FREDONIA, N.Y. – The Fredonia State men's hockey team still has its sights set on a SUNYAC playoff berth.
The Blue Devils are currently seventh in the SUNYAC standings with five games remaining, beginning with games this Friday and Saturday vs. the Potsdam Bears and Plattsburgh Cardinals, respectively, at the Steele Hall Ice Arena.
Game times are 7 p.m. both nights.
The SUNYAC regular-season pecking order has been divided into two parts. Oswego, Geneseo, and Plattsburgh have 20, 19, and 17 points, respectively, and have pulled away from the rest of the pack. Buffalo State and Brockport are tied for fourth with nine points each. Morrisville is next with eight points, followed by the Blue Devils with seven, Potsdam with six, and Cortland with five.
In short, three playoff spots are still up for grabs among six teams. The top six teams qualify for the SUNYAC Tournament.
“You never want to get so far backed into a corner,” Fredonia State head coach
Jeff Meredith said, “that you deem a game as a must-win, but that pretty much sums up what we have to do against Potsdam. “
The Blue Devils defeated the Bears, 3-1, when the teams met Nov. 9 in Potsdam. On Nov. 10 in Plattsburgh, the Blue Devils came out on the short end, 5-0. The Cardinals are ranked No. 9 in NCAA Division III by USCHO.com and take a four-game win streak into their Friday night game at Buffalo State.
Friday marks Fredonia State's first home game since Jan. 5 – a 2-2 tie with New England College – and the first of four straight home games over the next two weekends. The Blue Devils play their annual Pink The Rink game next Friday, Feb. 8, vs. Cortland, before playing their final home game Feb. 9 vs. Oswego.
Meredith said Pink The Rink jerseys are still available for purchase. Cost is $250 and the buyer chooses the name to be placed on the back of the jersey. Proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society.
People wishing to buy a jersey or make a donation are asked to contact Coach Meredith via e-mail (Meredith@fredonia.edu).
This Friday's game will also coincide with Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day. Members of all Fredonia State's teams – including the five in action Friday night – have put together a guest list from among the professors and other campus staff who accepted invitations to a reception from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Bob Steele Multi-Purpose Room. Light refreshments will be served.
