2022-23 Roster
2022-23 Schedule
2021-22 Statistics
 
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men's ice hockey team aspires to continue its history of success in 2022-23, as the Cardinals look to compete for their 24th State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) title and make the conference tournament for the 31st consecutive season.
 
Led by head coach Steve Moffat, Plattsburgh State went 15-8-3 overall (11-4-1 SUNYAC) last season, earning the No. 3 seed in the SUNYAC Tournament. After two exhibition games this fall under his belt, Moffat likes what he's seen so far with the 2022-23 edition of Cardinal men's ice hockey.
 
"Offensively, I think we've done a pretty good job," Moffat, who is in his fourth season at the helm, said. "We've averaged over 50 shots a game in our first two games, so we're getting pucks and bodies to the net. I like how we've been possessing the puck offensively. We're working on our team defense and defensive zone coverage; we have some tweaks to that from last year, so we're learning a new system and going through a few growing pains with that. But, I think in the end, that'll help us a little bit more."
 
In terms of goals for the season, Moffat aspires to have the team playing its best hockey at the end of the year.
 
"Obviously, we want to get better every day and peak at the right time toward the end of the season," Moffat said. "Ultimately, you want to win every game. I know that's an incredibly difficult goal, but that's what you're trying to do. You're taking it one game at a time and just focusing on the game in front of you. Let's try to win that game, compete in that game and do it again tomorrow. We're ultimately trying to play our best games at the end of the year."
 
Goaltenders
 
The lone returning netminder for the Cardinals is sophomore Jacob Hearne (Ennismore, Ontario/Toronto Jr. Canadiens), who went 5-1-0 and fashioned a 2.75 goals-against average during his debut season. Count on Hearne to challenge for minutes once again between the pipes.
 
Plattsburgh State gained an asset in net with graduate student Kyle Alaverdy (Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland and Labrador/Castleton University), who transferred from Castleton University, in addition to pulling in first-year student Eli Shiller (Toronto, Ontario/Wellington Dukes) out of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL).
 
Defensemen
 
Anchoring the defense is second-year team captain Matt Araujo (Brookhaven, N.Y./Boston Jr. Rangers). Araujo, who has 41 points (nine goals, 32 assists) during his career, is a three-time All-SUNYAC selection and returns as one of the conference's best blueliners.
 
Senior Jacob Modry (Albany, N.Y./Merrimack College) led all defensemen on the team in scoring last year with 18 points on four goals and 14 assists, earning Third-Team All-SUNYAC accolades. Count on the 6-foot, 6-inch lefthander to contribute once again in 2022-23.
 
Other returners to the defense include senior Ryan Hogg (Duncan, British Columbia/Islanders Hockey Club), juniors Kevin Weaver-Vitale (Toronto, Ontario/Markham Royals) and Cory Doney (Northfield Falls, Vt./Vermont Lumberjacks) and sophomores Jack Ring (Hingham, Mass./Northeast Generals) and Jagger Benson (Lynnfield, Mass./Cranbrook Bucks).
 
Newcomers to the blue line include first-year students Spencer Bellina (Medina, Ohio/Chippewa Steel) and Brannon Butler (Toronto, Ontario/Boston Advantage).
 
Forwards
 
Several Division I transfers helped power a high-octane offense last season, and much of last year's core returns. Juniors Bennett Stockdale (Ottawa, Ontario/University of Alabama in Huntsville) and Carson Gallagher (Courtice, Ontario/Sacred Heart University) earned Second-Team and Third-Team All-SUNYAC honors, respectively, in 2021-22 and look to continue to find ways to put the puck in the back of the net this season.
 
Seniors Mitchell Hale (Oakfield, N.Y./Johnstown Tomahawks), Adam Tretowicz (Baldwinsville, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres) and Brendan Young (Lefroy, Ontario/Blind River Beavers) are the veterans of the position group, having each suited up in at least 45 games during their careers. Senior Marcus Mitchell (Kelowna, British Columbia/University of Alaska Anchorage), juniors Thomas Maia (Mississauga, Ontario/Nanaimo Clippers), Paul Bryer (Clarkston, Mich./Islanders Hockey Club) and Trey Thomas (Williams Lake, British Columbia/Brooke Bandits) and sophomores Luk Jirousek (Whitehorse, Yukon/Alberni Valley Bulldogs) and Jake Lanyi (North Salem, N.Y./Connecticut Jr. Rangers) round out the returners.
 
Junior Ryan Butler (Kelowna, British Columbia/Adrian College) joins the team as a transfer, while first-year students Ryan Bonfield (Kemptville, Ontario/Brockville Braves), Joshua Belgrave (Burlington, Ontario/Burlington Cougars), Colin Callanan (Stony Point, N.Y./New York Apple Core) and Riley Sutherland (Burlington, Ontario/St. Michael's Buzzers) round out the remainder of the newcomers.
 
Schedule
 
Plattsburgh State kicks off the season on Friday, Oct. 28, at Plymouth State University and faces Castleton University on the road the following night in its final tune-up before SUNYAC play. The Cardinals kick off the conference schedule on Friday, Nov. 4, at rival Oswego State before visiting SUNY Cortland the following night.
 
Plattsburgh State returns to the North Country for a four-game stretch of contests at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena: SUNY Brockport on Nov. 11, defending national runner-up SUNY Geneseo on Nov. 12, Fredonia on Nov. 18 and Buffalo State on Nov. 19. The Cardinals then face Middlebury College in the opening game of the FirstLight Shootout before squaring off with either Norwich University or Aurora University the following day. After road contests at SUNY Potsdam (Dec. 3) and Norwich (Dec. 6), the Cardinals close out the semester with a home game versus SUNY Morrisville on Dec. 10.
 
The Cardinals ring in the New Year with the Cardinal Winter Classic, drawing the Wentworth Institute of Technology on Jan. 6 before meeting up with either Potsdam or Oswego the following day. The non-conference schedule concludes with a road game at Middlebury on Jan. 13 and a home contest against Williams College on Jan. 14. Plattsburgh State then entertains Oswego (Jan. 20) and Cortland (Jan. 21) before a four-game stretch on the road at Brockport (Jan. 27), Geneseo (Jan. 28), Fredonia (Feb. 3) and Buffalo State (Feb. 4). Potsdam meets up with the Cardinals at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena in their final home game of the regular season on Feb. 10 before closing out the regular-season slate at Morrisville on Feb. 15.
 
"The SUNYAC is as good as it's ever been, and it's getting deeper," Moffat said. "I think it's great for the league because there are no nights off. Everybody's competing all the time for those six playoff spots. I think it's a really fun league to play in. Our non-conference games will hopefully help us get ready as the season goes on and moves on closer to playoff time. Hopefully that makes us a little bit more battle ready."