POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team (1-0) got four unanswered goals from four different Bears to down Saint Michael’s College (0-1) 4-1 in its season opener. Freshman forward Bryce Ferrell (Buffalo, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres), senior forward Tommy Telesca (Selden, N.Y./New York Bobcats), freshman Nate Zweig (Binghamton, N.Y./Syracuse Stars) and junior forward Dylan Vander Esch (San Jose, Calif./Hartford Wolfpack) each scored for Potsdam.
The Bears outplayed the Purple Knights over the first half of the opening period. The effort resulted in several scoring chances, but not a lead. SMC killed off Potsdam’s lone power play of the period and the Bears returned the favor for two Knight’s man-advantages. SMC drew first blood at the 15:29. Junior defenseman Nathan Foice (Essex, Vt./The Winchendon School) fired a shot from the left point. It was tipped by a Potsdam defenseman and junior forward Eric Salzillo (Johnson, R.I./Boston Bandits) backhanded it across the crease where senior forward Josh Dickman (Kappa, Hawaii/Saint Paul’s School) tapped it across the line. The Bears answered 1:51 later. Sophomore forward Mike Sweeney (Pittsburgh, Pa./PAL) sent a faceoff into the right corner right. Zweig dug it out and Ferrell jammed it past SMC sophomore goalie Chris Johnson (Duxbury, Mass./Pomfret School) to tie the score. The contest was still even at 1-1 heading into the first intermission.
Potsdam took its first lead of the season just 10 seconds into the second period. The Bears won the opening draw and dumped the puck into the Knights’ zone. It went off the sticks of both defensemen and popped free to Telesca in the right faceoff circle. Telesca then ripped it over the glove of Johnson to make it 2-1. Despite three power plays in the middle of the period, Potsdam still managed to outshoot SMC 21-11. At the 12:10 mark, Zweig cleared the Bears zone and fed Ferrell. Ferrell carried the puck into the slot and gave it back to Zweig who beat Johnson to make it 3-1. The Purple Knights took simultaneous minors with 1:06 remaining in the period and the Potsdam entered the break with a five-on-three man advantage.
The Bears pounced 48 seconds into the final stanza. Senior assistant captain Vinny Caligiuri (Shoreham, N.Y./Hartford Wolfpack) sent a pass from the left corner to junior defenseman Dom Horvath (Toledo, Ohio/Brantford 99ers) at the right point. He fed Vander Esch in the slot and Vander Esch roofed his 33rd career goal to make it 4-1. Three power plays allowed SMC to pepper Potsdam junior goalie Brendan McMenimen (Merrimac, Mass./Islander Hockey Club) the rest of the period, but the goaltender turned aside all 22 shots he faced.
McMenimen finished with 39 saves to earn his 10th career victory. Johnson stopped 33 shots for Saint Michael’s.
The Bears killed off all seven Purple Knights’ power plays, while finishing 1-for-7 on their own.
Potsdam is now 9-0 in the all-time series with SMC dating back to a 6-4 Bears win on Nov. 2, 1984 in Maxcy Ice Arena.
Potsdam hosts Castleton University tomorrow evening at 7 p.m.
