PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — The Plattsburgh State men's ice hockey team opened the new year on a high note Friday night at the Comfort Inn Complex Winter Classic, posting a 3–1 victory over Wesleyan University at Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena. The Cardinals, who entered play having finished the fall schedule on a three-game win streak, extended their strong start to 2026 with a solid performance on home ice. 

After a fast start, Plattsburgh struck early with an unassisted tally from first-year Mike English (Hague, N.Y.) just over two minutes into the first period to put the Cardinals up 1–0. Wesleyan answered in the second period when Danny Markham capitalized on an opportunity with under three minutes remaining to knot the score at one apiece. Plattsburgh responded just before the intermission as junior Aaron Catron (Middletown, Del.) restored the lead with a power-play goal with just second left in the second. In the third, first-year Gabriel Filion (Montreal, Quebec) sealed the victory with an unassisted insurance goal in the closing minutes, pushing the Cardinals ahead 3–1. 

Plattsburgh first-year goaltender Brady Spry (Belleville, Ontario) was strong between the pipes, turning aside 22 shots for the win, while Wesleyan's Patrick McDevitt faced 38 saves in defeat. 

The win improves Plattsburgh to 7–4 on the season and propels the Cardinals into the championship game of the Comfort Inn Complex Winter Classic. Plattsburgh will face Amherst College tomorrow night at 7 p.m. after the Mammoths defeated Suffolk in the tournament's other match.