Adrian junior forward Une Bjelland rips a shot on the net toward Norwich goaltender Alexa Berg under pressure from senior defenseman Kayla Goleniak in the Northfield Savings Bank East-West Classic at Norwich’s Kreitzberg Arena. The 2021 Northfield Savings Bank East/West Classic got off to a roaring start with the host Norwich University earning a hard-fought 4-2 victory over Adrian College Saturday at Kreitzberg Arena.
The first period saw the No. 8 Adrian Bulldogs largely control play, outshooting the No. 10 Norwich Cadets 11-4. The Bulldogs opened the scoring early, with a shorthanded goal by sophomore Jocelin Hudanish at the 3:17 mark.
The Cadets came back, though, with a powerplay tally by sophomore Ally Lagrue, who tipped a shot from the point for a goal with four minutes remaining in the period.
While Adrian came out for the second period with the same intensity as the first, it was Norwich who took advantage of their chances.
Senior Morgan Tefft gave the Cadets the lead at 7:36 with a low-angle shot that beat Adrian goaltender Sophie Goldberg before Norwich doubled the lead with a tip from junior Ann-Frederique Guay. The goal was the Cadets’ third tally on just their sixth shot on the net.
Despite the Bulldogs’ early control of possession, the two-goal lead for the hosts changed the complexion of the contest, and the Cadets began to generate more sustained offensive pressure from there.
Adrian reduced the deficit to one goal in the third period, as sophomore Callie Wollschlager found the back of the net on the delayed penalty, but could not convert on the ensuing powerplay to tie the game.
Norwich continued to generate pressure through the third period, and Adrian struggled to find an opportunity to pull Goldberg from the net, but when they did get the extra attacker on it wasn’t enough.
Junior forward Julia Masotta sealed the Cadets’ victory with an empty-net goal at 19:16 of the third period, advancing Norwich to the East/ West Classic Championship Sunday against the defending champion Plattsburgh State. Adrian moved on to the consolation game against Elmira College.
Goldberg made 16 saves on 20 shots in the loss for Adrian, while Norwich goaltender Alexa Berg stopped 26 of 28 shots for the win.
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Saranac's Landon Duprey (16) with the rebound for the game-winner to cap off a massive 4 point night (2 goals and 2 assists). It would be a nonleague game as the Saranac Chiefs would host the St. Lawerence Larries. The game would start off good for the home Chiefs as they would get the opening goal of the game at the 5:25 mark from Ryan Maggey as the Chiefs take a 1-0 lead. Although the Larries would answer back without 3:30 left in the period on the goal from Ashton Davis. Although the second period would belong to the Chiefs as they would get three goals in the first 5:19 from Hunter Patnode, Landon Duprey, and Hayden Buckley to give the Chiefs a 4-1 lead headed into the third period. Although the Larries would not give up the fight and they would fight all the way back and tie the game up at four. It would take a goal from Saranac's Landon Duprey in the final minute on the powerplay to secure the 5-4 win. In the winning effort, the Chiefs will go to 2-2 on the season and play their next game on December 13th against Beekmantown Eagles while the Larries fall to 0-2 on the season. Gallery

Plattsburgh's Bostyn Duquette (4) with the goal just past the outstretched pads of Northeastern Clinton's Peter Judkins. It would be the opener of the conference plat as the Plattsburgh Hornets would host the Northeastern Clinton Cougars. The Cougars would get out to a quick start as they would get two goals in the first two minutes of the game. Then the Hornets would start pulling them back in at the 8:30 mark of the first period on a goal from Andrew Knowles to make it 2-2. Then inside the final 90 seconds of the first, the Hornets would tie the game at two on a powerplay goal by Bostyn Duquette. Then just 38 seconds into the second period Jace Lacey would give the Hornets the lead back at 3-2. Then just about three minutes later the Cougars would claw their way back again and tie it at three on a goal from Benjamin Fredette. Then at the midway point of the period, the Cougars would take the lead again this time from Winfred Simpson. The game would stay there till the 8:42 mark of the third period when Hayden Colburn would score and tie the game at four. The teams would stake the rest of the period and the overtime and nothing changed. So will go down as a tie as the Hornets go to 0-1-1 and the Cougars fall to 0-0-1 on the season. Gallery

Plattsburgh State's Payton Couture (33) with the finger roll on the layup as part of a 14 point night. It would be the last game before the winter break for the Plattsburgh State Cardinals as they would host long-time competitor the Middlebury Panthers. The game would start off close but the Cardinals would be behind by a score of 20-13. In the second quarter, the Cardinals would do their best to keep the game close but the Panthers would win the quarter 21-17 and have a 41-30 lead at the intermission. When the teams would return for the third quarter the Cardinals would stay in the fight but the Panthers would pull away by a little more with a 22-16 quarter and the Panthers would lead 63-46 heading into the fourth. Once again in the fourth, the Cardinals would stay close but the Panthers win by a slim 18-14 to give the Cardinals the 81-60 lose. In the losing effort, Mya Smith would lead the Cardinals with 24 points as they fall to 3-6 on the season while Alexa Mustafaj. would lead the Panthers to the win with 24 points. Gallery

Plattsburgh State's Kevin Tabb (1) rises up and lays it off the window as part of a team-high 11 point night. It would be the last game before the winter break as the Plattsburgh State Cardinals would host the Middlebury Panthers in front of just over 200 -fans. The first half would not go the way the home Cardinals were hoping for as they would be trailing the Panthers 47-34. In the second half, the Cardinals would do their best to try and keep the it close but the Panthers would just do too much on this day as they would win the half 35-27 and secure the 82-61 for the Panthers. In a losing effort for the Cardinals, Kevin Tabb would have a team night 11 points as they would fall to 1-8 on the season with the next tilt after the New Year against the Clarkson Golden Knights. Gallery

