OSWEGO, N.Y. — The Best Western / Clarion Hotel Oswego Hockey Classic wrapped up action on Sunday, January 2nd after the Augsburg University Auggies defeated the Skidmore College Thoroughbred 2-0 in the championship game. In the consolation matchup, the Oswego State men’s hockey team defeated the SUNY Canton Kangaroos for the third time this season with a final score of 3-2.

Saturday Game Recaps

The first match up of the tournament featured the SUNY Canton Kangaroos and the Skidmore College Thoroughbreds, two teams that have not been featured in the USCHO poll. Skidmore College would dominate for sixty minutes, and the game would finish with a 6-0 score line. Skidmore would secure three goals in the first period to get out to a commanding lead. Over the course of the contests, the Thoroughbreds would net three powerplay goals and finish going three for six when on the man advantage. The Kangaroos were unable to record a goal during regulation and would lose the shots battle thirty-three to ten.

The top game of day one was the competition between the Oswego State Lakers and the Augsburg University Auggies, a team that is ranked fourth in the USCHO poll. The 2-1 final score was in favor over the team that hails from Minnesota. The Auggies would draw blood in the first period with a powerplay goal off the twig of Patrick O’Connor. The defenseman buried a one timer goal that went past netminder Steven Kozikoski and into the back of the night. Oswego State would answer in the second period just fifty-seven seconds into the stanza. On the powerplay once again, Connor Sleeth got his fourth goal of the 2021-22 season. Tyler Flack and Jackson Arcan would get credited with the assists on the lone Oswego State goal. The go ahead goal would come in the third period from the away team. Jarod Blackowiak would secure his fourth goal of the season on the man advantage with assists from Mason Palmer and Grant Reichenbacher. The Lakers would not be able to find an answer before time expired and their five-game win streak would come to an end. Jack Robbel would get the win in between the pipes for the Auggies with one goal against and twenty-eight total saves. Steven Kozikoski would make a total of twenty-nine saves but give up two goals against while in the net for the Lakers.

Sunday Game Recaps

On Sunday, the 1:00 p.m. match up would be the championship game of the Oswego Hockey Classic. The Skidmore College Thoroughbreds would take on the #4 Augsburg University Auggies. The 2-0 score line would be in favor of the Minnesota team as the Auggies would win the tournament. The team would get off on a hot start as forward Fritz Belisle scored on a back door, tic-tac-toe play. The assists would go to Kyler Yeo and Sweden native Erik Palmqvist. The Auggies would not look back after that. Belisle would snag another before the end of regulation on an empty net goal to put the contest away. The Thoroughbreds were unable to get the puck past Auggies netminder Samuel Vyletelka who made twenty-two saves in the contest and was rewarded the win and shutout.

The consolation game at 4:00 p.m. would feature the Oswego State Lakers and the SUNY Canton Kangaroos, two teams looking to rebound after losses the day before. The Lakers would be the team to rebound after a 3-2 victory and their third win against the Kangaroos this season. Alternate captain Josh LeBlanc would be the first in the goal column with a goal eight minutes into the first period. That one would be assisted by freshman defenseman Ben Addison. Former Laker Jesse Farabee would have an answer four minutes later on the powerplay as the SUNY Canton team would put one past netminder Eric Green. Farabee would have another in the second period but that would come after captain Travis Broughman put the Lakers ahead towards the end of the first period. Connor Sleeth and Jackson Arcan would get the assists on the tally. Transfer Garrett Clegg would put the Lakers ahead four minutes into the second period. The game winner was assisted by sophomores AJ Ryan and Tyler Flack. Green would get the win in between the pipes and have twenty-two saves in the contest.

What’s Ahead

The Lakers would still get three votes in this weeks USCHO poll, released on Monday, January 3rd. The Augsburg University Auggies would remain in fourth after going undefeated in the tournament. Oswego State now turns their sights on Utica College, the third best team in the nation. The non-conference match up is set to take place in Utica on Sunday. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at the Utica Auditorium. WTOP 10 will continue to provide coverage of the Oswego State men’s hockey team as the group continues their 2021-22 season.

Image Provided By Will Rogers, WTOP 10 Photography Department