There was more than just one jersey that had “Campbell” on the back of it during the Oswego State men’s hockey game on Saturday.

Between a couple Oswego State jerseys, a Carleton Place jersey and others from midget and bantam hockey, senior Devin Campbell was able to celebrate the 4-4 tie against No. 2 SUNY Geneseo on senior night with his parents, grandparents, siblings and girlfriend.

Following the game, fans stuck around to recognize Campbell along with Cameron Berry, Kristoffer Brun and Josh Nenadal for all their dedication to the Oswego State program.

“It was funny that they did that,” Campbell said. “It was awesome that they all came down and were there. I have some family that’s further away and they were all watching online.”

All four seniors were held pointless on their senior night, but underclassmen took the spotlight. Freshman Travis Broughman had two goals and an assist — both goals came in the first period of the game — and Anthony Passero also had three points with a goal and two assists.

“I thought it was a big step in the right direction for him come playoff time,” head coach Ed Gosek said. “He certainly didn’t play like a freshman.”

SUNY Geneseo came into the game having won its last 17 games. Its last loss was in on Nov. 9 against Plattsburgh State. In terms of pairwise rankings, the Ice Knights are No. 1 while the Lakers are No. 3. New USCHO and D3Hockey rankings will be released early in the week.

“Certainly not pleased with the tie, but I thought it was a good game,” Gosek said. “I thought our guys deserved a better outcome.”

Despite the goal total, neither team took a heavy difference on the shot totals. Oswego State had 28 compared to SUNY Geneseo’s 29. Five of the goals came in the first period alone, where the Ice Knights’ Devin McDonald allowed two goals on five shots. David Richer allowed three on 11.

Special teams were also key in the game with Oswego State allowing two power-play goals but forcing one short-handed goal from Joseph Molinaro on the backhand. Broughman had seven penalty minutes including a five-minute interference call when Molinaro scored the short-handed goal. The Lakers only had one power-play opportunity that they were not able to convert on.

The game-tying goal from SUNY Geneseo came on a power-play following a Joey Scorpio slashing call halfway through the third period.

“I felt that there were other calls that could’ve been made that were the same,” Gosek said. “For the most part, I thought our PK with the five-minute was a momentum swing scoring the shorty.”

For a team like SUNY Geneseo that, before the game, only had one loss and one tie, the Ice Knights have not faced a lot of adversity, Gosek said. Oswego State has had its fair share of injury problems, including the most recent with Michael Gillespie following the game at The College at Brockport Friday night. He was scratched in Saturday’s game without a diagnosis yet from Gosek.

“There’s a reason they’re No. 1,” Gosek said. “I don’t know if it’s adversity, as much as just playing good opponents to expose your weaknesses.”

Oswego State will now head to the north country for the weekend as it takes on SUNY Potsdam Feb. 15 and Plattsburgh State Feb. 16 for the final two games of the Lakers’ regular season. They currently have the second seed in the SUNYAC with 21 points — three behind No. 1 SUNY Geneseo.

“Obviously, didn’t get the win at the end of it, but everything else, the guys battled hard and sometimes that’s just hockey,” Campbell said.

For the four seniors on the Oswego State roster, they were all on the starting five to begin the game against the Ice Knights with Campbell and Brun on defense, and Berry and Nenadal on the left and right wings.

“I guess the starting lineup part of it when they’re announcing your name is pretty cool. You get some chills,” Campbell said. “But once the puck’s dropped, it’s not four seniors. It’s you against Geneseo.”

Gosek said that all four seniors have their own story. Campbell, now a graduate student with eligibility this semester and a 4.0 student. Berry, from a “non-traditional area” being from Arizona. Nenadal, a transfer senior after spending three years at Lake Superior State University who was recruited originally by Oswego State. And Brun, living far away from home in Stockholm, Sweden, sacrificing a lot to come to Oswego.

“That’s the stuff that people don’t know that side,” Gosek said. “They’ve represented our program extremely well with the time that they’ve been here. You hate to see them go, but life goes on.”

But for Campbell, as his time is coming to a close at Oswego State, the captain — who wears No. 4 on his jersey — has four years to look back on while wearing the green and gold.

“I loved every aspect of it,” Campbell said. “I couldn’t be prouder to be a senior here.”

Photo by: Maria Pericozzi | The Oswegonian