PLATTSBURGH — The second half of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) men’s hockey regular season promises to be a competitive and exciting one.
There’s a logjam currently at the top of the standings with No. 2-ranked Geneseo in first place with a 7-1 record, followed by No. 5-ranked Plattsburgh, Oswego and Cortland all at 6-2.
The Cardinals, who are 13-3 overall, have the tougher task ahead having to play their final five of eight conference games on the road, including Geneseo, Oswego and Cortland away from home.
That’s why taking care of business against teams like Morrisville, Buffalo State, Fredonia, Brockport and Potsdam takes on even more importance.
And it begins tonight when Plattsburgh hosts Morrisville (3-14, 1-8) at the Stafford Ice Arena at 7 p.m. The Cardinals skated past the Mustangs, 5-1, early in the season, but can’t afford to take anyone lightly the rest of the way.
What’s good is the Cardinals, who got goals from Joshua Belgrave, Bennett Stockdale, Colin Callanan, Paul Bryer and Luk Jirousek in that first meeting, still control their own destiny.
“We have to take the approach that every game is as important as the next,” Plattsburgh head coach Steve Moffat said. “There are only eight conference games remaining and they will be challenges.
“There’s a lot of parity in college hockey and all these players can play. Any team can lose to anyone if it doesn’t come ready to play.”
The Cardinals split two non-conference games last weekend, dropping the second on the weekend to Williams College, 2-1. Morrisville, meanwhile, hosted Potsdam on Wednesday in SUNYAC play and fell, 4-0.
“We want to bounce back from last Saturday,” Moffat said. “You have to keep your foot on the gas at all times and we have to get back to that. We’re playing pretty well, but I feel we’re playing on only five cylinders and not six right now.
“There’s always going to be ebbs and flows in every season with the semester break and being in the middle of the season. Being 13-3 overall at this point is still pretty good, however.”
In the first meeting of the season between the Cardinals and Mustangs, five players scored a goal each for Plattsburgh.
Tonight’s game also marks the return of Burghy for his 43rd birthday. There will be giveaways at the game.
The following week, the Cardinals have a SUNYAC weekend set at Geneseo and Brockport.
The only departure from conference play is a game on Wednesday, Jan. 31 at home against Norwich University.