It is officially Whiteout Weekend as the No. 5 Oswego State men’s hockey team (1-0, 1-0 SUNYAC) hosts Plattsburgh State (0-2, 0-2 SUNYAC) for the Lakers’ second game of the regular season.

Oswego State won against Plattsburgh State during Whiteout for the first time in six years last season in a 4-0 rout of the Cardinals, which saw Anthony Passero, Josh LeBlanc, Mitch Emerson and Josh Nenadal score for the Lakers. David Richer made 21 saves in net, while Plattsburgh State goaltender Jimmy Poreda made 28.

Two of the Lakers’ goals were on special teams, with Emerson’s goal on the power play and Nenadal’s was short-handed; it was also an empty-net goal that went from the defensive zone into the empty net.

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Last Time Out

OSW: Oswego State’s only game last weekend was against SUNY Cortland with a 6-3 victory to earn two SUNYAC points. Head coach Ed Gosek said the defensive units fell apart in the last 10 minutes of the game, allowing the Red Dragons too many opportunities, eventually leading to SUNY Cortland’s last two goals of the game. Colton Fletcher scored his first collegiate goal, while Max Novick (2g, 1a) and Mitch Emerson (1g, 2a) both had three-point affairs. Josh Zizek and Carter Allen both added two assists. David Richer made 27 saves in net, including 13 alone in the third period.

PLA: For the first time in program history, the Cardinals are 0-2 in both the regular season and in SUNYAC play. Plattsburgh State fell to The College at Brockport 3-1 on Nov. 1, and then fell to No. 4 SUNY Geneseo 2-1 in overtime on Nov. 2. Matt Araujo leads the team with two points, scoring once in both games. Andrew Pizzo, Brendan Young and Adam Tretowicz all recorded assists. Jimmy Poreda played both games, stopping 37 shots on 42 attempts, allowing five goals.

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By the Numbers

RECORD

OSW: 1-0-0 (1-0-0 SUNYAC)

PLA: 0-2-0 (0-2-0 SUNYAC)

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GOALS (per game)

OSW: 6 (6.0)

PLA: 2 (1.0)

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SHOTS (per game)

OSW: 53 (53.0)

PLA: 57 (28.5)

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POWER PLAY (percentage)

OSW: 0-3 (0.0%)

PLA: 0-7 (0.0%)

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PENALTY KILL (percentage)

OSW: 4-4 (100.0%)

PLA: 6-9 (66.6%)

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Last Five Whiteouts: By the Numbers

RECORD

OSW: 1-3-1

PLA: 3-1-1

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GOALS (per game)

OSW: 14 (2.8)

PLA: 11 (2.2)

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SHOTS (per game)

OSW: 162 (32.4)

PLA: 113 (22.6)

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POWER PLAY (percentage)

OSW: 3-14 (12.4%)

PLA: 2-19 (10.5%)

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PENALTY KILL (percentage)

OSW: 17-19 (89.4%)

PLA: 11-14 (78.6%)

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Players to Watch

OSW: Anthony Passero

Passero has yet to register a point this season, but still does have three shots on the season as a member of the first line with Travis Broughman and Derek Brown. The now-senior lead the team in points and assists with 30 and 21, respectively. He also scored in last season’s Whiteout, which opened scoring for the Lakers. That goal was his third of the season. While at Buffalo State, he recorded one goal and two assists in four games against Plattsburgh State. He also registered an assist in last season’s playoff game against Plattsburgh State. Expect Passero to try to find the scoresheet this game as he continues to start his senior season.

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PLA: Matt Tretowicz

The local kid from Baldwinsville – just 35 minutes from Oswego – has been strong for Plattsburgh State early on with one assist in the two games. However, the biggest test will be seeing how he responds to an experience like Whiteout as a freshman in his first collegiate road game. Tretowicz had a strong career in juniors with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres of the Ontario Junior Hockey League and scored the most points in program history for a career. One can only assume that he will have some friends and family in attendance given the locality of the game to his hometown and he will want to perform well in front of them. As one of 12 freshmen on the Cardinals, he will be a key force on this young Plattsburgh State team.

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Starting Lineups (subject to change)

Oswego State

Forwards

Derek Brown – Anthony Passero – Travis Broughman

Jody Sullivan – Josh Zizek – Joseph Molinaro

Tanner Spink – Mitch Emerson – Colton Fletcher

Joey Scorpio – Tyson Kirkby – Josh LeBlanc

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Defense

Carter Allen – Carson Vance

Max Novick – Chris MacMillan

Jeff Solow – Tyler Currie

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Extra Skater

Michael Gillespie

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Goaltenders

David Richer

Cedric Hansen

Steven Kozikoski

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Scratches: Tyler Antonucci, Alex DiCarlo, Ryan Bunka

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Plattsburgh State

Forwards

Mike Falanga – Ryan Kuhn – Joe Drabin

Brendan Young – Adam Tretowicz – Christian Thomas

Mitchell Hale – Christian DiFelice – Liam Lawson

Hunter Alden – Samir Abouelhana – Joe Kile

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Defense

Christian Dahl – Matt Araujo

Philip Middleton – Ryan Hogg

Andrew Pizzo – Jake Sutton

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Extra Skater

Daniil Ovchinnikov

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Goaltenders

Jimmy Poreda

Brandon Wells

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Scratches: Greg Malafronte, Cam Kuhl, Brendan Schulte, Tom Bowe, Rich McCartney, Lawson Fenton, Andrew Bechard

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Prediction

Obviously, the Lakers have not had recent success against Plattsburgh State during Whiteout other than last season’s 4-0 shutout victory. But, with the game being this early in the season, the rosters and what the teams have already done this year does not come into play a ton. It is only the Lakers’ second game, and the Cardinals’ third. Players are still trying to find their footing with the regular season and team chemistry.

Numerous players will be playing their first Whiteout game, including Carson Vance and Jeff Solow for Oswego State. Plattsburgh State’s Steve Moffat will be in his first Whiteout game as head coach, after serving as assistant coach for numerous years under former head coach Bob Emery, who left after last season and is now part of Merrimack College as the director of men’s ice hockey operations.

This storied rivalry will not disappoint this season even though there is not a ton on the line for either squad, being so early in the season. Plattsburgh State will be searching for its first win, and the Lakers will be fighting to stay atop the SUNYAC, but there are not a ton of end-of-season or playoff implications for either team.

Prediction: 3-2 victory for Oswego State.