Steve Moffat, one of the most decorated student-athletes in Cardinal men's ice hockey history and a 25-year coaching veteran, enters his seventh year as the head men's ice hockey coach at Plattsburgh State in 2025-26.
Moffat has helped carry on the storied tradition of Cardinal Hockey, as the Cardinals have made the SUNYAC Tournament every year under his direction and won the 2023 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) championship. He has coached 11 All-SUNYAC honorees, with 18 All-SUNYAC honors, the 2023-24 SUNYAC Rookie of the Year, and three All-Americans during his time leading the Plattsburgh State men's ice hockey team.
In his sixth year as the head of the Cardinals, Moffat led Plattsburgh to a 16-11-1 (8-6 SUNYAC) record, pushing the team to a SUNYAC Championship appearance. The Cardinals had a magical run to the finals, erasing two 3-0 deficits in the first two rounds of the SUNYAC Tournament, including taking down top-seeded and defending champion Cortland with a last-second shot in regulation and then a game-winner in overtime. Kevin Weaver-Vitale and Jack Ring were All-SUNYAC honorees for the Cardinals, with Tyler Ramm earning All-Rookie team honors. Weaver-Vitale also earned All-America plaudits with a third-team East selection. Early in the season, Moffat also achieved his 100th career win, with a 7-1 trouncing of SUNY Canton on Nov. 16.
In his fifth year at Plattsburgh State, Moffat led the Cardinals to a 21-5-2 overall record (12-3-1 SUNYAC). During the season, Plattsburgh rose to #1 in the USCHO.com Division III Men's Ice Hockey Poll, something the Cardinals had never done in Moffat's tenure as head coach. Plattsburgh reached the SUNYAC finals after two overtime wins in the SUNYAC tournament, but suffered a loss to the Cortland Red Dragons in overtime. Plattsburgh State was able to win multiple in-season tournaments, including the LayerEight Shootout on Nov. 25 and the Comfort Inn Complex Winter Classic on Jan. 6. Moffatt also coached five all-conference selections, including SUNYAC Rookie of the Year Tio D'Addario and first-team selection Bennett Stockdale. Stockdale also earned All-America honors under the tutelage of Moffat.
Moffat led the Cardinals to a 20-6-2 overall (12-3-1 SUNYAC) record in 2022-23, which marked the Cardinals' best mark since 2015-16, and his staff was named the SUNYAC Coaching Staff of the Year. In addition, he was named a finalist for the American Hockey Coaches Association's (AHCA's) Edward Jeremiah Award, which is awarded annually to the top College Division men's ice hockey coach. Plattsburgh State won its 24th SUNYAC championship in program history in 2022-23, edging rival Oswego State, 2-1, on the road in the SUNYAC Tournament championship game. The Cardinals also made their 23rd appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament and hosted their first home NCAA Tournament game in more than a decade, taking on Norwich University in front of a sellout crowd at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena. Plattsburgh State won its seventh FirstLight Shootout championship in program history, defeating Norwich, 3-1, in the championship game on Nov. 26.
In his second season and third year at Plattsburgh State in 2021-22, Moffat led his team to a 15-8-3 record and an 11-4-1 mark in SUNYAC play to lead his team to a third-place finish in regular-season conference play. The team boasted one of the league's best offenses, as they ranked second in the conference in both goals (106) and goals per game (4.24). Plattsburgh State also produced five all-conference selections during the season, tied for the most among any team, with three second-team selections and two third-team honors. The Cardinals earned the right to host a playoff game in the SUNYAC Tournament but ended up falling to SUNY Brockport in the first round to conclude their season.
In his second year as head coach at Plattsburgh State, the 2020-21 season was canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
In his first season as head coach at Plattsburgh State in 2019-20, Moffat led the Cardinals to a 10-14-3 record, including a 6-8-2 mark in SUNYAC play. The Cardinals played their best at the end of the season as they won their final three regular-season games to earn the No. 5 seed in the SUNYAC Tournament. Plattsburgh State then upset No. 4-seeded Brockport in the SUNYAC Tournament first round with a thrilling, 3-2 road victory in double overtime on Feb. 26. The Cardinals' season came to an end with a SUNYAC Tournament semifinal game at No. 2-seeded Oswego State on March 3.
