SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.-The SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team (5-7-2) rallied for a 1-1 tie at Skidmore College (2-11-2) on Saturday afternoon. Junior forward Matt Thompson (Anchorage, Alaska/Kenai River Brown Bears) got the equalizer for the Bears.
The Thoroughbreds edged Potsdam 9-8 in shots in the opening period. However, Bears senior goalie Shane Talarico (Greensburg, Pa./Elmira College) and Skidmore’s Jack McDonald stopped everything that came their way. The contest was scoreless at the first intermission.
The game was more physical in the second period, with matching majors and game misconducts. The Bears fired 14 shots on McDonald while allowing only six on Talarico. Potsdam was unable to capitalize on the period’s only power play and the scored remained unchanged.
Skidmore went on its second man advantage of the contest nearly three minutes into the final period and finally broke through. Mickey Foley put the Thoroughbreds up 1-0 at 4:45 with assists from Jack Sloan and Zach Arden. Just 26 seconds later, Skidmore was whistled for tripping and the Bears answered. Thompson evened the game at 6:42 with helpers from senior defenseman Erick Ware (Huntsville, Ala./Kenai River Brown Bears) and senior forward Zach Blake (Campbellford, Ontario/SUNY Plattsburgh). The rest of regulation saw multiple matching penalties, but no more scoring. The shots were 2-2 in the extra session, but the game ended in a draw.
Talarico finished with 25 saves and McDonald stopped 36 shots. Each team was 1-for-3 on the power play.
The Bears are back in action on Tuesday, when they host Elmira College at 7 p.m. Amerlux Lighting will be sponsoring Youth Hockey Night for the contest. Any youth hockey players that wear their jerseys will receive free admission. Amerlux will also donate $1,000 to the youth program with the most players present.
