Mens Hockey Splits Weekend in Rochester

Rochester, NY ~ The Paul Smith's College men's hockey team dropped their game against St. John Fisher 5-3 on Friday before coming back to beat the University of Rochester 4-2 on Saturday to earn a weekend split.

Friday's matchup saw the Bobcats up 3-2 with under seven minutes left in the game, but a puck mishandle and late penalty cost them the win against the AAU Division III top-10 Cardinals.

Omar Uqdah (North Adams, MA) and Ryen Janus (Frederick, MD) tallied a goal and an assist each while Tristan Côté (Shannon, QC) rounded out the scoring on a nice setup from Julien Shafer (Queensbury, NY).  Nick Ogden (Queensbury, NY) also picked up an assist while Kevin Zamazal (Opava, Czech Republic) stopped 34 of 39 shots in the loss.

Saturday was a different story as the Bobcats were able to hold off the Hornets in the third period to preserve the win.  Sean Wright (Wappingers Falls, NY) scored in the second period but the Rochester goalkeeper did well to keep the rest of the shots out of the net until a torrent of goals in the final frame opened the floodgates.

"Big response from the fellas tonight," said James Kircaldie (Londonderry, NH), who got the start in net for the Bobcats.  "It shows the relentless, gritty mindset of this team."

Attila Quesnel (Montreal, QC) put the Bobcats up 2-1 at the 12:40 mark on a setup from Colin Palmer (Clifton Park, NY) and Mike Hansen (New Hartford, NY).  After the Hornets leveled it at 2-2, Omar Uqdah connected on a power play goal on a nice pass play from Palmer and Quesnel to put the Bobcats back in the lead.  A good defensive team effort kept Rochester from getting any quality scoring chances for the rest of the period as Kircaldie slammed the door shut.  Quesnel would pick up his second of the game with just 00:01 remaining to secure the win.

"Last year when we played U of R we barely snuck out the win," said Tyson Smith.  Smith has been playing more minutes in recent games as injuries and illnesses have thinned the Bobcat ranks.

"This year we have shown how every single one of us has improved as individuals as well as a team throughout every game," continued Smith.  "For most of last season I was in the bleachers recording for our film - now I get the chance to make a difference on the ice and it feels natural," he added.

Sophomore Tristan Côté reflected on the weekend split, stating "This weekend's games really showed what kind of team we are, a team that never backs down regardless of the odds.  The SJF game showed that we can compete with a top-10 team, while the Rochester game was an example of pure grit and passion.

Hazen Stoufer earned Player of the Game for sparking the Bobcat offense and making hard-nosed play after hard-nosed play.  His speed and presence were felt all over the ice and his hard work was a major reason why the Bobcats were able to get the win.

The Bobcats move to 9-5 with the split.  They travel to Buffalo, NY next weekend for three games against Niagara, Fredonia, and St. Bonnaventure.

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.