the puck was. Hale's goal was his second of the season.  

Making his second career start, Del Tufo (1-1-0) made 14 saves and allowed one goal for Plattsburgh State as he played the first two periods. First-year goaltender Jacob Hearne made his career debut, making six saves while playing the third period. 

Junior netminder Brandon Collett (0-1-0) allowed seven goals and made 24 saves for Castleton in 33:12 played. He was relieved by first-year goaltender Dominic Rodrigue, who stopped 17 shots and allowed one goal in 26:48 played.

The Cardinals held a 49-21 edge in shots on goal.

Plattsburgh State finished 2-of-5 on the power play and held Castleton to 0-of-6 on the power play. The Cardinals also scored two shorthanded goals.

UFirst Federal Credit Union is the official Zamboni sponsor of Plattsburgh State men's and women's ice hockey.