Cardinal Hockey Week in Review for week ending 12/01/08

PrimeLink Great Northern Shootout

PrimeLink Great Northern Shootout Photos

If you’re a college hockey fan and you missed this years PrimeLink Great Northern Shootout, you missed out on four exciting games. This year’s shootout was by far one of the best in the tournaments 11 year history. Any of the four participants could have won this year’s event. Hats off to PrimeLink and hosts Middlebury College for an outstanding weekend of college hockey. There is little doubt in this fan’s mind that the PrimeLink Great Northern Shootout is THE PREMIER regular season tournament in all of division III hockey. I look forward to next season when PrimeLink welcomes Wis.-River Falls to the 12th annual PrimeLink Great Northern Shootout at Norwich University.

While Plattsburgh did not come away with the title, they did come away with three points on the weekend. That’s only one point less than the tournament champs Middlebury, and believe it or not, two more points than the second place team Norwich. Despite finishing second in the tournament, Norwich only came away with one point on the weekend.

One has to wonder what the outcome of this weekend would have been if the Cards had the services of Nick Rolls. I thought his ability to set up a play was missed especially in the first game vs. Norwich. According to coach Emery on Behind the Bench, Rolls is doubtful for this weekends series with Oswego and Cortland. On the plus side, Ward Smith made a return to the line-up this past weekend. After two shaky periods on Friday, Ward really turned it on and had a solid tournament. He was the only Cardinal named to the All Tournament team on Saturday night.

While most fans were talking about the absence of Rolls and the return of Smith, not many were talking about the one guy they probably should be. Ryan Corry. Ryan has quietly been outstanding for Plattsburgh so far this season. He had a great weekend for Plattsburgh and is currently tied for 4th in team scoring with three goals and eight assists. Keep an eye on #26 folks.

Bryan Hince had a solid weekend in nets for the Cards. He made some huge saves in both games for the Cards. As for the shootout on Friday? I have to agree with coach Emery’s assessment on Behind the Bench. The first goal scored was a bit of a fluke and perhaps frustrated Bryan a bit. Also, Norwich has some players who know how to bury the puck. With the ice conditions, I thought Plattsburgh should have shot the puck more instead of trying to deke the goalie in the shootout. I know some fans asked me after the game why I thought Dylan Clarke wasn’t one of the first shooters. I can only guess that coach was saving him last.

Speaking of Dylan Clarke, I thought he had a good weekend for the Cards. Not only is he a goal scorer, he is also a great set up man. Dylan finished the game with a goal and three assists for four points. Also, I like the addition of Kyle Taylor to the Clarke & Satim line. I thought Taylor was a perfect compliment to that line. It will be interesting to see if coach has Taylor or Willock on that line this coming weekend vs. the Lakers.

How about them Tommies? Despite going 0-2-0, I thought they gave both Middlebury and Plattsburgh a run for their money. You could argue they outplayed Middlebury for two periods on Friday. I sort of wish the Tommies would find their way on the Cardinals schedule next season. I would love to see a Bryan Hince and Parke Burgess (#17) rematch!

Hats off to the Panthers for winning the 2008 Great Northern Shootout. Is Middlebury back? After missing the NCAA’s for the first time in 13 years, the Panthers have changed things up for 2008-09. Gone is their torpedo style of play. It will be interesting to see how the Panthers fair over a whole season. I look forward to seeing them as well as the Cadets at the Stafford in January. Get your tickets early for those games folks.

Next up: Oswego and Cortland this Friday and Saturday. Hope you have your tickets, as of 8pm on Tuesday the game is sold out. However, I am told that there will be some standing room tickets made available on Thursday. Stay tuned for more info.

Game 1: Norwich 3 Plattsburgh 3 - Cadets win 3-0 in a shootout
Game 2: Middlebury 5 St. Thomas 3
Consolation: Plattsburgh 5 St. Thomas 3
Championship: Middlebury 3 Norwich 2

All-Tournament Team

Rob Johnson - St. Thomas
Jack Kinder - Middlebury
Ryan Klingensmith - Norwich
Jamie McKenna - Middlebury
Ward Smith - Plattsburgh

Outstanding Rookie
Shawn Baker - Norwich

MVP
Doug Raeder - Middlebury

Quotable Quotes:

“I’m not happy that we weren’t able to be focused for 60 minutes. We played hard, but weren’t opportunistic enough. Norwich frustrated us at times” - Bob Emery after shootout loss to Norwich.

“ The guys are itching to play at home. We went 4-0-2 on the road trip and that isn’t bad.” - Bob Emery after consolation game.

"We played against a very, very good team. Plattsburgh is as good as any team we're going to see all year. If we can get a little bit better and improve a little bit more, we can stay with (the good teams)." - Mike McShane after a shootout win over Plattsburgh.

"We came out strong in the first couple of periods, all four lines going, but we knew they had a lot of firepower and they could come back." - DJ Fimiani junior forward from Norwich after 3-3 tie with Plattsburgh.

Updated Polls and SUNYAC Standings:

Plattsburgh State currently remains in first place in both the SUNYAC standings and the current USCHO Online Poll. This coming weekend, the Cards return to SUNYAC play and will face off with #7 ranked Oswego State, who is currently two points behind the Cards in the SUNYAC standings. Click Here for Full Standings

Cardinal Box Scores:
Plattsburgh State vs. Norwich University
Plattsburgh State vs. St. Thomas University

Media Stories from this past week:

Press Republican:
Plattsburgh State Still Number One
Cards Finish 3rd in PrimeLink Great Northern Shootout
Cards Fall to Cadets in Shootout
Cards Open Primelink against Cadets

Times Argus:
Late power-play goal sinks Cadets 3-2
Klingensmith shines in nets
Norwich opens PrimeLink with Shootout Victory
Norwich faces Plattsburgh State in PrimeLink Great Northern Shootout

SUNYAC Weekly Awards

December 1
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ward Smith - Plattsburgh Defenseman
Junior (Forest, Ont./Sarnia Blast) Smith scored two goals including the game winner in a 5-3 win over St. Thomas in the third place game of the 2008 PrimeLink Great Northern Shootout hosted by Middlebury. Smith also was named to the All-Tournament Team for his performance.

GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK
Bryan Hince - Plattsburgh
Sophomore (Tillsonburg, Ont./St. Mary's Lincolns)
Hince had 53 saves and an .898 save percentage on the weekend in the 2008 PrimeLink Tournament. He was able to hold No. 5 ranked Norwich to just three goals. Hince also picked up his 800th career save and his 200th season save during the third period of the third place game against St. Thomas.

CardinalHockey.Net Players of the Week

December 1
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Dylan Clarke - Forward
Sophomore (Bellebille, Ont./Kingston Voyageurs)
Clarke led all Cardinal forwards in scoring during the PrimeLink Great Northern Shootout with four points.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ward Smith - Defense
Junior (Forest, Ont./Sarnia Blast)
Smith scored two goals, including the game winner vs. St. Thomas in the PrimeLink Great Northern Shootout. Smith was the only Cardinal named to the All Tournament team.

Till next week,
Bill