Men’s Hockey Split Burning Leaves Weekend

Saranac Lake, NY ~ The Paul Smith's College Men's Hockey Team started the season with a 1-1 split on their opening weekend of games as they hosted the 2024 Burning Leaves Tournament on Friday through Sunday at the Saranac Lake Civic Center.

On Friday, the Bobcats took on a battle-hardened Embry Riddle Aeronautical University team that had already played six games this season.

After giving up a goal in the first period on a turnover, the Bobcats fell behind 2-0 at the 7:23 mark before Tristan Côtè (Shannon, QC, Canada) buried the first goal of the season in front of an estimated 400 people with a beautiful snipe over the goalie's shoulder and just under the crossbar.  The Eagles would score two more in the third as the Bobcats got into penalty trouble before Hazen Stoufer (East Montpelier, VT) would cut the lead in half again to make it 4-2.  Embry Riddle scored one more to make it 5-2 as the bounces just didn't go the Bobcats' way in their home opener.

On Sunday morning, the Bobcats started off with a goal against Stonehill College just 1:38 into the first period and never looked back.  Colin Palmer (Clifton Park, NY) buried a 2-on-0 after a nice heads-up pass from Attila Quesnel (Montreal, QC, Canada) to give the Bobcats a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

The second period was all-PSC, as the Nick Ogden (Queensbury, NY) and Mike Hansen (New Hartford, NY) buried goals over the final six minutes to put the hosts up 3-0.  It was Ogden's first collegiate goal and one that he won't soon forget.

"Scoring my first goal reminded why I love the game and the community that surrounds it," said Ogden.

Collin Trapiss (Macedon, NY) would also bury his first collegiate goal after assists from Larry Parece (Woburn, MA) and Marshall Kiteley (Selkirk, MB, Canada) who completed the line goal, which happens when all three linemates record a point on a single goal.  The Skyhawks would get two goals late in the game, but it wasn't enough to come back as Kevin Zamazal (Opava, Czech Republic) stood tall in net, recording 38 saves in the win.  Zamazal's parents were in attendance, coming all the way from the Czech Republic to see him play.

"It was a great team win," said Zamazal, and "Important for the boys to get one early."

"It was awesome to do it in front of my parents and all the parents who came up for the tournament and Family Weekend," he added.

Quesnel had three assists on the weekend while Côté, Owen Kime (Waterloo, NY), Sean Wright (Wappingers Falls, NY) and Julien Shafer (Queensbury, NY) also picked up solo assists.

The Bobcats are back in action Friday and Saturday as they travel to Watertown, NY and Canton, NY to take on SUNY Jefferson and SUNY Canton in Upstate New York Collegiate Hockey League (UNYCHL) East Division games.

You can follow the men's hockey team on Instagram at @pschockey or follow the general athletics account at @smitty_nation for schedules, updates, photos, and much more!

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At Paul Smith's College, it's about the experience. As the only four-year institution of higher education located in the Adirondack Park in upstate New York, Paul Smith's provides real-world, hands-on learning in fields such as business and hospitality, culinary management, forestry, environmental sciences, and natural resources. We can draw on industries and resources available in our backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere. Our community of resourceful, enterprising, supportive, and adventurous individuals collectively provides experiential education, student support in the classroom and beyond, and meaningful opportunities for our alumni. We pride ourselves on research and advocacy on issues that improve our planet and the lives of the people who inhabit it. Learn more at www.paulsmiths.edu.