The Plattsburgh State men’s hockey team will play away from Stafford Ice Arena, and it might be to its advantage.
The second-ranked Cardinals (6-0) will compete on a bigger ice surface today and Saturday at Norwich University.
Kreitzberg Arena, which will host the 18th annual PrimeLink Great Northern ShootOut, features a 200-by-90-foot ice surface. It’s 15 feet longer and 5 feet wider than Stafford Ice Arena.
“Yeah, we do like the big ice sheet,” Plattsburgh coach Bob Emery said. “There’s no doubt about it. Years ago, when we first started playing Middlebury and Norwich, they were taking it to us year in and year out because of the big ice surface. So we changed our recruiting all around.
“I think we got a good enough skating team to skate with anybody.”
The Cardinals will meet Middlebury College at 4 p.m., and the Panthers (1-0-1) just opened their season last weekend.
Middlebury dropped Colby College 4-0 before tying Bowdoin College 4-4 at Chip Kenyon Arena.
Senior forward Brendan McGovern and sophomore forward Vincent Gisonti lead the Panthers with two goals, and senior forward Evan Neugold has a team-high three assists.
Stephen Klein has started twice, and the sophomore goaltender has saved 57-of-61 shots faced. He sports a 1.92 goals-against average.
Emery watched the Middlebury-Bowdoin game in its entirety Sunday.
“I have a little bit on them,” Emery said. “Watching too much video and doing too much video a lot, it gets the players playing more robotic. We don’t want to do that.
“We want them to play a read-react style and use their instincts and use their skills.”
Winning its first six games by a combined score of 32-11, Plattsburgh is off to a torrid start.
The Cardinals scored four first-period goals in a 7-1 drubbing of No. 12 Potsdam State Saturday.
“I think it’s just the guys buying in,” Dillan Fox said. “Everyone kind of playing their role, bringing it every night. It’s still early. But as of right now, it’s been a good start.
“Hopefully, we can keep the momentum.”
Plattsburgh’s senior class is 4-2 in the PrimeLink. It has a 2-1 mark against the Panthers, including a 3-1 championship win Nov. 30, 2013.
“I think they do a good job of putting it together,” Fox said. “It’s a first-class tournament. The three teams — us, Middlebury and Norwich — are some of the top programs. So it’s good getting everybody in the same rink for a weekend.
“I think it’s a good measuring point this early in the season, too.”
No. 7 Norwich will tangle with Connecticut College at 7 p.m.
The third-place game will occur at 4 p.m. Saturday, and the championship is slated for 7 p.m.
Email Ricky St. Clair:
rstclair@pressrepublican.com
Twitter: @Ricky_StClair
