POTSDAM, N.Y.-After last weekend’s playoff-clinching sweep of Morrisville State, two SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey players have been recognized by the State University of New York Athletic Conference. Junior Jon Hall (Dexter, N.Y./Stouffville Spirit) received his fifth Goalie of the Week award and freshman Dylan Vander Esch (San Jose, Calif./Hartford Wolfpack) was named the conference’s Rookie of the week for the third time this season.
Hall was between the pipes for both victories over the weekend to help the Bears return to the playoffs. He stopped 30 shots in Friday’s 7-2 win at Morrisville and equaled the task the following night in Potsdam’s 3-1 victory over the Mustangs. In the two games, he recorded a 1.50 goals-against-average and a .952 save percentage.
This season Hall is 10-7-2, giving him the most wins by a Bears goalie since Ryan Venturelli ’04 won 14 games in 2002-03. He has a 2.84 goals-against-average and a .923 save percentage.
Vander Esch had another big weekend for the surging Bears with five more points. In Friday’s win, the freshman recorded a goal and two assists. On Saturday, against the Mustangs, he scored the game-winner and added another assist.
The freshman forward is leads the team with 13 goals this season and has four assists for 17 points.
Potsdam wraps up the regular season this weekend when the Bears head to Cortland and No. 1 Oswego. Potsdam can finish anywhere from third place to sixth. The Bears are currently tied for fourth with Buffalo State and two points behind Geneseo for third.
