PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The sixth-seeded Plattsburgh State men's ice hockey team will begin its quest for a 25th conference title on Wednesday night on the road, as the Cardinals face third-seeded Skidmore in the quarterfinals of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Tournament.

ABOUT THE SERIES: In a series that dates back to Jan. 3, 2003, the Cardinals hold an 11-3 record against the Thoroughbreds. Skidmore and Plattsburgh State have met twice already this season, with the Thoroughbreds earning victories in both contests. Skidmore used a two-goal third period to secure a 4-2 win on Jan. 10 and then defeated Plattsburgh 3-2 on Feb. 13, scoring the game-winning goal in the third period.
 
ABOUT THE CARDINALS: Plattsburgh State (13-12, 9-9 SUNYAC) is competing in the SUNYAC Tournament for the 34th consecutive season and enters Wednesday's game having won five of its last seven contests. As a team, Plattsburgh State ranks among the league leaders in overtime victories, owning a perfect 5-0 record in conference overtime games this season.

The Cardinals have relied on a balanced offensive attack this season, averaging 2.9 goals per game as a team. Senior Jake Sacratini (Montreal, Quebec/AIC) leads the team in goals with 10, while junior Aaron Catron (Middletown, Del./Philadelphia Little Flyers) and first-year Gabriel Filion (Montreal, Quebec/Drayton Valley Thunder, AJHL) each have nine goals. Sacratini and sophomore Quinn Tavares (Mississauga, Ontario/Salve Regina University) lead the team in points, as Sacratini has totaled 23 points with 13 assists, while Tavares has recorded 21 points on seven goals and 14 assists. Junior Vlad Pshenichnikov (Moscow, Russia/Utica) has also played a key role for the Cardinals, ranking second on the team in conference goals, with all five of his goals coming in SUNYAC action.

Senior captain Spencer Bellina (Medina, Ohio/Chippewa Steel) anchors the Cardinals' defense, totaling 12 points on four goals and eight assists while leading the team with 42 blocked shots. Senior Brannon Butler (Toronto, Ontario/Boston Advantage), the team's physical presence on the blue line, ranks second on the squad with 38 blocks and has added six assists this season. Senior Lonan Bulger (Yellowknife, Northwest Territories/Hobart College) rounds out the experienced defensive trio, ranking third on the team in points with 15 and recording the second-most assists on the squad with 13.

First-year netminder Beau Lane (Pembroke, Mass./South Shore Kings (NCDC) has stepped seamlessly into the starting role, posting an 8-4 record in 13 appearances. Lane carries a 2.29 goals-against average to go along with a .924 save percentage.

Head coach Steve Moffat enters the week with a 127-99-16 career record overall, including a 95-56-11 mark at Plattsburgh State. He will be seeking his second career championship after leading the Cardinals to the 2023 SUNYAC Championship.

ABOUT THE THOROUGHBREDS: The three-seeded Skidmore Thoroughbreds (14-9-2, 11-6-1) in their first year of action in the SUNYAC enter the playoffs on a seven game win having not dropped a game in the month of February.  
Skidmore's offense averages 3.3 goals per game and has added 14 power-play goals this season, while the defense has limited opponents to just 2.5 goals per game. The Skidmore offense features a balanced attack, with 13 players recording double-digit point totals this season. Sophomore Coileman Jenkings leads the team with 18 points and 14 assists, while junior Cooper Rice is the lone Thoroughbred in double figures in goals, pacing the team with 10. First-year Shane Baker has also played a key role in the Skidmore attack, tallying nine goals and eight assists. Junior netminder Tommy Aitken has emerged as the team's starting goaltender, posting an 8-3-2 record along with a .920 save percentage.

Rob Hutchison, in his 11th season at Skidmore, will look to guide his team to its first SUNYAC Tournament victory in the program's debut season in the conference.

WHAT'S NEXT: Due to conference tournament reseeding, neither team will know its semifinal opponent until the results are finalized for top-seeded Hobart vs. eighth-seeded Fredonia, second-seeded Oswego vs. seventh-seeded Buffalo State, and fourth-seeded Cortland vs. fifth-seeded Canton.