By JOHN CORYER
PLATTSBURGH -- The Plattsburgh State men's hockey team has little time to enjoy its championship this past weekend in the Cardinal Classic.
The Cardinals hit the road for a 7 p.m. non-conference showdown tonight with Norwich University at Kreitzberg Arena in Northfield, Vt.
Plattsburgh State ran its overall record to 14-2 this past weekend.
The Cardinals, opening their second half of the season, rolled past Tufts, 9-2, on Friday night before prevailing by a 3-2 score in a hard-fought game with St. Scholastica in the championship contest on Saturday night.
"I like the fact we found a way to win against St. Scholastica," said Plattsburgh State head coach Bob Emery. "But, we didn't move the puck the way we can, especially against St. Scholastica. We have to be crisper with our passing.
"It's going to be our third game in five nights. But, it's also going to be Norwich's third game in five nights as well."
The Cadets are currently 8-2 overall and have won their last six games by a combined 34-11 goal differential.
Ironically, Norwich's last loss was a 5-3 decision to Plattsburgh State in the championship game of the PrimeLink Tournament on Nov. 24 at the Stafford Ice Arena.
"It's payback time for them and that will help them find the emotion," Emery said. "They are a good skating team like us, but they are a veteran team unlike ourselves.
"Norwich is a good team with a really good senior class. They will be ready to play in their own rink where they are a different team as opposed to when they are playing on the road.
"This, along with playing at Middlebury, will be our toughest game all year. We have to definitely find the emotion. We have to play bigger and stronger to match the emotion Norwich will have."
The Cadets were in action this past weekend, hosting and winning their Times-Argus Invitational. Norwich skated to a 4-2 win over UMass-Boston on Friday and then a 5-3 decision over Babson in the title game on Saturday.
Norwich's leading scorers are senior Rick Cleaver (10-7-17), Nikita Kashirsky (8-7-15) and D.J. Fimiani (4-11-15).
Two sophomores -- David Thompson (6-1, 2.58 gaa) and Ryan Klingensmith (2-0, 1.96 gaa) -- have done the majority of the goaltending for Norwich.
"I think we'll be ready to play," Emery said. "We need to play with confidence and poise."
Following tonight's game, Plattsburgh State is off until hosting Skidmore College next Tuesday. That will close out the non-conference portion of its schedule.
