On Feb. 17, the senior class for the Oswego State men’s hockey team will be looking at their last opportunity to beat Plattsburgh State during a Whiteout game.

Since their freshman year, the current Laker seniors, team captain Mitch Herlihey, Trent Durocher and David Ferreira, have lost against Plattsburgh State during each Whiteout game.

In the 2014-15 season, the Lakers tied with Plattsburgh State 3-3 in overtime. In 2015-16, they fell to Plattsburgh State in overtime with a score of 5-4. Last year, the Lakers lost 2-1.

“That’s always been a goal here, to beat them at Whiteout. Hopefully, we can do it this weekend,” said Durocher, a forward from Canton, New York. “I think this is going to be the year to do it.”

The Lakers, who are led by head coach Ed Gosek, are currently undefeated in conference play and are treating this rivalry game just like any other contest they have played during their undefeated conference schedule through this point.

“It’s just another win really,” Herlihey said. “It’s a heck of an accomplishment.”

The Lakers will face the SUNY Potsdam Bears and the Plattsburgh State Cardinals to close out the regular season. SUNY Potsdam’s record sits at 9-9-5 overall and 5-7-2 in conference, while Plattsburgh State’s record sits at 12-11-0 overall and 6-8-0 in the SUNYAC.

For Herlihey, his goal is for the Lakers to not think about who they are going to play. Gosek encourages his players to prepare and approach every game as if they were blind to the opposing team.

“We’re going to take one game at a time, but to beat them at home would be unbelievable,” said Ferreira, a forward from Riverside, New Jersey. “I think we’re taking the right steps to do that this weekend, and that’s the most important thing.”

This class of seniors could be the second graduating class in a row from Oswego State to never be able to knock off Plattsburgh State on home ice, and they are looking for retribution for all the difficult losses they suffered through over the last three seasons.

Out of all the freshmen that entered the program in 2014, Herlihey, Durocher and Ferreira are the only three players to finish out their careers at Oswego State.

“They are the three that made it,” Gosek said. “We’re pleased with all of them. They’ve grown in to be first and foremost good people. They’ve represented our program in a first-class manner.”

Each of these three players have distinct qualities that separate themselves from the rest of the team.

“Mitchell, obviously our captain, 100-point guy, power play, penalty killer, regular shift,” Gosek said. “You talk about a leader, and leaders not only lead by example but put other people in front of themselves, and Mitch does that.”

Ferreira brings a different skill set to the ice as a smaller, faster forward that provides a stabilizing element for the Lakers’ forward core.

“David [is] more of a dynamic forward as far as his speed and skill set and plays a different game than Mitch,” Gosek said. “It brings something intangible to our team that is an ingredient that is important.”

Durocher has found a consistent role in the Oswego State lineup by adding the dimension of size that does not exist in many players on the roster.

“Trent has kind of found his niche as fourth line center,” Gosek said. “[He] has been good on draws and kept things simple on both ends of the ice and fills a void for us.”

For the seniors, this season’s Whiteout game will feel bittersweet as this weekend is annually one of the most anticipated of the season by the fans and players alike.

“When you make that first loop around the net and look up and just see everyone wearing white, you don’t even have to be up for the game,” Ferreira said. “Just that alone is going to get you going. It’s the best feeling ever.”

In his first Whiteout game, other players had encouraged Ferreira to walk by the line of students going into the rink.

“My first Whiteout game, just from start to beginning, you walk through that line and you get the goosebumps,” Ferreira said.

For Herlihey, contributing to a win for the Lakers is at the top of his agenda, but the excitement of the fans are what will push him to bring his game to a higher level.

“It’ll be nice to see a full arena full of fans,” Herlihey said. “That’s what I think I’m looking forward most to, playing in front of the fans.”

Being part of the hockey team has played a significant part in Ferreira and Durocher’s lives on and off the ice.

“I never played on a team where we’re actually like a family,” Ferreira said. “Every team I’ve ever played on, we always had cliques, and with this team we’re always together.”

Durocher echoed the sentiment of his teammate, saying that this team is like a family.

“The friendships you build here are long lasting. They last forever,” Durocher said. “You’re really a family here.”

With the end of the hockey season and the semester coming, seniors are starting to prepare for graduation.

“Just not being a part of this program in general is going to be really hard to take,” Ferreira said. “This program is revolving around your life. Once that’s gone, I feel like I’m going to have nothing to do.”

Photo: Taylor Woods | The Oswegonian