The fruits of the labors of the Brockport hockey team will be realized on Tuesday night. Their efforts in this magical season are paying off as the Golden Eagles host a playoff hockey game for the first time in the program’s history.
The players have busted their butts for their entire hockey lives, hoping for a moment like this. It will be an exciting game, not only because of its historical importance, but also because of what will happen on the ice. When you see a playoff hockey game, you want a close, nerve-wracking game.
That’s what you’ll get with the Potsdam Bears.
Potsdam is 9-11-5 on the year, but realize they are 6-4-2 since Christmas and they stunned Oswego over the weekend. So, they are very dangerous.
The teams have faced each other twice this year and both games have been incredibly entertaining.
They skated to a 2-2 stalemate in the first match-up back in November. James Cody scored the most important goal of the season, tying the game with less than two minutes to go in the third. Had he not done so, the playoff picture would have changed considerably and Brockport would not be hosting a game.
Earlier this month, Brockport beat the Bears at Potsdam with an 8-6 victory that wasn’t sealed until the very last minute of the game. In that old fashioned shootout, 8 different Brockport players scored a goal.
So, this won’t be an easy one for Brockport to win.
You can expect that with Potsdam, one of the most dangerous offenses in DIII. They are the 15th highest-scoring team in the nation, putting up 4.12 goals per game. They are led by Connor Treacy who has 39 points and 19 goals. He’s complimented by Fraser Smith and his 16 goals and Luke Beck and his 26 assists. Gaudy numbers all the way around.
Their numbers are just as gaudy on defense, though not in a good way (for them). They are 58th in the nation in defense (4/game) and their number one goaltender, Trevor O’Neill, has struggled under the barrage of quality shots (.856 saves % and a 4.06 GAA).
Without a doubt this is the most meaningful hockey game ever held on campus and it could be one of the most exciting (multiple overtimes, anyone?). I predict that when the smoke clears, Brockport comes out on top.
The game begins at 7:00 PM. If you can’t make it, listen to coverage on WBSU…89.1 FM or http://891thepoint.com
