BY COURTNEY LEWIS Press-Republican
Press-Republican
PLATTSBURGH — Bob Emery expected to learn a lot about his Plattsburgh State team during the PrimeLink Great Northern Shootout, and one thing he learned was the Cardinals are willing to sacrifice.
Plattsburgh tallied three goals in the first period and defeated Middlebury 3-1 in the championship game of the annual men’s hockey tournament Saturday at the Stafford Ice Arena. Middlebury coach Bill Beaney praised the Cardinals’ shot-blocking, and Plattsburgh goaltender Mathieu Cadieux said he was appreciative of their effort.
“There were a lot of mistakes out there (Saturday), but I know we found a way to win and that was good for me,” Emery said. “And we became very sacrificial, and the guys are willing to pay the price to win. And that’s clearly evident, again, by the blocked shots.”
The Cardinals have now won the tournament four of the five times it’s been held in Plattsburgh. Earlier in the day, Wisconsin-Superior knocked off No. 2 Norwich 3-0 to claim third place.
No. 3 Plattsburgh (8-0-1) gave up just two goals on the weekend, and although Cadieux was named the tournament’s MVP, he credited the Cardinals’ team defense.
“On a personal note, that’s definitely something that I’m happy with, but ultimately it was the team in front,” Cadieux said. “(Saturday) and (Friday) they were blocking shots, keeping the chances down. They made my job really easy. It was awesome.”
Michael Radisa and Barry Roytman represented Plattsburgh on the All-Tournament Team, and Patrick Hermans was named the Outstanding Rookie.
Plattsburgh took control at the start. Connor Gorman scored from the left circle 3:29 into the game, and Dakota Mason put in a shot from down low just over two minutes later. Shortly before the end of the period, Radisa skated down the left side and ripped a shot that beat Michael Peters five-hole for a 3-0 lead heading into the intermission.
The Cardinals scored three goals on nine shots in the period, and Peters was pulled in favor of Nick BonDurant after the third goal.
The one sticking point for Emery was the way Plattsburgh played after taking the three-goal lead, which has been one of his concerns all season.
“It was a good thing we had good leadership coming out of the locker room — had a good first period — because we didn’t play great after that,” Emery said. “I gotta give Middlebury a lot of credit. They didn’t quit. They came after us.”
BonDurant stopped all 18 shots he faced, and Beaney said the Panthers did a better job playing their game in the second and third periods.
Cadieux made several good saves, including one on a short-handed breakaway, in the second period to keep No. 15 Middlebury (3-1-2) off the board. But 11:12 into the third, Louis Belisle spoiled the shutout. Cadieux finished with 20 saves.
“The best team won,” Beaney said. “They played harder than we did for 60 minutes, and I thought their goalie was good. Our execution wasn’t what I’d hoped it would be, but part of that is because I think Plattsburgh played real well.
“And I think they’re solid in every position, and I think they’ve got a real chance to have a special year, for sure.”
In the consolation game, Wisconsin-Superior (4-5) had a 5-on-3 advantage late in the first period, and Pat Dalbec capitalized with a shot from the point that hit Matic Marinsek and rolled past him into the net. Cody Hotchkin scored in the middle of the third period, and Dalbec added an empty-netter. Dayn Belfour recorded the shutout with 27 saves.
The Yellowjackets became the first team from the West Region to win a game in the PrimeLink.
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Consolation
Wisconsin-Superior 3, Norwich 0
Wisconsin-Superior 1 0 2 — 3
Norwich 0 0 0 — 0
First period- 1, UWS, P. Dalbec (Neduzak, Stoskopf), 18:30 (pp). Penalties: Smith, Nor (unsportsmanlike conduct), 8:34. Hotchkin, UWS (unsportsmanlike conduct), 8:34. Phenow, UWS (roughing), 16:44. Pelletier, Nor (roughing), 16:44. Surowiec, Nor (facemasking), 16:44. Suroweic, Nor (game misconduct), 16:44. Niezgoda, Nor (elbowing), 17:34.
Second period- Penalties: Judnick, UWS (hitting from behind), 3:57. Neduzak, UWS (slashing), 9:58. Niezgoda, Nor (elbowing), 18:44.
Third period- 2, UWS, Hotchkin (Rey, Belfour), 12:53. 3, UWS, P. Dalbec, 18:13 (en). Penalties: Flaherty, Nor (embellishment), 5:14. Doig, UWS (holding), 5:14. Phenow, UWS (hitting from behind), 19:38.
Shots on goal:
Wisconsin-Superior 7 6 6 — 19
Norwich 6 12 9 — 27
Goaltenders (shots-saves): Belfour, UWS, 27-27. Marinsek, Nor, 19-16.
Power plays (goals-opportunities): Wisconsin-Superior 1-2, Norwich 0-3.
Attendance: 639.
Championship
Plattsburgh 3, Middlebury 1
Middlebury 0 0 1 — 1
Plattsburgh 3 0 0 — 3
First period- 1, PSU, Gorman (Emmerling, Baleshta), 3:29. 2, PSU, Mason (Hall, Constantine), 5:37. 3, PSU, Radisa (Botting), 18:59. Penalties: A. Jensen, PSU (hooking), 14:57.
Second period- Penalties: Middlebury, (too many players on the ice), 1:18. Wiggins, Midd (tripping), 3:07. Botting, PSU (slashing), 3:30. Roytman, PSU (holding), 4:50. Longo, Midd (hooking), 19:33.
Third period- 4, Midd, Belisle, 11:12. Penalties: Botting, PSU (holding), 12:39. Frick, Midd (cross-checking), 14:55. Goguen, Midd (cross-checking), 19:51. Constantine, PSU (tripping), 19:51.
Shots on goal:
Middlebury 7 8 6 — 21
Plattsburgh 9 9 8 — 26
Goaltenders (shots-saves): Peters, Midd, 8-5. Bondurant, Mid, 18-18. Cadieux, PSU, 21-20.
Power plays (goals-opportunities): Middlebury 0-5, Plattsburgh 0-5.
Attendance: 1832.
Email Courtney Lewis:clewis@pressrepublican.com
