POTSDAM, N.Y.-Freshman forward Joey Gilhooly (Brooklyn, N.Y./New York Bobcats) scored twice and senior defenseman Erick Ware (Huntsville, Ala./Kenai River Brown Bears) added a goal and an assist as the SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team (4-2-1) downed SUNY Canton (0-5-1) 4-2 on the second annual Military Appreciation Night. Sophomore forward Tommy Telesca (Selden, N.Y./New York Bobcats) also scored for the Bears. The Bears wore camouflage jerseys to honor American servicemen and women an veterans.
Potsdam continued its trend of starting games strong, pressuring the Kangaroos from the outset. The pressure earned the Bears a power play at 4:37. Just 1:03 later, senior Ware ripped a shot from the left point that beat Canton freshman goalie Spencer Landry (New Hartford, N.Y./Hartford Jr. Wolfpack). Junior forwards Matt Thompson (Anchorage, Alaska/Kenai River Brown Bears) and Billy Pascalli (Deer Park, N.Y./New York Bobcats) each assisted on the play. Potsdam continued to hold the edge in play, but after killing another penalty the Roos evened the scored at 15:41. Junior forward George Curry (Schaumberg, Ill./Wisconsin River Falls) buried a rebound off a shot from freshman forward Thomas Crabtree (Knoxville, Tenn./Philadelphia Jr. Flyers). The Bears entered the first intermission with a 21-8 advantage in shots, but he score remained knotted at one apiece.
The second period was more physical and evenly played. Each team killed a penalty early in the middle 20 minutes, but Potsdam jumped back in front at 8:33. A Kangaroo clear was intercepted and driven home by sophomore forward Tommy Telesca (Selden, N.Y./New York Bobcats) and past Landry to make it a 2-1 contest. The Bears finished the period with a 15-11 edge in shots at the conclusion of the middle 20 minutes.
Potsdam increased its stranglehold on the contest just 2:06 into the third period. Gilhooly scored from just outside the crease with assists from Ware and Thompson. As the period ticked away, Canton found itself in penalty trouble. At 10:30, Gilhooly struck again on a shot from the slot after a perfect pass from Thomas to make it 4-1 on the power play. Sophomore defenseman Jake Butler (Atlanta, Ga./Smith Falls Bears) recorded the second assist on the goal. The teams traded penalties the rest of the way and Canton used a power play to close the gap. At 17:44, senior Dave Schneider (Indianapolis, Ind./Capital District Selects) tipped home a shot from sophomore forward Eric Witzel (Ottawa, Ontario/Oswego State) to make it 4-2. With just under a minute to go, the Roos pulled Landry, but couldn’t get any closer.
Reigning SUNYAC Goalie of the Week, junior Jon Hall (Dexter, N.Y./Stouffville Spirit) needed just 25 saves to dispatch Canton. Landry stopped 51 shots. The Roos finished 1-for-3 on the power play and the Bears were 2-for-6.
In a pregame ceremony, SUNY Potsdam graduate student and cross country runner Mikaela Foster and SUNY Canton student Thomas Sanford, both veterans of the U.S. Marine Corps, dropped pucks. ROTC Cadet and Crane School of Music student Aaron Smith sang the contest’s National Anthem.
Potsdam is now off for the holiday break and resumes action on Friday, Dec. 5, when the Bears host conference foe SUNY Cortland at 7 p.m.
