Men’s Hockey Wins OT Thriller at Home

Saranac Lake, NY ~ The Paul Smith's College men's hockey team dropped their first game in over two months on Friday at home against Union before defeating the University at Albany on Saturday.

The two Upstate New York Collegiate Hockey League (UNYCHL) East Division matchups between the top-three teams showcase how close the competition has been this season at the top of the table.  While the Bobcats lost 6-4 on Friday, their 5-4 OT victory on Saturday ensured a playoff appearance for the second year in a row in the UNYCHL.

On Friday, Owen Kime (Waterloo, NY) put the hosts up 1-0 just 1:33 into the opening frame as he joined a rush and buried the puck into the back of the Garnet Charger goal after Ryen Janus (Frederick, MD) made a smart play to get the puck on net.  The visitors would tie it up at the 4:42 mark to make it 1-1 going into the second.

The middle frame began and ended with the sides equal as they traded two goals each.  After going up 2-1 on the power play, the Garner Chargers gave up two goals in quick succession as Hazen Stoufer (East Montpelier, VT) and Julien Shafer (Queensbury, NY) put the hosts back in front.  It looked like the Bobcats would take a 3-2 lead going into the third but an ill-timed offensive zone face-off lapse resulted in an odd-man rush that was capitalized on to tie it at 3-3.

Union would take the lead back 35 seconds into the final frame before Tristan Côté (Shannon, QC) tied it again at 4-4 on a breakaway.  The visitors would score the game winner with just under seven minutes left and add another empty netter with under a minute remaining to earn the win.

Kevin Zamazal (Opava, Czech Republic) stopped 45 shots while Sean Wright (Wappingers Falls, NY) added three assists in the losing effort.

Saturday's game against UAlbany was also a close battle, but one which resulted in a monumental comeback for the Bobcats.  Stoufer would put the hosts on the board first on a nice individual effort on a net drive and rebound which he tucked behind the sprawling Great Danes keeper.  UAlbany would then go on to score four straight goals before the Bobcats would come storming back.

At 4:27 of the second period and after a timeout to recharge the team, Hazen Stoufer would score his second of the game on a nice setup from Wright and Quesnel on the power play.  Trailing 4-2 going into the third, the Bobcats knew they would need to empty the tank in order to collect the win.

At 12:20, Côté got the hosts within one on a nice tip from first year defenseman Nick Ogden (Queensbury, NY).  Then, nearly 10 minutes later with just 3:33 on the clock, sophomore Larry Parece (Woburn, MA) took advantage of an odd-man rush.  After a nice breakout play from Quesnel to Colin Palmer (Clifton Park, NY), Palmer found himself and Parece approaching the UAlbany net with just one defender between them.  Palmer placed a perfect pass to Parece and the second year goal scorer, known for his deft touch on the attack, made no mistake and deposited the equalizer in the back of the Great Danes net as the crowd erupted to make it 4-4.

"To be able to come back and contribute in a game that big to rally the guys is an honor," said Parece.  The Massachusetts native had been sidelined for 12 games after injuring his shoulder in a tournament in Rhode Island in October.

"I try to play for the guys next to me, the seniors, the fans, and those who put in the time with the team when it wasn't what it is today," continued Parece.  The Bobcats are having the best season in their history, currently sitting at 17-6 overall and right on the cusp of making their first-ever national tournament.

"The teams catching momentum at the right time just before playoffs," added Parece.

The energy in the Saranac Lake Civic Center and the momentum from the dominant third period felt like it was all but inevitable that the Bobcats would win the game.  That outcome came sooner rather than later as Julien Shafer collected a nice setup from Wright and Kyle Davis (Canandiagua, NY) and fired a low, hard shot on the short side under the goalkeeper's blocker to win the game just 34 seconds into overtime.

"We had practiced the 3 on 3 many times, so we were able to go out there with confidence," said Shafer.  "The second I scored, my linemates and team rushed to the ice to celebrate with me and it felt electric.  The crowd was roaring and the atmosphere in the rink really helped... the moment of pure adrenaline and excitement I felt when I scored felt really good and I was happy I could help get this win for the team," added Shafer.

One of Shafer's linemates all season has been Sean Wright, who had a big weekend on the stats sheet as he led all Bobcats in points, tallying six assists.

"I knew that these teams would be a challenge, so I had to give everything I had every shift," recalled Wright.  The sophomore speedster has 26 points (9G 17A) in 21 games, nearly doubling his point total from last season.  "I know my linemates can put the puck in the back of the net, and it's easy to produce when you trust each other," added Wright.

Linemates Shafer (22 points - 12G 10A) and Côté (23 points - 10G 13A), with Wright are having a banner year as all three have eclipsed their point totals from '23-'24.

Goaltender Kevin Zamazal came on at 6:34 in relief of starter Ethan Stefaniak (Franklin, VT) to earn the win as both goalies helped in the comeback.  Stefaniak contributed 18 saves while Zamazal added 15 to close it out, shutting out the Great Danes in the 27:08 of ice time he accrued.

The split weekend puts the fate of the Bobcats in the UNYCHL East Division partially on the outcomes of other games.  Even though they have clinched a playoff spot, their seed remains up in the air as they, Union, and UAlbany jockey for the top three positions.  Their last league matchup is Friday, February 7th at 7:30pm as they host SUNY Jefferson in the annual Carnival Classic.

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.