Even though it does not count toward the regular season, Derek Brown recorded a hat-trick in the 9-1 victory for Oswego State over Carleton Place on Saturday at the Marano Campus Center.

Fourteen players registered a point for the Lakers, with half of those players recording multi-point nights. Josh Zizek, Carter Allen and Brown all scored three points in the game.

Anthony Passero, Tyson Kirkby, Mitch Emerson, Chris MacMillan, Charlie Pelnik and Allen also registered goals for Oswego State.

Oswego State head coach Ed Gosek said the surplus of goals is a confidence booster for the Lakers heading into the second exhibition game and then the regular season.

“I think that was a glimpse of how we played in Italy [over the summer],” Gosek said. “We got off to a good start. I was pleased with the way we played, especially in the first [period].”

Brown opened up scoring in the game at 6:27 of the first period, followed by the last goal of the first period at 16:24. He also scored the Lakers’ last goal at 13:55 of the third period for Oswego State’s only power play goal.

“He’s having fun. He’s working extremely hard,” Gosek said. “To quote him, it was his ‘best offseason of work.’ It shows on the ice. You like to see those guys rewarded.”

Gosek also utilized all three goaltenders during the game against Carleton Place. Cedric Hansen played in the first period, David Richer played in the second period and Steven Kozikoski was given the regulation period.

Hansen saw limited action in the opening frame, only making two saves. But, he did allow the Canadians’ only goal of the game after Ryan Bonfield got a rebound opportunity at 8:54 of the first period.

Richer made nine saves during his time on the ice and Kozikoski stopped eight shots.

Gosek said with Oswego State forcing Carleton Place to play “back on their heels” in the opening period, Hansen did not have to see much action. The team also “showed a willingness to block shots,” according to Gosek, which he always calls a non-negotiable.

“I’m pleased with all of them. They’ll each get a period next Saturday against Nazareth,” Gosek said. “We’ll continue to emphasize that [blocking] going to be a big part of any success that we have this year.”

The game was not all smiles, however, for the Lakers. There was some aggression in the second period, resulting in a couple wrestling matches on the ice following the whistle. Travis Broughman and Carleton Place’s Brett Thorne both received 10-minute misconduct penalties for roughing.

Broughman, Brown and Kerfella Toure all also received two-minute minor penalties for roughing. Thorne received a double minor for roughing, as well. Gosek said he was more concerned about different hits and “attitude plays” during the game.

“When you get in a wrestling match like that, it’s not like you are throwing punches,” Gosek said. “You’re wrestling. You’re not going to let the guy get the best of you. That stuff happens.”

Outside of the game, it was also the TEAL gate, which is the Lakers’ game for raising Ovarian Cancer Awareness. The game also remembers Gosek’s wife, Mary Gosek, who passed away in 2017 from Ovarian Cancer.

With a whole crowd decked out in teal and the first minute of each period named “Mary’s Minute,” where the crowd is asked to stand up and make a lot of noise like Mary would at every game, Gosek said it was special to watch and “is an appropriate way” to honor her.

“I’m proud that the school, the athletic department, our players and staff, has not forgotten how important she was to our program and the sacrifices she made to help me with my career,” Gosek said. “She was like a mom to those players for all those years. Twenty-seven years of whether I was the assistant or the head coach. She was always there for the players or the parents.”

The Lakers now have a week to prepare for their second and final exhibition game of the season against Nazareth College. Last season, the two teams faced off each other in an exhibition game, as well.

“We’ve got a lot of areas that we have to improve. A lot of little things,” Gosek said. “We’ll do it through video, individually and as a group and try to improve for next Saturday night.”

Photo by William Rogers | The Oswegonian