POTSDAM, N.Y.-Two SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey players earned State University of New York Athletic Conference Player of the Week awards for their efforts over the weekend. Freshman forward Dylan Vander Esch (San Jose, Calif./Hartford Wolfpack) was name the conference’s Rookie of the Week for the first time in his career, while junior goaltender Jon Hall (Dexter, N.Y./Stouffville Spirit) was selected as the SUNYAC Goalie of the Week for the third time this season.
Vander Esch helped carry the Bears to a 6-1 victory over Western New England University on Saturday evening with his first collegiate hat trick. The California freshman has played in 12 of Potsdam’s 16 games this season. He has totaled five goals, including two on the power play.
Hall stopped 33 of 34 shots against the Golden Bears on Saturday, missing his first shutout by just 1:07. This season, the junior is a career best 6-5-1 with a .910 save percentage and a 3.10 goals-against-average.
The Bears (6-8-2, 2-4-1) face a strong test when they return to SUNYAC play this Friday, at No. 9 SUNY Plattsburgh. The Cardinals took the season-opener from Potsdam, 4-2, on Halloween.
