To start the 13th annual Whiteout Weekend, the No. 8/9 Oswego State Lakers (5-2-0, 3-2-0 SUNYAC) will be hosting the SUNY Potsdam Bears (5-6-0, 1-4-0 SUNYAC) at the Marano Campus Center Ice Arena with two more league points on the line for both teams.

Last Time Out

Oswego State

The Lakers were shut out for the first time in the 2018-2019 season — the first time they were shutout since Feb. 17, 2018 — against No. 2/2 SUNY Geneseo on Dec. 1 at the Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena. The Ice Knights scored one goal each period en route to a 3-0 win over Oswego State for its second loss of the season. The Lakers committed three penalties but were stopped on all three. While the Ice Knights committed five penalties, the went 3-5 on the penalty kill.

Oswego State threw 17 shots on net toward Devin McDonald, and only had three shots during the third period. David Richer stopped 31 of 34 shots and made 14 saves in the second period. Dan Bosio, assisted by Duggie Lagrone and Andrew Romano, scored the opening goal on the power play at 1:17 of the first period. Bosio also scored at 16:23 of the second period, assisted by Arthur Gordon and Henry Cleghorn. Anthony Marra also scored on the power play at 13:27 of the third period to wrap up the scoring for SUNY Geneseo. Marra’s goal was assisted by Gordon and Cam Russell.

SUNY Potsdam

SUNY Potsdam is coming off a 4-3 loss to Buffalo State also on Dec. 1. In the middle of the second period, the Bears led the Bengals 3-1. But at 12:48 of the second period, Buffalo State scored to cut SUNY Potsdam’s lead in half, and then scored two more goals in the second and third periods to come from behind and overtake the Bears. There were three different goal scorers for the Bears throughout the night. Joseph Richardson scored at 5:14 of the first period and was assisted by Bryce Ferrell and and Trevor Dennis. Ferrell then registered a goal of his own at 14:08 of the first period on the power play, and Richardson returned the favor tallying an assist on the goal. Dennis also scored his own goal at 7:29 of the second period to wrap up scoring for SUNY Potsdam. He was assisted by Jack Bloem and Paul Michura.

SUNY Potsdam went 1-3 on the power play and went 6-8 on the penalty kill. The Bears peppered Buffalo State’s Connor Minch with 29 shots, including 11 in the first period. Nate Skidmore of SUNY Potsdam stopped 29 of the 33 shots he faced.

Lakers and Bears History

Since Jan. 25, 1977, Oswego State and SUNY Potsdam have hit the ice together, but did not start playing against each other in league Nov. 14, 1984. But, since that inaugural game between the Lakers and Bears, the Lakers boast a 69-29-2 record, with a 35-13-2 record while both teams play at Oswego State’s rink. In the last five meetings between the two teams, the Lakers are 3-2-0.

Last season, SUNY Potsdam beat the Lakers during the 12th Whiteout Weekend 1-0 on Feb. 16, 2018. That game sent Oswego State on a cold streak, and lost the next two games and eventually were knocked out of the SUNYAC playoffs in the semifinals. The loss to the Bears ended a nine-game point streak for the Lakers. Joey Gilhooly, assisted by Kyle Thacker and Dylan Vander Esch, scored on the power play in the first period for the only goal of the game. David Richer made 19 saves in the game, while SUNY Potsdam’s Brendan McMenimen stopped an impressive 42 shots.

In the December matchup between the two teams, on Dec. 8, 2017, Oswego State won 7-1 at SUNY Potsdam. Aaron Huffnagle had a goal and three assists in the game. David Richer made 24 saves in the game. Both McMenimen and Nate Skidmore played for the Bears, stopping a combined 35 shots.

By the Numbers

RECORD (conference) [vs. each other]

OSW: 5-2-0 (3-2-0) [69-29-2]

POT: 5-6-0 (1-4-0) [29-69-2]

GOALS (per game)

OSW: 25 (3.6)

POT: 35 (3.2)

SHOTS (per game) [shot percentage]

OSW: 187 (26.7) [13.4%]

POT: 308 (28.0) [11.4%]

POWER PLAY (percentage)

OSW: 11-35 (31.4%)

POT: 10-44 (22.7%)

Players to Watch

OSW: First Offensive Line

While this section is usually reserved for a specific player to watch for, the first line for Oswego State should be exciting to watch as a whole in the game against SUNY Potsdam. Tonight, after a lot of lineup changes between the last couple weekends, the line consists of Michael Gillespie, Anthony Passero and Travis Broughman. Gillespie has been a physical player and also peppers goaltenders with shots. While he only has one goal on the season, he can wear out a goaltender. Passero is tied for the team lead in points with eight, but leads the team in assists with six. His play-making ability should be able to help his wingers tonight. On Passero’s right will be Broughman, who also has eight points and is tied for the team lead in goals, as well, with four. This first line should be a strong contributor against the Bears, and could show off its true potential heading into winter break.

POT: Bryce Ferrell

Ferrell has really picked up the pace after producing only four points during his sophomore season at SUNY Potsdam. Now, as a junior, he leads the team with 11 points, averaging a point per game. He also had a goal and an assist in the loss to Buffalo State. He leads the team in goals, five, and is second on the team in assists with six. He will be a player to watch offensively, for sure. However, he will also have to be kept in check, since he has 14 penalty minutes this season, costing SUNY Potsdam some goals while on the man-disadvantage. He has also been key on the man-advantage, scoring two goals on the power play this season, as well.

Lines (provided by Oswego State athletics)

Forwards

No. 16 : Michael Gillespie | No. 11 : Anthony Passero | No. 28 : Travis Broughman

No. 9 : Mitch Emerson | No. 13 : Josh Zizek | No. 10 : Cameron Berry

No. 93 : Josh LeBlanc | No. 8 : Derek Brown | No. 19 : Joseph Molinaro

No. 7 : Tanner Spink | No. 26 : Thomas Horn | No. 27 : Josh Nenadal

Defense

No. 4 : Devin Campbell | No. 20 : Max Novick

No. 2 : Carter Allen | No. 6 : Tyler Currie

No. 24 : Kristoffer Brun | No. 3 : Tyler Antonucci

Goaltenders

No. 30 : Cedric Hansen

No. 31 : David Richer

No. 33 : Steven Kozikowski

Extra Skater

No. 25 : Colton Fletcher

Prediction

The recent history of Oswego State and SUNY Potsdam is mixed, with a 3-2-0 record for the Lakers over the last five games. But, last season was hard loss for Oswego State after the 1-0 win for the Bears, despite 42 shots for the Lakers.

SUNY Potsdam has lost its last two games, one to Buffalo State and one to SUNY Fredonia. Oswego State lost to the Blue Devils, but defeated the Bengals earlier this season. The Lakers are following a 3-0 shutout loss to SUNY Geneseo. The Bears also lost 3-0 to the Ice Knights.

The first line for Oswego State should bring hope for the Lakers and provide some strong scoring, should they get opportunities in the game. Cedric Hansen is rested after not playing last weekend and will have to play strong against SUNY Potsdam. Oswego State will have to use its depth on all four lines to overtake SUNY Potsdam in tonight’s game.

Either way, no matter what happens, this game is going to be close.

4-1 win with an empty net goal for Oswego State over SUNY Potsdam.