PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The No. 7-ranked Plattsburgh State women’s hockey team opened its 2025-26 campaign in impressive fashion on Friday afternoon, blanking No. 15 Norwich University, 3-0, at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena. The Cardinals carried their momentum from a perfect exhibition slate into their home opener, controlling play throughout against a tough, nationally ranked opponent. 

The matchup marked the second straight season-opening meeting between the two programs, as Plattsburgh defeated Norwich, 3-1, to begin last year’s campaign and later topped the Cadets again, 4-2, in the championship game of the Norwich East-West Hockey Classic.

After a scoreless first period that saw both teams trade quality chances, the Cardinals struck first midway through the second. Sophomore forward Tessa Morris (Grand Island, N.Y.), who led the team with 11 goals last season, picked up right where she left off, burying the opening goal. The play developed off a smooth setup as first-year Zoe Puc (West Palm Beach, Fla.) laid the puck back to sophomore Brooke Terry (Massena, N.Y.), who threaded a pass through to Morris for the finish to put Plattsburgh up 1-0.

The Cardinals doubled their lead early in the third period thanks to a dazzling individual effort from Emily Kasprzak (Niagara, N.Y.). The junior forward went coast to coast, showcasing her skill and poise as she danced past several Cadet defenders before sliding the puck home for her first goal of the season. Morris later secured her second goal of the afternoon with an empty-net tally to seal the 3-0 win.

Junior goaltender Chloe Lewis (Monson, Mass.) was stellar in her first regular-season start of the season, stopping all 21 shots she faced to earn the shutout. Lewis came up with several key saves in the opening two periods, to keep the Cardinals in front and preserve the clean sheet. Plattsburgh outshot the Cadets 28-21 and held Norwich scoreless on four power-play opportunities.

The victory extends Plattsburgh’s strong early-season form following a 2-0 exhibition slate that included wins over Castleton and Canton. The Cardinals will look to build on their momentum next weekend as they match up with Endicott on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 3 p.m.

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men’s hockey team opened its 2025–26 regular season in emphatic fashion, skating past Castleton University, 6–1, on Friday night at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena. The Cardinals, who entered the night following a perfect 2–0 exhibition slate, continued their dominance over the Spartans, improving to 8–0 all-time in the series.

After a quick-paced start, Plattsburgh broke through late in the first period, as first-year Mike English (Hague, N.Y.) delivered a long, pinpoint pass from deep in his defensive zone that found sophomore Patrick Cole (Lancaster, N.Y.) in stride. Cole made no mistake, burying a shot past the Castleton goaltender to give the Cardinals the early 1–0 advantage.

The Spartans managed to equalize late in the opening frame with a shorthanded tally. A turnover at the blue line led to a Castleton breakaway that was tucked home to even the score at one apiece heading into the first intermission.

Plattsburgh wasted little time reclaiming control in the second period. Senior Riley Sutherland (Burlington, Ontario) created a turnover in the defensive zone and quickly pushed the puck ahead to Cole, who centered it for a trailing Blake Hall (Fort Erie, Ontario). Hall buried the feed to restore the Cardinal lead, sparking an offensive onslaught that would see four goals scored in the frame.

Just over ten minutes later, first-year Gabriel Filion (Montreal, Quebec) extended the lead to 3–1 after applying relentless pressure in the attacking zone. Filion intercepted a pass in front of the net and finished cleanly for his first of the season.

Moments later, Plattsburgh struck again. Junior Aaron Catron (Middletown, Del.) turned defense into offense, stealing the puck off a Spartan defender in their own end and snapping home his first goal of the season to make it 4–1.

The Cardinals continued to roll as Filion notched his second of the night. After Cole laid the puck off to Quinn Tavares(Mississauga, Ontario), the sophomore’s shot was turned aside, but Filion crashed the net and knocked home the rebound for a 5–1 advantage heading into the third period.

Plattsburgh capped off the scoring in the final frame when senior Jake Sacratini (Montreal, Quebec) collected a rebound off the end glass, circled in front of goal, and roofed a shot to seal the 6–1 victory.

In what appears to be his first season as the team’s full-time starter, goaltender Dominik Bovan (Bratislava, Slovakia) made a strong statement between the pipes. The junior netminder looked calm and composed throughout the night, making several key stops early in the game to keep the score level before the Cardinals’ offense found its rhythm. Bovan finished with 22 saves on 23 shots, earning his first win of the year and setting the tone for what promises to be a big season in goal.

Filion led the way with two goals, while Cole tallied a goal and an assist. Hall, Catron, and Sacratini each added a marker, and English, Butler, Sutherland, and Tavares chipped in with assists. Plattsburgh held a 25–23 advantage in shots and went 1-for-4 on the power play, while Castleton was held scoreless on six opportunities. 

With the win, the Cardinals open their season on a high note and will look to carry their momentum into tomorrow’s home contest against Plymouth State at 7 p.m.

AMHERST, Mass. — Power-play goals bookended No. 13 UMass’ 2-1 victory over the No. 20-ranked Cornell men’s hockey team on Friday night at the Mullins Center, with the Minutemen striking early and late to spoil the Big Red’s season opener.

