CANTON, N.Y.—Senior goaltender Brendan McMenimen (Merrimack, Mass./Islanders Hockey Club) stopped all 20 shots that came his way to earn his first career shutout and lead the SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team (2-0-1) to a 3-0 win at SUNY Canton (1-1). Sophomore forward Tyler Young (Massena, N.Y./Kanata Lasers) scored two goals and sophomore defenseman Sean Winikates (Phoenix, Ariz./Philadelphia Jr. Flyers) made his first collegiate goal a game-winner
Potsdam controlled the play in the first period, thanks in part to three power-play opportunities. The Bears outshot the Kangaroos 13-6, but weren’t able to solve Canton goalie Michael Cerasuolo. McMenimen did his part as well and the contest was scoreless at the first intermission.
The Bears successfully killed off two penalties in the first half of the middle period and resumed their pressure. At the 15:41 mark, Canton’s Thomas Crabtree was called for interference and Potsdam went to work on its fourth power play. Just 55 seconds later, Winikates roofed a pass from senior captain Kyle Thacker (Mississauga, Ontario/North York Rangers) for a 1-0 lead. Senior assistant captain Dylan Vander Esch (San Jose, Calif./Hartford Wolfpack) started the play with a pass to Thacker from the left point. Potsdam maintained a 1-0 lead at the second break and had a 26-12 advantage in shots.
Canton was able to generate more pressure to start the third, but it didn’t prevent the Kangaroos from falling farther behind. At 6:14, Vander Esch picked up the puck in the neutral zone and sent it ahead to senior forward Joey Gilhooly (Brooklyn, N.Y./New York Bobcats). Gilhooly threw it in front of the net to Young who tipped it between Cerasuolo’s pads to make it 2-0. With 2:01 remaining, Canton pulled Cerasuolo, but couldn’t crack McMenimen, who had nine saves in the third. With just 54 seconds remaining, Young intercepted a loose puck and fired it into the empty net to seal the victory.
Cerasuolo finished with 27 stops. Potsdam outshot Canton 30-21 and was 1-for-4 on the power play. The Kangaroos went 0-for-2.
The Bears are now 6-1-1 against Canton since the Roos made the transition to Division III.
The two teams go at it again tomorrow night in Potsdam at 7 p.m.
