POTSDAM, N.Y.-Elmira College (7-5-2) score three third period goals to down the SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team (5-8-2) 5-2 on Tuesday night. Soaring Eagle sophomore forward Michael Collins (Victoria, British Columbia/Dauphin Kings) scored twice and junior forward Greg Whittle (Owen Sound, Ontario/Toronto Jr. Canadians) added three assists. Junior forward Jake Rivera (Pacific Palisades, Calif./Hartford Wolfpack) and senior forward Zach Blake (Campbellford, Ontario/SUNY Plattsburgh) each scored for the Bears.
Elmira struck quickly in the first period. At 5:47, senior defenseman Eric David (Dorval, Quebec/Pembroke Lumber Kings) fired a shot wide left of the net. However, the puck bounced off the boards, then off of Potsdam senior goalie Shane Talarico (Greensburg, Pa./Elmira College) and across the goal line. Just 24 seconds later, Collins got his first of the contest to make it 2-0. The Bears slowed the Eagles momentum after the goal. At 16:55, Rivera scored on a breakaway after a pass from senior assistant captain Ken Simon (Norwell, Mass./Philadelphia Revolution) to cut the lead in half. Freshman defenseman Sean Kacerosky (Kendall Park, N.J./New York Bobcats) recorded the second assist on the play for his first collegiate point.
Elmira got into penalty trouble during the first half of the middle 20 minutes. After killing the first one, the Eagles were called for simultaneous minors at 7:17. Fifty-four seconds into the 5-on-3 man advantage, Blake roofed a pass from senior forward Dan McCamey (Dayton, Ohio/Minnesota Flying Aces) to tie the score. Junior forward Billy Pascalli (Deer Park, N.Y./New York Bobcats) notched the second assist. Potsdam received one more power play before the period closed, but the score remained tied after two periods.
The third period featured end-to-end wide-open hockey with both teams generating multiple opportunities. Midway through the stanza, Elmira forward Tyler Theodoulou (Bedford, N.H./Boston Jr. Rangers) tipped a shot from the right point past Talarico for the eventual game-winner. Eight minutes later, Eagles sophomore forward Jarryd ten Vaanholt (West Vancouver, British Columbia/Prince George Spruce Kings) buried a pass from in front of the net on the power play to make it 4-2. The Bears pulled Talarico for an extra attacker while on the power play with 1:31 to go. However, a Potsdam turnover proved costly and Collins sent his second of the night into the empty net at 18:56 to ice the contest.
Talarico finished with 42 saves on the night, including 21 in the final period. Elmira senior goalie Ryan deMelo (Brampton, Ontario/North York Rangers) turned aside 40 shots to earn the victory.
The Eagles outshot the Bears 48-42 and were 1-for-4 on the power play. Potsdam was 1-for-5.
Amerlux Lighting sponsored Youth Hockey Night during the contest. Potsdam Jr. Hockey had the most player representatives in attendance, edging Norwood-Norfork, and will receive a $1,000 donation from Amerlux.
The Bears are back in action on Saturday, when they wrap up their nonconference schedule against Western New England at 5 p.m.
