Potsdam bounced back from an emotional loss the night before to explode for six power play goals en route to a 9-2 route over Brockport. Potsdam went 6 for 12 on the power play as the referees called an extremely tight game with 26 minors whistled, 13 on each side.
“It’s nice to get the first win of the season,” Potsdam coach Glenn Thomaris said. “It’s nice to get a lead and get some goals early, and they came pretty easily I thought on the power play. We moved it extremely well.”
The tone of the game was set right from the start as the Bears took a 3-0 lead in the first period, all on the power play. The initial tally occurred on a quick rush. Ryan McCarthy fed a wide open Chris Brussa-Toi in front of the net. His first shot was saved by Devin Ramasawmy, but the rebound came right back to his stick. Brussa-Toi didn’t waste the second opportunity.
Greg Lee scored the next goal when not only were the Bears on the power play, but a delayed call enabled them to get six skaters on the ice. Brockport couldn’t keep up with Potsdam’s puck movement, and Lee found himself on the goalie’s right side of the net, and Lee fired it in waist high.
The third goal once again was due to Brockport not keeping up with Potsdam. McCarthy provided a quick centering pass to Pat Lemay, all alone on the side of the crease. He easily put it into the unguarded net.
“Discipline in tight,” Brockport coach James Eccles said of the problem with his team in the first period. “All three goals were inside the paint.”
Potsdam continued to pour it on, opening up a 5-0 lead in the second period before Brockport finally got one on the board.
Brussa-Toi scored when the Bears were up by two men after receiving a centering pass from T.J. Sakaluk. Sakaluk got a goal for himself when both teams were actually skating at full strength by knocking in his own rebound.
Brockport’s goal came on a power play when Gordon Pritchard tipped a shot over the shoulder of Rob Barnhardt who was going down to defend the original low shot.
Potsdam mopped up the game in the third period scoring four more times while Brockport added a goal after that barrage.
Brussa-Toi nailed the hat trick, with his third power play goal of the night. Once again, assists were provided by McCarthy and Sakaluk. Those three were a deadly combination whenever Potsdam had the man advantage.
“They’re pretty good on the power play,” Thomaris said. “All their power play goals were pretty good. When Brussa-Toi is skating very well, he’s a pretty dangerous guy out on the ice. If we can get him the puck when he is moving, we’re in pretty good shape.”
In total, Brussa-Toi had three goals and an assist, McCarthy had four assists, and Sakaluk ended up with one goal and four assists.
Corey McAllister scored when he scooped up a loose puck after a scramble in front of the net. Greg Lee made it 8-1 40 seconds later when he took advantage of Brockport’s inability to clear the zone. Lee flew in and fired it up high.
John Rorison finished off the Potsdam scoring, stealing the puck from the Brockport defense, and beating Derek Spence who replaced Ramasawmy after the previous goal.
“A lot of shots for Ramasawmy to stop,” Eccles said of his starting goaltender. “You just can’t stop everything.”
Ian MacLean scored a meaningless goal for Brockport, which, naturally, was on the power play. The Golden Eagles also found the net again, but it came just after the final buzzer.
“I got a lot of guys with a lot of talent and heart who love to play the game,” Eccles said of his team’s performance. “But today they just didn’t have it.”
The Bears outshot Brockport, 44-26, as Barnhardt got the win with 24 saves.
Potsdam is now 1-4-1 and 1-1 in conference play. The Bears return home to host Cortland and Oswego next weekend.
Brockport takes its winless record of 0-6 overall and 0-2 in the SUNYAC on the road when they travel to Fredonia and Cortland next weekend.
