POTSDAM, N.Y.—Castleton State (12-3) scored seven power-play goals to down the SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team (6-6-2) 9-1 at Maxcy Ice Arena on Saturday afternoon. Spartan junior forward Ben Schoeneberger recorded a hat trick and four assists for seven points.

The Bears controlled much of the play territorially early on and struck first on the power play at 5:12. Potsdam senior forward Mike Foy scored with assists from junior assistant captains Brett Waters and Matt Viola. The lead was short lived as penalties cost the Bears three Spartan power-play goals to close the period. Schoeneberger evened the score at 8:36 on a shot from the left slot. Freshman forward Ryan Frost (Fullerton, Calif./Wichita Falls) put Castleton in front at 13:40 and Shoeneberger notched his second at 17:34.

Just 34 seconds into the second period, Spartan junior forward Josh Harris (Torrance, Calif./Breakers) was whistled for a hitting-from-behind major and a game disqualification. However, the Bears weren’t able to capitalize on the five-minute power play. The middle of the period was marked by back and forth play with few great scoring chances. Frost finally broke the scoring drought with a high wrist shot from the right faceoff dot to give the Spartans a 4-1 advantage at 14:15. Nearly four minutes, later Castleton junior forward Brett Zeggil (Dundalk, Ontario/Collingwood) finished a nice passing play for the Spartans fourth power-play goal and a 5-1 advantage.

The Spartans put the game away in the third period. Nearly four minutes into the final stanza, Castleton got its fifth power-play goal and second from Zeggil to grab a 6-1 lead. Shoeneberger notched the hat trick on the power play at the 9:57 mark. After the goal senior goalie Kevin Weiler replaced freshman goalie Dylan Ellis between the pipes. Weiler was greeted rudely with a seventh Castleton power-play marker just a minute and five seconds later and the Spartans led 8-1. With 1:54 remaining, Castleton sophomore Kyle Richards tacked on a final marker to close the scoring at 9-1.

Ellis stopped 33 shots and allowed seven goals in the first 49:57. Weiler made a save and allowed two markers in the final 10:03. Spartan freshman Thomas Shelley made 30 saves for the victory.

Castleton outshot the Bears 43-31 and went 7-9 on the power play. Potsdam was 1-7.

The Bears are back in action on Friday, Jan. 13, when they travel to Rye, N.Y. for a nonconference battle with Manhattanville at 7 p.m.