Václav Nestrašil netted the game-winner with 1:39 remaining in regulation, redirecting Daniel Jenčko’s shot off his hip and past Cornell goaltender Remington Keopple just 12 seconds into the power play. The goal capped a special teams performance that saw the Minutemen convert on both of its man advantages.

UMass (6-2-0) had set the tone from the opening faceoff, drawing a penalty just 13 seconds into the game. The Minutemen capitalized immediately when Larry Keenan’s shot from the point deflected off junior defenseman Hoyt Stanley‘s left skate, allowing Lukáš Klečka to roof a backhanded shot at the left post at 1:43.

Cornell (0-1-0) responded midway through the opening period when freshman forward Gio DiGiulian capitalized on a rebound, burying a second chance off sophomore defenseman Michael Fisher‘s initial shot. Senior defenseman Jack O’Brien also assisted on the goal.

Despite outshooting UMass 27-16, the Big Red couldn’t solve Minutemen goaltender Michael Hrabal. He turned aside 26 of 27 shots to secure the victory, while Keopple finished with 14 saves for Cornell.

“That was an unfortunate end,” said Casey Jones ’90, the Jay R. Bloom ’77 Head Coach of Cornell Men’s Ice Hockey. “I thought we made real good progress from our exhibition games heading into the season with that game. I felt really comfortable with our play. It’s a result probably wasn’t deserved, but it is what it is, we got to get after it tomorrow.”

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. – For the second consecutive week, the ECAC announced Jack Brandt as the ECAC Forward of the Week, presented by Bluebird Hotels.

Brandt scored three goals over the weekend against No. 10 ranked Maine, including both goals on Saturday.

The sophomore leads the conference with 10 points in the first six games and seventh in the country averaging 1.67 points per game.

Brandt is the first Raider to be named ECAC Forward of the week in two consecutive weeks since the conference began weekly honors.

Brandt and Colgate are back home this weekend as they host RIT on Friday and Saturday at Class of 1965 Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m.

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women’s hockey team capped its exhibition slate with a 3-1 home victory over SUNY Canton on Saturday afternoon at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena. The Cardinals, coming off a 7-1 win at Castleton last weekend that featured seven different goal scorers, continued to showcase their depth and balance, getting goals from three players in the win.

After a scoreless opening stretch, the Cardinals broke through late in the first period when junior Emily Kasprzak (Niagara, N.Y.) found the back of the net with under three minutes left in the period, finishing off a setup from sophomore Tessa Morris (Grand Island, N.Y.) to put Plattsburgh State ahead 1-0. The Cardinals controlled play throughout the frame, outshooting the Kangaroos 16-7 in the period and carrying the one-goal lead into the first intermission.

Neither side found the back of the net in the second period despite Plattsburgh outshooting Canton 17-3. The Kangaroos evened the score early midway through the third, capitalizing on an opportunity finished by Bailey Cote to make it 1-1.

The Cardinals wasted little time regaining control, striking back five minutes later when first-year Nikola Janekova (Banská Bystrica, Slovakia) netted her first goal of the preseason off an assist from senior Taya Balfour (Moorestown, N.J.), giving Plattsburgh a 2-1 edge. Just over two minutes later, junior Adriana Urban (Monroe, N.J.) added insurance, burying a feed from first-year Piper Smith(Newnan, Ga.) off a shot from sophomore Kate Conlon (New Hudson, Mich.) to seal the 3-1 win.

Plattsburgh State’s defense remained stout throughout, holding Canton to just 18 shots on goal while generating 43 of their own. The goaltending tandem of junior Chloe Lewis (Monson, Mass.) and sophomore Maddy Stetson (Wasilla, Alaska) combined to stop 17 of 18 shots faced, with Lewis earning the start and Stetson closing out the victory.

With the win, the Cardinals conclude exhibition play unbeaten and will now turn their focus to the start of the regular season next week. Plattsburgh State opens its 2025-26 campaign at home when it hosts Norwich at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena on Friday, October 31st. 

BY RANDY SCHULTZ , NYHOL; Photos by Janet Schultz©, NYHOL

BUFFALO, NY — The Buffalo State women’s hockey team defeated the St. John Fisher women’s hockey team, 4-3, Friday night in an exhibition game at the Buffalo State Ice Arena.

The Bengals jumped out to an early first period lead of 4-0 on goals by Keira Dach, Sydney Radecki, Madison Mallone and Amerie Delormier.

The Cardinals got on the board halfway through the second period to cut the Bengals lead to 4-1 on a power play goal by Cameron Evans. The score remained that going into the third period.

Early in the third Ellie Pranter scored for the Cardinals to cut the Buff State lead to 4-2.  The Cardinals scored again at the 8:05 mark of the third on a goal by Andrea Fernandez to cut the Bengals lead to 4-3.

The Bengals held on to win, 4-3, despite a final push by the Cardinals, who pulled their goal for an extra attacker, with less than a minute to play in the third.

Buffalo State will open up it’s regular season on Friday, Oct. 31 at home against Kings College (PA).

The Cardinals will open their regular season on Friday, Oct. 31 at Neumann University (PA).

Photo Gallery by Janet Schultz, NYHOL. All photos property of NYHOL and are not to be copied or downloaded without permission of Janet Schultz, NYHOL©