Local HabNots Hockey Team Features Five SUNY Potsdam Alumni in Game Against Montreal Canadiens Alumni on March 3
Alumni from the Montreal Canadiens will make a special appearance at the Maxcy Ice Arena for an exhibition game on Sunday, March 3rd at 3 p.m. The former NHL players will square off against a local team, the HabNots, consisting of friends of SUNY Potsdam. Of the 20 local players facing the Canadiens Alumni, five of them are SUNY Potsdam alumni. Two members of the HabNots also work at SUNY Potsdam, including men’s hockey coach Chris Bernard who helped to spearhead the exhibition game.
General admission tickets are $20, but fans looking for a more personal experience can also buy VIP tickets for $50, which include a player meet-and-greet with autographs, light appetizers, cash bar and first choice of seats to watch warmups and the game. The VIP reception will take place at 1 p.m. The arena doors open for VIP ticket holders at 2 p.m. followed by general admission at 2:30 p.m.
Both general admission and VIP tickets can be purchased by visiting https://bit.ly/2XgVlNd or by contacting the President’s Office at (315) 267-2100. Tickets can also be purchased from local sponsors, HabNots players and on game day at Maxcy Hall!
The full roster of local HabNots hockey players include:
- Pat Massaro ’05, #15, Canton, N.Y. Massaro is a major in the Marine Corps Reserves. He is a volunteer assistant coach for the SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team.
- Jack Charlebois ’00, #16, Potsdam, N.Y. Charlebois is a sixth-grade social studies teacher at St. Lawrence Central School.
- Mark LaFave ’07, #21, Brasher Falls, N.Y. LaFave is a former SUNY Potsdam men's hockey player and currently works as a special education teacher at St. Lawrence Central School.
- Dennis Colterman ’06, #87, Brasher Falls, N.Y. Colterman is a former SUNY Potsdam men's hockey player and now works as a physical therapist in Malone, N.Y.
- Jeff Johnson ’98, #96, Massena, N.Y. Johnson is a former SUNY Potsdam champion hockey player. He works in environmental remediation.
- Chris Bernard, #34, Potsdam, N.Y. Bernard is the head coach for the SUNY Potsdam men's hockey team. He is also a former division one and professional hockey player.
- Dustin Smith, #4, Potsdam, N.Y. Smith is currently the SUNY Potsdam Maxcy Hall Facilities Manager. Smith is the assistant coach of the 2018 Tier II U16 St. Lawrence Thunder National Champion Hockey team.
- Mike Pitts, #7, formerly of Clayton, N.Y. Pitts is currently employed at SUNY Potsdam where he is the head athletic trainer.
- Chad Fayette, #11, Potsdam, N.Y. Fayette is the General Manager of NCC Systems, Inc.
- Mark Goodnow, #19, Potsdam, N.Y. Goodnow owns James T Lahey and WB Goodnow Insurance Agencies. He is the head coach of the 2018 Tier II U16 St. Lawrence Thunder National Champion Hockey team.
- Dr. John Duffy, #23, Potsdam, N.Y. Duffy is a local Potsdam general practice and family medicine doctor who also assists the local collegiate athletic teams.
- Nick Leuthauser, #24, Potsdam, N.Y. Leuthauser is the technology and engineering teacher at Potsdam Central School.
- Mike Lasala, #50, Potsdam, N.Y. Lasala is the Potsdam Central assistant boy’s hockey coach and assistant Coach for the Potsdam Central football team.
- Rob Bicknell, #77, Potsdam, N.Y. Bicknell is a local businessman from The Bicknell Corporation and the past president and current board member for the Potsdam Chamber of Commerce.
- Richard Bradshaw, #31, Potsdam, N.Y. Bradshaw works at the Village of Potsdam Department of Public Works.
- Ryan Prairie, #10, Massena, N.Y. Prairie works at Century Linen.
- Jack Keenan, #12, Brasher Falls, N.Y. Keenan works at the New York State Power Authority. He is a former Clarkson University lacrosse player.
- Scott Toth, #9, Potsdam, N.Y. Toth is a retired Army officer, currently the enrollment officer for the Clarkson Army ROTC program in the North Country. His is also a USA level 3 hockey official.
- Nick Sheehan, #2, Potsdam, N.Y. Nick is a former Potsdam Village Trustee and local businessman representing JE Sheehan Construction.
- Neal Pecore, #44, Oswego, N.Y. Pecore is a former SUNY Potsdam hockey player.
The Canadiens Alumni say Yvon Lambert will coach the squad, to include Stéphane Richer, Chris Nilan, Marc André Bergeron, Richard Sévigny, Oleg Petrov, Patrice Brisbois and Guillaume Latendresse.
Drafted by the Canadiens in 1984, Richer is the youngest and last player in franchise history to have scored 50 goals in a season. His career spanned 17 seasons in the National Hockey League with Montreal, New Jersey and Tampa Bay. He won two Stanley Cups, one with Montreal in 1986 and one with New Jersey in 1995.
Legendary enforcer Nilan, holds the NHL record for most penalties in a single game with 10 in 1991. He played 13 years in the NHL, 10 of which were with the Canadiens. Nilan won the Stanley Cup with the team in 1986. He now makes his home in Montreal where he works as a radio host with TSN 690.
Known for his slapshot, Bergeron had a 10-year career in the NHL with Edmonton, New York, Anaheim, Minnesota, Montreal, Tampa Bay and Carolina. He is currently the director of player development for the Shawinigan Cataracts.
Lambert scored more than 200 goals in his eight seasons in a Canadiens jersey. He spent 10 years in the NHL, including his final two in Buffalo. He was an important player for four Stanley Cup Champion teams (1976-79).
Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America’s first 50 colleges—and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 3,600 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.
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