Before taking over as head coach, Moffat served as an assistant coach at Plattsburgh State for a combined total of 16 years, with his first stint occurring from 2000-13 and his second stint occurring from 2016-19. He helped Plattsburgh State win eight State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) titles as an assistant coach, and he was on the coaching staff that helped guide the Cardinals to the 2000-01 NCAA Division III national championship. All told, Plattsburgh State made nine NCAA Tournament appearances, including five showings in the national semifinals, and went 312-130-33 overall (.692 winning percentage) during his tenure as an assistant.
During his time at Plattsburgh State, Moffat helped recruit and develop 13 All-Americans, 39 All-SUNYAC selections, three SUNYAC Rookies of the Year and one SUNYAC Player of the Year in addition to numerous Cardinals who went on to play professionally. He also was responsible for coaching the team's forwards and special teams units.
From 2013-16, Moffat worked as the head men's ice hockey coach at Castleton University, recruiting and coaching three All-Conference selections, one All-NEHC Rookie Team member and the 2015-16 New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) Rookie of the Year. He also led the Spartans to two appearances in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) East Tournament semifinals.
As a student-athlete, Moffat was one of the most decorated Cardinals in the program's history, earning two All-America honors while playing for Plattsburgh State from 1994-98. The Hatboro, Pa., native recorded 205 points on 106 goals and 99 assists during his four years in a Cardinal uniform, and he currently ranks among the program's all-time leaders in goals (third), points (sixth) and assists (tied for 11th). He led Plattsburgh State to SUNYAC titles during his junior and senior seasons, earning SUNYAC Tournament MVP honors in 1996-97. Moffat was also a three-time All-SUNYAC selection and was named the SUNYAC Co-Rookie of the Year in 1994-95. He was inducted into the Plattsburgh State Athletic Hall of Fame and was named to the Cardinal All-Decade Team for the 1995-2004 era.
After his college graduation, Moffat played professionally in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) for the Northeast Division champion Columbus Chill in 1998-99. The following season, he helped the Florida Everblades with the ECHL's best record and 2000 Southeast Division crown.
Moffat earned his Bachelor of Arts in sociology in 1998 and his Master of Science in Education and C.A.S. in school counseling in 2002. Both degrees were conferred by SUNY Plattsburgh.
The Moffat Coaching Record
| Season |
School |
Record |
Pct. |
Conf./Place |
Final NCAA Ranking/Notes |
| 2013-14 |
Castleton |
13-11-3 |
.537 |
8-7-3 |
ECAC East Tournament Semifinals |
| 2014-15 |
Castleton |
11-16-0 |
.407 |
8-10-0 |
ECAC East Tournament Semifinals |
| 2015-16 |
Castleton |
8-16-2 |
.346 |
7-9-2 |
NEHC Tournament Quarterfinals |
| 2019-20 |
Plattsburgh State |
10-14-3 |
.426 |
6-8-2/5th |
SUNYAC Tournament Semifinals |
| 2020-21 |
Plattsburgh State |
- |
- |
- |
Season canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2021-22 |
Plattsburgh State |
15-8-3 |
.635 |
11-4-1/3rd |
SUNYAC Tournament First Round |
| 2022-23 |
Plattsburgh State |
20-6-2 |
.750 |
12-3-1/2nd |
SUNYAC Champion
NCAA Division III Tournament First Round |
| 2023-24 |
Plattsburgh State |
21-5-2 |
.786 |
12-3-1/3rd |
SUNYAC Runner-Up |
| 2024-25 |
Plattsburgh State |
16-11-1 |
.589 |
8-6/4th |
SUNYAC Runner-Up |
| Overall |
School Totals |
82-44-11 |
.639 |
49-24-5 |
Five SUNYAC Tournament Appearances
One SUNYAC Championship
One NCAA Tournament Appearance |
|
Career Totals |
114-87-16 |
.562 |
|
Eight Conference Tournament Appearances |
