2023 SUNYAC Men's Ice Hockey Tournament Semifinals

No. 3 Geneseo (18-6-2) at No. 2 Plattsburgh State (18-5-2)

Saturday, February 25, 2023 • 7 p.m. • Plattsburgh, N.Y. • Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena

Live Stats • Live Video • Live Audio (1340 AM WIRY)

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The second-seeded and seventh-ranked Plattsburgh State men's ice hockey team gets set to start another journey for its 24th conference title on Saturday night at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena, as the Cardinals face third-seeded and 11th-ranked SUNY Geneseo in the semifinal round of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Tournament.
 
TICKET PRICING: Tickets are $8, and students from SUNYAC schools with valid identification will be admitted free of charge. Tickets can be purchased at the box office beginning at 12 p.m. on the day of the game.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES: In a series that dates back to Feb. 5, 1977, the Cardinals are 82-29-6 against the Knights. Geneseo and Plattsburgh State have battled twice already this season. On Nov. 12, the two sides drew 2-2 in overtime in Plattsburgh, while the Cardinals won the second contest on Jan. 28 in Geneseo by a score of 3-2. Plattsburgh State is 2-6-2 against Geneseo in their past 10 meetings.
 
ABOUT THE CARDINALS: Plattsburgh State (18-5-2, 12-3-1 SUNYAC) is in the SUNYAC Tournament for the 31st consecutive season and enters Saturday's game on a two-game winning streak. The Cardinals enter the tournament with the best record percentage-wise in the SUNYAC but are ranked as the two-seed behind Oswego State. The Cardinals have shown to have one of the top offenses in the conference, ranking second in goals per game (3.80) and first in shots per game (41). The Cardinals have done well on the penalty kill as they rank second in the conference in power-play goals allowed, holding their opponents to just 11 all season. Junior forward Bennett Stockdale ranks fourth in the conference in goals scored this season (14) and senior defenseman Jacob Modry is tied for second in the conference for assists on the season (19). In goal for the Cardinals, first-year student Eli Shiller leads the conference in save percentage (.940) and goals-against average (1.40).
 
Three players for the Cardinals rank in the top five in the conference in plus-minus rating this season; Modry, junior forward Carson Gallagher and sophomore forward Paul Bryer all are +18 on the ice. Head coach Steve Moffat is in his fourth year behind the bench for Plattsburgh State and has posted a 43-27-8 record with the Cardinals and a 75-70-13 record overall for his career including his three years at Castleton University. Plattsburgh State has never missed the SUNYAC Tournament under Moffat.
 
ABOUT THE KNIGHTS: Geneseo (18-6-2, 11-4-1 SUNYAC), the four-time reigning SUNYAC champion and defending national runner-up, comes into Saturday's game on a two-game winning streak, including its first-round win against Fredonia on Wednesday night. The Knights, like the Cardinals, have found ways to put the puck in the back of the net. Geneseo averages 3.58 goals per game and puts 37.1 shots on goal per game. The Knights come into the game leading the conference in power-play goals (22) and have seen the second-most the power-play opportunities (109). Geneseo also ranks first in conference in goals against (46) and goals-against average (1.75).
 
Sophomore forwards Stefan Miklakos and Peter Morgan lead the Knights' offense with 24 points apiece on the season, while senior goaltender Matt Petizian ranks second in the SUNYAC in both goals-against average (1.78) and save percentage (.935). Head coach Chris Schultz is in his 17th season behind the bench and has an overall record of 278-128-30 with the Knights.
 
WHAT'S NEXT: Fifth-seeded Buffalo State visits top-seeded Oswego State on Saturday in the other SUNYAC semifinal game. The winner will play either Plattsburgh State or Geneseo at the home of the highest-remaining seed in the SUNYAC championship game on Saturday, March 4, at 7 p.m.