Saranac Lake Placid's Andres Stanton (1) with the paddle save on Saranac's Hayden Buckley as part of a 25 save night. It would be the opening night of the Champlain valley athletic conference boy's hockey season and would feature the Saranac Chiefs hosting the Saranac Lake Placid Lakers/ It would take a little bit to get going but the visiting lakers would get the opening goal of the game at the 8:49 mark of the first period from Hugo Hobson. Then with under three minutes left in the period, the Lakers would extend the lead to 2-0 on a goal from Bailey Batholomew (7). The Chiefs would finally answer back 45 seconds later on a goal from Landen Duprey and that's where the p[eriod would end at 2-1 Lakers. In the second period, it would take a bit but the Lakers would regain their 2 goal lead on a 4x3 by (22). The Chiefs would answer back a minute later on a second-handed goal from Landen Duprey his second of the night. Then with three minutes left in the period, the Chiefs would tie the game up on the Zach O'Connell goal. Although the tie would be short-lived as the Lakers would take the lead back a minute later and that is where the period would end at 4-3 Lakers. In the third period, the Lakers would keep it a one-goal lead for a while until the 10:27 mark when Bailey Batholomew would score the second time tonight and make it 5-3. Then with nine seconds left in the game, the Lakers would put the icing on the cake with a goal by Brady Tremblay for the 6-3 win. In the winning effort, Andres Stanton would make 25 saves as the Saranac Chiefs fall to 1-2 on the season with Mason Patnode making 35 saves in the game. Next up for the teams Gallery

Plattsburgh State's Corey Doney (55) takes flight at the blue line to get by the Norwich defender and get to the loose puck. In a rematch from the First Light Great Northern Shootout Championship, a couple of weeks the Plattsburgh State Cardinals would host the #9 Norwich Cadets. The game would remain scoreless all the way until the 4:34 mark of the second period when the Cadets would get the opening goal from Isaac Chapman for the 1-0 lead. Then at the 10:23 mark of the period, the Cadets would extend their lead to 2-0 on the Clark Kerner goal. Although at the 14:04 mark of the period the Cardinals would get on the board on the Adam Tretowicz goal to make it 2-1. The Cardinals would keep fighting and with three minutes left in the game, they would find the equalizer from Jacob Moody to make it 2-2. So in the rematch there would be no winner as the game would finish 2-2 after a five-minute 3x3 overtime, With the decision, the Cardinals go to 6-4-2 on the season as Anthony Del Tuffo would make 19 saves on the night. The Cardinals will finish out the first portion of the season on the road against the Morrisville State Cardinals. Gallery

The teddy bears came flying fast and furious as the Cardinals score on the annual teddy bear night to support the local children of the community. The Plattsburgh State Cardinals would host the Potsdam State Bears in the annual teddy bear toss night to benefit the youth of the Plattsburgh area on the battle of the North Country. It would be an ever evenly matched game throughout with many hard-hitting but legal ones as they would have few penalties called throughout the night. There actually would only be a goal scored on the night as the Cardinals would finally light the lamp from Thomas Maia with 5:33 left in the game in front of just over 1700 fans. In the winning effort, Anthony Del Tuffo would make 24 saves for the shutout as they go to 6-4-1 on the season while the Bears fall to 0-8 on the season. Next up for the Cardinals will be a rematch with the Norwich Cadets on December 7th. Gallery

Potsdam State's Alyson Crosby (22) with the off-balance shot over Plattsburgh State's Misa Dowdell (55) as part of an eight-point game. It would be a pair of North Country foes taking to the hardwood at Memorial Hall as the Plattsburgh State Cardinals would host the Potsdam State Bears. It would be a tight but good start for the Cardinals as they would have a slim 19-17 lead after the first quarter. In the second quarter, the teams would still be tight but the Bears were just a little better as they win the quarter 17-13 and take a 34-32 lead into the locker room. When the teams came back for the third quarter the Bears would start to pull away as they would have a 19-12 quarter and take a 53-44 lead into the fourth. In that fourth quarter, the Cardinals would do their best to get back into it with a 19-14 but it wouldn't be enough as they would fall by a score of 67-63. In the winning effort, the Bears Madison McCormick would lead the way 18 points as they go to 5-1. While for the Cardinals Mya Smith would lead the way with 20 points as they go to 3-3 on the season. Next up for the Cardinals will be the Cortland State Red Dragons on December 3rd. Gallery

Potsdam State's Mesean Johnson (2) drives by Plattsburgh State's Kevin Tabb (1) and takes flight for the hard layup as part of a 13 point night. It would be a SUNYAC battle between North Country foes as the Plattsburgh State Cardinals would host the Potsdam State Bears in the first conference match of the season. It would be a hotly contested first half and see the Bears come out with the 38-29 lead at the half. In the second half the team's offensive would step up on both sides and the Cardinals would fight hard to get back in the game with a 51-46 half. Although it would not be enough as the Cardinals would fall 84-80. In the losing effort for the Cardinals, Erik Salo would lead the way with 22 points as they fall to 1-5 on the season. As for the Potsdam State Bears, Colton Huestis would lead the way with 22 points as they go to 2-2 on the season. Next up for the Cardinals will be the Cortland State Red Dragons on December 3rd. Gallery