POTSDAM, N.Y.- Senior captain Todd Thomas (Davidsville, Pa./Hartford Wolfpack) recorded his first career hat trick as the SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team (4-0, 4-0 SUNYAC) defeated SUNY Fredonia (1-2-1, 0-2-1) 4-2 on Military Appreciation Night. The Bears’ fourth straight win matches the program’s best start to a season in 13 years. Potsdam junior defenseman Jake Butler (Atlanta, Ga./Smith Falls Bears) contributed a goal and an assist and sophomore goalie Brendan McMenimen (Merrimack, Mass./Islanders Hockey Club) made a career-high 38 saves to stay perfect at 4-0.
The opening minutes of the contest saw heavy hitting, setting the tone for the rest of the period. Potsdam was whistled for five penalties in the first period, but managed to kill all four following man advantages. The Blue Devils took three penalties of their own and weren’t so lucky as they gave up two power-play goals in two opportunities. At 4:17, Thomas buried the rebound off a tip from freshman forward Dylan Vander Esch (San Jose, Calif./Hartford Wolfpack) to make it 1-0. Junior defenseman Nick Casacci (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Connecticut Oilers) recorded the second assist. Nine minutes later, Thomas tipped home another rebound, this time off a shot from sophomore defenseman Kyle Thacker (Mississauga, Ontario/North York Rangers). Butler also assisted on the play. After spending much of the period on the power play, Fredonia outshot Potsdam 13-4, but still trailed 2-0 at the break.
The second period featured much more even strength play, but the Blue Devils still earned two more power plays. At 12:14, Fredonia finally got on the board. Junior defenseman Zach White (Taberg, N.Y./Portland Pirates) ripped a shot from the slot over the shoulder of McMenimen for a power-play marker to cut the lead to 2-1. The Bears answered just 31 seconds later, Butler was pinching in along the boards on the right side. He slid the puck behind the net to junior forward Billy Pascalli (Deer Park, N.Y./New York Bobcats). Pascalli then centered it back to Butler, who beat Blue Devils senior goalie Jeff Flagler (Owen Sound, Ontario/Walkerton Hawks) with a low shot. Potsdam took the 3-1 advantage into the second intermission.
The Bears looked like they had gone up 4-1 49 seconds into the third period as Vander Esch roofed a rebound. However, the goal was waved off as Potsdam was called for interference on the play. The Bears were able to kill off Fredonia’s seventh man advantage of the contest. They were less lucky at the 12:32 mark. After killing off another power play, Blue Devil sophomore forward Samuel Wilbur (Saginaw, Mich./Kirkland Lake Gold Miners) tipped a pass from freshman forward Bobby Polachek (Kingston, Pa./Trenton Golden Hawks) past McMenimen to make it 3-2. Junior forward Hunter Long (Lebanon, Tenn./Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights) notched the second assist. After the goal, Fredonia sustained good pressure in the Potsdam zone. After creating several strong chances, the Blue Devils called time out at the 17:51 mark. With 43 seconds left, Flagler was pulled for an extra attacker. Seconds later, senior forward Jake Rivera (Pacific Palisades Calif./Hartford Wolfpack) cleared the puck ahead to senior forward Matt Thompson (Anchorage, Alaska/Kenai River Brown Bears). Thompson then poked the puck into the Fredonia zone where Thomas picked it up and deposited it into the empty net to seal the victory with 34 seconds remaining.
Flagler finished with 17 saves on the night. The Blue Devils were 1-for-8 on the power play, while the Bears were a perfect 2-for-2.
Prior to the contest, Daniel Egbert, a Marine Corps Infantry veteran with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, dropped the ceremonial first puck.
Potsdam looks to keep its momentum going in Central New York next weekend. The Bears battle Cortland at 7 p.m. on Friday before facing perennial power Oswego at the same time on Saturday.
