Starting Off

Oswego State is having the type of start that many envisioned in the preseason. The offence is back, the young guys are exciting and the back end is holding up. Yes, there will be some growing pains and issues (penalties), but breaking into the rankings a No. 12 is something to help them carry all the momentum they currently have.

The College at Brockport tied with Nazareth College 2-2 to open its season. Both of those teams seem to be in the same boat this year, trying to grab one of the last playoff spots in their respective conferences. That was case for both teams last season as well and two first-round playoff exits followed. Brockport was blown out when the Golden Eagles traveled to Oswego, losing 8-0.

Young Scoring

The Golden Eagles saw two freshmen recruits score their only goals in the 2-2 tie with Nazareth. Doc Gentzler and Luke Bennett, both from the Eastern Hockey League, scored their first career collegiate goals in their first collegiate game. Bennett is in tonight, but Gentzler is not.

Bennett scored 73 points in 75 career EHL game and also won the EHL Championship with the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs in 2015-16.

Gentzler played for the Hartford Jr. Wolfpack, recording 32 points (9-23-32) in one 34-game season with the junior club a season ago.

The Lakers have their fair share of newcomers putting the puck in the back of the net as well. Jody Sullivan has scored twice and Aaron Huffnagle potted one in the Lakers’ two wins over Elmira College.

Herly Back

Mitchell Herlihey will draw into the lineup tonight for the Lakers. This is his first appearance of the season after missing the exhibition and both Elmira games due to injury. The junior may see his ice time limited tonight to ease himself into the lineup and a third line winger spot seems to be a perfect place to do just that. Herlihey tallied 19 points (6-13-19) in  26 games last season. His return to full strength will just be another option in the long list of point producers for the Lakers.

In The Crease

David Jacobson will get his second-straight start in net tonight. This move makes sense due to No. 4 SUNY Geneseo coming to town tomorrow. Zawadzki is better suited for that matchup. Head coach Ed Gosek has stated that they want to keep a rotation to start until one guy fully earns the majority of the net share.

Jacobson made 26 saves on 29 shots in his Lakers debut.

Cole Burack gets the nod for the Golden Eagles tonight. Burack is currently fourth in both goals against average and save percentage in the SUNYAC. As a freshman, he finished 10th and 12th, respectively in those categories last season. Now a sophomore, this kid needs to see a jump in those numbers.

Lineup Card

The first line stays together tonight, no surprise there. Joey Davies jumps to the second line to center Sullivan and Matt Galati. TJ Sneath, Chris Waterstreet and JJ Hart join Herlihey as the four will play in their first game this season. Sean Federow is a scratch tonight and there is no official word yet as to why he is out.

Lakers:

Hulshof-Botten-Neil

Sullivan-Davies-Galati

Herlihey-Barton-Sneath

Huffnagle-Waterstreet-Ferreira

Brun-Hart

Johnson-MacMillan

Raguseo-Rutkowski

Golden Eagles:

Kielich-Hutchins-Taylor

Verbeke-Shapiro-Sikich

Bennett-Laslo-Kangas

Horan-Meredith-Lukas

Hurlimann-Pollini

Palumbo-Carville

Hall-Bass

Players to Watch

Lakers- Mitchell Herlihey

It’s obvious why he is the player to watch tonight. The Lakers’ sixth leading scorer from last year is back in the lineup. We won’t see all he has to offer tonight, but it is a good sign to see him in the lineup after two weeks of just practices.

Golden Eagles- Tim Kielich

Kielich was just two goals shy of catching Brockport’s top scorer, Chase Nieuwendyk, last season when he finished with 12 goals. Nieuwendyk’s departure due to graduation leaves a big hole up front needs to be filled by someone and Kielich has to be one of the favorites to do so in the early going.

Game Prediction

This is a game the Lakers should be able to win again. However, their last showing on the road against Elmira got scary for Laker fans at times and if they run into a hot goalie or take too many penalties again this one could be close. The Lakers finished 4-6-2 on the road last season and will need to improve that mark drastically. Tonight could be the start of that. Kenny Neil scores and adds an assist. Jody Sullivan plays another outstanding game and the Lakers hold on to win.

Oswego State wins 4-2.