POTSDAM, N.Y.-The SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team will return to action this weekend for the first time since the end of their 2019-20 season. The men will open the season on November 5 at home against Oswego State.
Despite at slow start to the season, the men returned to the playoffs in 2019-20. They defeated third seeded Buffalo State 3-1 on the road and earned a spot in the SUNYAC Semifinals for the first time since 2008.
Potsdam returns 15 veterans this seasons and adds 14 newcomers. Senior defenseman Ethan Clark (Seven Valleys, Pa./New Hampshire Avalanche) and senior forward Ben Thompson (Canterbury, Conn./New Hampshire Avalanche) will captain the Bears and senior forward Thomas Terranova (Middletown, N.J./Syracuse Stars) and senior defenseman Chris Gratton (Pottstown, Pa./Walpole Express) will serve as assistants.
Offensively, the Bears have four double-digit scorers back. Junior forward Robert Clerc (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Oswego State) played in all 27 games and led the team with 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points. Terranova also saw action in every game, totaling four goals and 12 assists for 16 points. Sophomore defenseman Ryan Lieth (Warwick, N.Y./New York Apple Core) provided 11 points from the blue line with two goals and nine assists. Senior forward Brett Horn (Cary, N.C./Humboldt Broncos) contributed 10 points on eight goals and two assists while not missing a game for the Bears.
Five other forward return. Senior Michael McArthur (St. Thomas, Ontario/Oswego State) had eight points (4g, 4a) in 22 contests and is primed for a career year. Thompson had a personal best five goals two years ago in 23 games. After an impressive freshman campaign, injuries limited junior Jack Bloem’s (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Connecticut Rangers) production to five points (1g, 4a) in 20 games. A healthy Bloem is ready to break out this season. Juniors Nick Alfieri (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres) and Justin Vernace (Mississauga, Ontario/Brampton Admirals) played in 13 and five games, respectively. The duo’s collegiate contest experience is even more valuable in a post-pandemic season.
Potsdam’s other eight forwards include a junior transfer, two sophomores and five freshmen. Noah Dollo (Minden, N.Y./Trine University) had a goal in three games with Trine University in 2019-20. Sophomores Victor Nikiforov (Hauppauge, N.Y./New Hampshire Avalanche) and Michael Olszewski (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Coburg Cougars) saw the ice with their teammates last year, but had to wait to see actual collegiate contests. Freshman Jack Loran (Massena, N.Y./New England Wolves) and Josh Bifolchi (Ottawa, Ontario/Mississauga Chargers) were also here last year and though they weren’t competing on the ice were able to play for other Bears spring teams. Loran helped the men’s lacrosse team to the SUNYAC Playoffs and Bifolchi won the SUNYAC men’s javelin championship for the track and field team. Jack Ludwig (Sylvania, Ohio/Chippewa Steel), Garrett McArthur (London, Ontario) and Andrew Lantry (Massena, N.Y./New England Wolves) are true freshman and will also see their first action this season.
Clark and Gratton will anchor the Bears defensive corps. The pair each harassed opponents on the turf for the lacrosse team last spring. Clark earned honorable mention All-SUNYAC honors. On the ice in 2019-20, Clark played in 23 games and chipped in a goal and three assists and Gratton played in 10 contests. Junior Connor Cruickshank (Brampton, Ontario/Brampton Admirals) played in 21 games and had a goal and three assists and senior Justin Geary (Clifton Park, N.Y./Wilkes University) played in five games.
The Bears have five new blue liners this year. Junior and Potsdam native Corson Green (Potsdam, N.Y./University of Connecticut) transferred in from Division I UConn. He played in 27 games for the Huskies in 2018-19 and collected four assists. Freshman Tyler Lisieski (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Vermont Lumberjacks) was with the team last season. Freshmen Drew Rose (Brasher Falls, N.Y./Utica Jr. Comets) and Nolan Towne (Stockholm, N.Y./Seahawks Hockey Club) have returned to the North Country to play their college hockey and are joined by classmate Carter Lennon (Kitchener, Ontario/Georgetown Raiders).
Between the Pipes, senior Michael Paglucca (North Reading, Mass./New Hampshire Avalanche) is back to give the Bears a steady veteran. After seizing the starting job two years ago, Paglucca posted a 3.49 goals-against-average and a .887 save percentage in 19 starts. Junior Connor Green (New Port Richey, Fla./Tampa Bay Juniors) started his career with a flash, shutting out Fredonia in his first collegiate start. The performance earned him SUNYAC Rookie of the Week honors. In six games with four starts, Green posted a .874 save percentage and 4.04 G.A.A. Freshman Nico Gamarra (Milton, Vt./Islanders Hockey Club) will bolster the goaltender ranks. Though he has no official collegiate experience, he stopped all 20 shots he faced in against Skidmore in an exhibition last weekend.
Potsdam will play seven nonconference contests this season and looks to reschedule the two with Saint Michael’s. The Bears battle Hamilton College in the first round of SUNY Canton’s North Country Tournament on November 27, followed by a matchup with either the host Kangaroos or Saint Anselm Hawks the next day. They’ll have a home-and-home weekend with Canton on December 10-11, playing the first contest at the Roos House. The Bears host Stonehill College for two games on January 7-8 and host the Roos one more time on January 12. Potsdam opens the season and SUNYAC play next Friday with its matchup with the Lakers.
Every home Bears hockey game will be streamed live on potsdambears.com. Check out potsdambears.com/bearslive for list of all radio broadcasts on My Mix 96.1 FM.
