PLATTSBURGH, N.Y.- In their final non-conference game of the regular season, the Norwich Men's Ice Hockey team took a trip across Lake Champlain to take on regional rival Plattsburgh State in what would be a thrilling game between the two regional rivals.

Things did not start off according to Norwich's plan, as the Cardinals held a decided advantage early on, really pouring on the pressure in the first five minutes of action. After the Cadets weathered an early powerplay, the Cardinals would draw first blood. As Norwich was looking to exit their defensive end, the outlet pass was intercepted in the neutral zone by Lonan Bulger. Bulger passed it off to Adam Tretowicz who gained the zone and centered it for Josh Belgrave to break the ice.  

The Plattsburgh onslaught continued for the rest of the period, as the Cadets struggled to get through the neutral zone and set up any precense in the offensive zone. Bryce Walcarius (Aylmer, On.) kept the deficit at one after twenty minutes despite Norwich not tallying a shot on goal in the frame.

After Walcarius stopped an early rush, the Cadets would finally earn their first shot on goal two and a half minutes into the second period and tie the game on their third. Johnny Johnson (Naperville, Ill.) made an outlet pass up the boards to Harris Hilfiker (Middletown, N.J.). Hilfiker sent the puck to Owen Sclisizzi (Milton, On.) as he entered the offensive zone up the left wing and buried the wrist shot passed Cardinal net minder Eli Shiller to tie the game. Soon after the Cardinals looked to break the tie, but Walcarius shut down the Plattsburgh opportunity.

Minutes later, Norwich would go to their second powerplay of the game where they would take the lead. Off the faceoff win, Cooper Bertrand (Caledon, On.) and Ben van Waterschoot (Whitby, On.) exchanged passes at the top of the zone. With van Waterschoot at center point, he would pass it off to Clark Kerner (Kansas City, Kan.) whose wrist shot from the right circle gave the Cadets their first lead of the night.

Thirty seconds later, the Cardinals returned to the penalty kill, before which they used their timeout to quell the Norwich momentum. Plattsburgh would successfully kill the penalty and tie the game soon after. After Norwich failed to exit their defensive zone, the puck would find Trey Thomas who sent a wrist shot into the back of the net. The Cardinals would have a few more scoring chances, but Walcarius kept the game tied at two at the second intermission.

The third period began much like the first with Plattsburgh holding a decided territorial advantage. During another Cadet powerplay, Shiller would come up with a big stop. Once that kill was finished, the Cardinals would jump ahead again. The puck would find its way behind the net, and Aaron Catron would stuff the puck by Walcarius to break the tie. Minutes later, the two teams would skate four aside where Plattsburgh extended their lead. A defensive zone turnover ended up on the stick of Jake Lanyi, which extended the Cardinal lead with 5:34 to play.

After the two sides returned to full strength, Plattsburgh returned to the penalty box for the sixth time on the night. Immediately off the faceoff won by Johnson, the puck came to Bryan O'Mara (Syracuse, N.Y.) at the left point before he passed it off to Kerner. Kerner's wrist shot deflected off Johnson in front of the net and in to cut the Norwich deficit to one. Not long after, Alex Lewis (Moncton, N.B.) forced a turnover in the Cardinal defensive zone, and sent the puck to van Waterschoot, whose wide-open wrist shot from the slot marked his first collegiate goal and tied the game with Norwich's second goal in 1:31.  

Those two goals in quick succession sent the game into overtime with the Cadets on their seventh man advantage of the game carrying into the extra frame. After Plattsburgh finished the kill, and action went to 3-on-3, both teams traded rush chances to end it, but Shiller and Walcarius stood their ground. In the waning seconds, the Cardinals would hit the post, leading to the game concluding in a 4-4 draw.

"While I was disappointed with the start, I thought we had some guys play some great hockey tonight," Head Coach Cam Ellsworth said.

Norwich's season ending road swing continues Saturday afternoon when they visit travel partner New England College at 4 PM.