PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — The Plattsburgh State men's ice hockey team wrapped up the 2019 calendar year with a 4-3 non-conference defeat to SUNY Canton on Friday night at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena.

Just 14 second into the game, Plattsburgh State (3-6-1) jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a goal from senior forward and alternate captain Ryan Kuhn (Wheatfield, N.Y./Niagara University). Kuhn took a shot from the bottom of the left circle that hit off of the goaltender and went into the net. Plattsburgh State's fans threw teddy bears onto the ice following the goal as the Cardinals held their first-ever Casella Teddy Bear Toss. Senior forward and alternate captain Joe Drabin (Rochester, N.Y./Wenatchee Wild) and freshman defenseman Christian Dahl (St. Peters, Mo./Topeka Pilots) tallied the assists on Kuhn's first goal of the season.

However, Canton (5-3-1) would score the next three goals to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead. Jesse Farabee scored the Kangaroos' first goal at 9:48 of the first period. Kyler Matthews took a slap shot from the blue line that was saved by Plattsburgh State's sophomore goaltender Brandon Wells (Spirit River, Alberta/Melville, Millionaires) (0-1-0). However, the rebound went to Farabee who quickly took a shot from near the left face-off dot that beat Wells for the goal. Matthews and Sean David tallied the assists. 

Brendan McCormack gave Canton a 2-1 lead at 15:35 of the first period. After a slap shot from the left point, the rebound bounced around in front of the net to McCormack at the side of the left side of the net and he finished for the goal. Brett Bannister and Stuart Fierheller garnered the assists on the play.

In the second period. Max Routledge tallied his first of two goals for Canton at 6:30 of the second period. An outlet pass from the defensive zone led to an opportunity for Sean David. Wells poke checked the puck away from David. However, David got the puck back below the Plattsburgh State goal line and passed the puck into the slot where Routledge quickly fired a shot for the goal. David and Luke Hincenberg were credited with the assists.

Plattsburgh State cut the Canton lead to 3-2 when freshman defenseman Ryan Hogg (Duncan, British Columbia/Islanders Hockey Club) scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season at 9:40 of the second period. On a rush, Christian DiFelice (Thorold, Ontario/Buffalo Jr. Sabres) skated into the offensive zone and passed the puck to Christian Thomas (Bloomingdale, N.Y./Topeka Pilots). Thomas then found Hogg in the slot, who scored on a low shot past the Canton goaltender. Thomas and DiFelice tallied the assists.

Routledge responded for the Kangaroos to make the score 4-2 with an unassisted goal at 15:14 of the second period. He stole the puck behind the Plattsburgh State net, skated out around the left side of the goal and released a wrist shot that found the upper-right corner of the net.   

The Cardinals fought back and made the score 4-3 on a goal by freshman forward Adam Tretowicz (Baldwinsville, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres) at 7:21 of the third period. Senior defenseman Andrew Pizzo (Thorold, Ontario/Niagara University) took a shot from the left point that went wide to the left of the net. However, the puck took a fortuitous bounce off the end boards to Tretowicz by the right post. He quickly took the puck to the front of the net and scored under the goaltender's extended right pad. 

However, Plattsburgh State was unable to pull any closer and the game ended with the score 4-3 in favor of Canton.  

Wells made 23 saves for Plattsburgh State in his first start of the season. Austin Washkurak (3-1-0) stopped 40 shots for Canton.

Plattsburgh State held a 43-27 edge in shots on goal. 

The Cardinals finished 0-of-5 on the power play and Canton went 1-of-2 on the man advantage. 

As part of the Casella Teddy Bear Toss, over 700 teddy bears were donated with all donations going to Toys For Kids. 

Plattsburgh State returns to action against Wentworth Institute of Technology as part of the W.B. Mason Winter Classic at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 3, at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena. Canton plays Albertus Magnus College at 7 p.m. tomorrow in New Haven, Conn.