OSWEGO, N.Y. – The Oswego State Lakers men’s hockey team took to both road and home ice this weekend for the first official games of their season. The weekend started with a Friday night trip to Geneva, NY to take on the Hobart Statesmen, followed by a Saturday night matchup in the Deb against the Elmira Soaring Eagles. The opening weekend was a real test for the Lakers as both squads they faced were ranked higher than them in the uscho preseason poll, Hobart #5 and Elmira #9.

The game started off pretty even for both the Lakers and the Statesmen as they each would get shots off on each others goalies. An early Hobart penalty gave the Lakers their first real opportunity for a goal all season, but the Statesmen killed it and only allowed a single shot on the net during the two minutes. Not even a minute later, Conor Smart would be called for hooking giving Hobart their first chance of the season and they would capitalize. Halfway through the penalty Hobart would score giving them the 1-0 lead 11 minutes into the contest. Oswego would be called for another penalty with eight minutes left, but net-minder Eric Green would save two shots and keep the Statesmen from extending their lead. Green finished the period with six saves.

Hobart came out of the gates swinging in the second half, getting four shots off in the first minute of play. It was Oswego who scored first in the period though. A Connor Sleeth face-off win would go back to Ryan Dickinson who passed the puck to Quinn Warmuth who buried the puck in the back of the net from the blue line. It was a very chippy period for both teams, each receiving three penalties, at one point, there was only a 3v3 on the ice. The Statesmen recovered from the 3v3 first and actually got themselves back to full strength 5v3, where they would score twice. The second period ended 3-1 Statesmen. Green had another 14 saves in the period.

It only took 11 seconds for Hobart to extend their lead in the final period, winning the opening face-off and quickly moving down ice to make it 4-1. The Lakers would hold them off for a while in the third, but with just under six minutes left the Statesmen struck again, extending it to 5-1. Oswego would pull one back on the power-play. Tommy Cahill scored, assisted by Matt McQuade. Hobart out-shot the Lakers in the contest 59-43 and dominated on the powerplay, scoring on 3-4 chances. Eric Green had 32 saves in the game. Connor Sleeth led the Lakers in shots with six and was 17-29 in the face-off circle.

The Lakers were back in the Deborah. F. Stanley ice arena Saturday night for their official home opener and the Teal Night Game. The Teal Night game for both the men’s and women’s teams raises awareness for Ovarian Cancer and takes donations for Ovarian Research in memory of the late Mary Gosek. For more information you go can to http://peacefulremediesoswego.com The Lakers were wearing their teal jerseys for the game against Elmira. The first goal of the game was in favor of the Lakers. A pass from Connor Sleeth back to the blue line to Shane Bull, usually a forward but was filling in on defense for the game, buried one past the goalie just before the half way mark in the first period. A little more than two minutes later the Soaring Eagles were called for holding and went a man down. With the Lakers on the power play, Matt McQuade brought the puck up the right side passed it off to Connor Sleeth who put it over the goalies shoulder for the Lakers second goal of the game. The Lakers put 22 shots on net in the first period.

The Lakers came out soaring in the second period, scoring 19 seconds in. Daniel Colabufo shooting one across his body and across the goal to give Oswego a 3-0 lead. Tommy Cahill got the assist. It was again the Lakers adding to their lead, halfway through the second frame. Coming off a face-off win by Ben Addison went back to Shane Bull. Bull passed it to Tommy Cahill who sent it pass the goalie. A penalty with five minutes to go gave Elmira their first scoring opportunity, and they took advantage of it. On a two-man advantage, they put on past goalie Richie Parent, who got the start in net. The Lakers had five players with two points by the end of the period.

In the final frame, the Lakers kept pushing the pace and scored again just under four minutes in. Tommy Cahill shot it low off the goalies blocker on a two-on-two opportunity and Daniel Colabufo took the rebound and scored for his second of the game. Another Lakers penalty allowed the Soaring Eagles to score the final goal of the game. Again with a two-man advantage, they put one past Parent for their second goal of the game and the final one of the game. Colabufo led the team with two goals, three different Lakers were credited with two goals. Seven different Lakers had two points. Richie Parent had 15 saves on the game. Elmira was two for three on the Powerplay during the game.  This was the Lakers first point against a ranked opponent since February, 2019 when they tied a then ranked #2 Geneseo.

Oswego is now 1-1 this season. They jumped up to #10 in the uscho poll after the weekend. They have a big weekend ahead, opening SUNYAC play with Whiteout weekend. They take on Plattsburgh on Friday, puck drop set for 7:00, WTOP10 will have a hour long pregame show, going live at 6:00 P.M. The Potsdam Bears come to town on Saturday, puck drop set for 7:00 P.M.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHELLE QUIACHON, WTOP10 PHOTOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT.