POTSDAM, N.Y.-SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey players Kyle Thacker (Mississauga, Ontario/North York Rangers) and Dylan Vander Esch (San Jose, Calif./Hartford Wolfpack) have each signed professional contracts with the Wheeling Nailers of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). The duo are expected to make their pro debuts this afternoon at 3 p.m. in Glens Falls when the Nailers take on the host Adirondack Thunder.
Despite finishing their collegiate careers with a tough 4-3 playoff loss at Buffalo State on Wednesday night, Thacker and Vander Esch each earned All-SUNYAC honors on Thursday. Thacker was named to the third team and Vander Esch grabbed a spot on the second team.
Thacker served as the Bears captain this season. He recorded three goals and 18 assists for a career-high 21 points, third most by a defenseman in the SUNYAC. His 18 assists tied him for fifth among all conference scorers. In 91 career games, he recorded eight goals and 33 assists for 41 points.
Vander Esch, who served as an assistant captain, led the Bears in scoring in each of his seasons in a Potsdam jersey. He posted a career-high 28 points on 14 goals and 14 assists this year, placing him fifth in the league in scoring. In his four seasons, the forward scored 62 goals and added 39 assists for 101 points in 100 games. Vander Esch completed his career with six hat tricks, 27 multi-point games, ranked first in program history in game-winning goals (9), fifth in power-play goals (19) and seventh in goals. He was also named to the All-SUNYAC third team as a sophomore.
The Bears completed their 2017-18 campaign with a 10-11-5 record, 6-8-2 SUNYAC, for a sixth place finish in the conference. They earned their third playoff appearance in four seasons.
