PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The No. 1 Plattsburgh State men's ice hockey picked up their sixth straight win to start the year, taking down SUNY Potsdam 3-2 for a State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) win.  Paul Bryer (Clarkston, Mich./Islanders Hockey Club) scored the game-winner for the Cards with under two minutes to go, to give the Cards their sixth straight win to begin the 2023-24 campaign.

Plattsburgh State is currently ranked No. 1 in the USCHO. com Division III Top-15 Poll. This top ranking is the first for the Cards since the 2015-16 season, specifically Nov. 30, 2015. That season, the Cards rattled off nine straight wins to start the year, ending with a PrimeLink Great Northern Shootout Championship.

Bryer netted the game-winner at the 18:38 mark in the third period, seven minutes after Potsdam tied the game up at two goals apiece. Adam Tretowicz (Baldwinsville, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres) and Bennett Stockdale (Ottawa, Ontario/Alabama Huntsville) each scored as well for Plattsburgh State in the win. Jacob Hearne (Ennismore, Ontario/Toronto Jr. Canadiens) earned his fourth win of the season in goal, making 17 saves over 60 minutes of action.

Plattsburgh easily won the shot battle on Friday evening, with 41 shots on goal to Potsdam's 18. The Cardinals scored on one of their three power plays, while they only allowed the Bears to go on the power play once and held them scoreless on that chance.

The Cards moved to 6-0 (4-0 SUNYAC) and will next play on Black Friday, as they host the LayerEight Shootout Tournament. Middlebury and Norwich will play first at 3:30 p.m. followed by Plattsburgh taking on St. Olaf at 7 p.m., with each game being hosted by the Cards at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena. Potsdam falls to 1-5 (0-4 SUNYAC) and plays next weekend, Nov. 25 and Nov. 26, at the North Country Tournament hosted by SUNY Canton.

The Cardinals came out swinging in the first period, dominating possession and shots on goal through the first nine minutes. However, the Bears responded well to the Card's strong offensive attack, as their second shot of the game found the back of the net, with Jack Loran adding the tally with assists from Mason Hoehn and Coleman Bennett. The score came at the 9:03 mark in the first period, putting the Plattsburgh down 1-0.

For the rest of the period, Plattsburgh continued to hold possession and pepper the Potsdam goaltended with shots until finally, Stockdale was able to tie the game at one goal. After Tio D'Addario (Montreal, Quebec/Navan Grads) played the puck up near the blue-line to Kevin Weaver-Vitale (Toronto, Ontario/Markham Royals) who ripped a shot onto the goal. The shot was saved by right there for the rebound on the doorstep was Stockdale, who put the shot in for the score at the 18:53 mark in the first period.

In the second period, the Cardinals took the lead just over four minutes into the action, as Tretowicz picked up his second goal of the season. The graduate student skated right down the center of the ice to the goal when Bryer found him with a perfect pass, and he went to the far side of the goal past the keeper with his shot for the score.

The Cards held their 2-1 lead for the rest of the second period and for the majority of the third period until Loran picked up his second goal of the game at the 11:08 mark. Over the next seven and a half minutes, the Cardinals would not allow a single Potsdam shot on goal, as Plattsburgh was relentless on offense looking to retake the lead. Finally, at the 18:38 mark of the third period, the Cards offense came through, as Bryer played a pass to Weaver-Vitale in the right face-off circle out in front of the goal, where the one-timer from the defenseman couldn't find its mark. On the rebound behind the goalie line, Bryer picked up the loose puck and scored the wrap-around goal to give his team a late lead.

Over the final minute-plus, Plattsburgh was able to keep the Potsdam attack at bay, securing the win.