The Oswego State and Plattsburgh State men’s hockey rivalry will continue into a sixth decade, as the Lakers travel to the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena for the second league matchup of the season between the two teams tonight.

This weekend also serves as the North Country weekend for Oswego State, except this time both games will be on the road. The Lakers will go to the Maxcy Ice Arena tomorrow against SUNY Potsdam.

At the Marano Campus Center for the annual Whiteout game against Plattsburgh State on Nov. 8, the Lakers took the 3-0 shutout victory for the second straight win on Whiteout Weekend. Carter Allen, Anthony Passero and Tyler Currie all scored for Oswego State. David Richer stopped all 25 shots he faced, while Jimmy Poreda 26 saves in the loss for the Cardinals.

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Last Time Out

Oswego State

After having some scoring issues, not scoring more than four goals in a game since Dec. 7 against SUNY Fredonia, the Lakers came out in full force for an 8-2 non-league win over SUNY Canton, who had been receiving national votes earlier this season. Seven players recorded a multi-point night, led by Alex DiCarlo and Michael Gillespie, who both had four-point nights. DiCarlo and Gillespie each added a goal while contributing three assists. Tanner Spink (1g, 2a) had three points, while Josh Zizek, Travis Broughman, Anthony Passero and Max Novick all added two points. The first three had a goal and an assist, while Novick had two assists. Carson Vance and Tyler Antonucci rounded out the scoring for Oswego State. In his first regular-season collegiate game, Steven Kozikoski made 19 saves on 21 shots. Oswego State’s penalty kill went 6-7, while the man-advantage went 3-8.

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Plattsburgh State

In what could have been an upset, Plattsburgh State tied No. 3 SUNY Geneseo 2-2, after a power-play goal from Christian DiFelice at 12:38 of the third period. Neither team could score in the rest of regulation, nor in the five-minute overtime period. Ryan Kuhn also scored for the Cardinals, while Joe Kile, Matt Araujo and Adam Tretowicz all chipped in an assist each. Jimmy Poreda made 34 saves in the overtime tie. The Cardinals’ power play went 1-3 and the penalty kill went 100%, going 3-3 against the fourth-best power play unit in the nation.

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By the Numbers

RECORD (conference)

OSW: 9-8-0 (6-2-0 SUNYAC)

PLA: 6-9-3 (3-4-2 SUNYAC)

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GOALS (per game) [vs. each other last time]

OSW: 66 (3.9) [3]

PLA: 40 (2.2) [0]

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SHOTS (per game) [vs. each other last time]

OSW: 622 (36.6) [29]

PLA: 560 (31.1) [25]

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POWER PLAY (percentage) [vs. each other last time]

OSW: 15-69 (21.7%) [0-3 / 0.0%]

PLA: 13-66 (19.%) [0-2 / 0.0%]

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PENALTY KILL (percentage) [vs. each other last time]

OSW: 52-70 (74.3%) [2-2 / 100%]

PLA: 69-81 (85.2%) [3-3 / 100%]

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Statistic Leaders

Oswego State

Goals

1. Travis Broughman — 11
2. Josh Zizek — 7
3. Anthony Passero — 5

Assists

1. Anthony Passero — 14
2. Max Novick — 12
3. Travis Broughman — 10

Points

1. Travis Broughman — 21
2. Anthony Passero — 19
3. Max Novick / Josh Zizek — 15

Plus/Minus

1. Max Novick — +14
2. Carter Allen — +13
3. Travis Broughman — +12

Save Percentage

1. David Richer — .906 (307 total saves)
2. Steven Kozikoski — .905 (19 total saves)
3. Cedric Hansen — .819 (59 total saves)

Goals Against Average

1. Steven Kozikoski — 2.00 (2 goals allowed)
2. David Richer — 2.46 (32 goals allowed)
3. Cedric Hansen — 4.41 (13 goals allowed)

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Plattsburgh State

Goals

1. Adam Tretowicz / Liam Lawson — 5
2. Ryan Hogg / Joe Drabin — 4
3. M. Araujo / B. Young / C. DiFelice / R. McCartney / J. Kile — 3

Assists

1. Joe Drabin — 10
2. Ryan Kuhn — 9
3. Matt Araujo — 7

Points

1. Joe Drabin — 14
2. Ryan Kuhn — 11
3. Adam Tretowicz / Liam Lawson / Matt Araujo — 10

Plus/Minus

NOT LISTED ON COLLEGEHOCKEYSTATS.NET

Save Percentage

1. Jimmy Poreda — .918 (438 total saves)
2. Brandon Wells — .852 (23 total saves)
3. Lawson Fenton — .837 (36 total saves)

Goals Against Average

1. Jimmy Poreda — 2.46 (39 goals allowed)
2. Brandon Wells — 4.06 (4 goals allowed)
3. Lawson Fenton — 5.39 (7 goals allowed)

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Starting Lineups

Oswego State

Forwards —

Michael Gillespie — Josh Zizek — Jody Sullivan

Tanner Spink — Anthony Passero — Alex DiCarlo

Derek Brown — Mitch Emerson — Joseph Molinaro

Mac Lewis — Jeff Solow — Joey Scorpio

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Defense

Carter Allen — Carson Vance

Chris MacMillan — Max Novick

Tyler Currie — Tyler Antonucci

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Extra Skater

Tyson Kirkby

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Goaltenders

Steven Kozikoski

David Richer

Cedric Hansen

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Plattsburgh State

Lines not provided at time of publishing.

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Players to Watch

OSW: Michael Gillespie

Michael Gillespie is one of those players people expect to play after the whistle, while playing hard during the game as well. Getting in players’ faces, making sure he gets the last word in. But, against a team like SUNY Canton, a four-point effort from the senior proves otherwise. Knowing where his team is and where the team should be, the offense is on. It will be important to see if he continues that kind of scoring going into league play once again.

PLA: Christian DiFelice

Score the game-winning goal in a national championship game? That is what players dream of. Score the game-tying goal against the No. 3 team in the nation during the regular season? Not a close second, but Christian DiFelice can say he has done it. The sophomore only has three goals this season, but on a team that is led by five goals, he cannot be disappointed. DeFelice is going to be riding a lot of confidence coming into the game against Oswego State.

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SUNYAC Update

Coming into the weekend, here are the SUNYAC standings as of Jan. 25. Most of the teams in the league are playing a SUNYAC team tonight.

1. SUNY Geneseo — 14 points (13-3-2 overall, 6-1-2 SUNYAC)
2. Oswego State — 12 points (9-8-0 overall, 6-2-0 SUNYAC)
3. The College at Brockport — 12 points (12-7-0 overall, 6-5-0 SUNYAC)
4. Buffalo State — 10 points (9-7-1 overall, 5-3-0 SUNYAC)
5. Morrisville State — 10 points (8-9-0 overall, 5-5-0 SUNYAC)
6. SUNY Cortland — 8 points (9-7-1 overall, 4-6-0 SUNYAC)
7. Plattsburgh State — 8 points (6-9-3 overall, 3-4-2 SUNYAC)
8. SUNY Potsdam — 7 points (4-14-1 overall, 3-7-1 SUNYAC)
9. SUNY Fredonia — 3 points (4-8-5 overall, 1-6-1 SUNYAC)

Here is tonight’s schedule:

• SUNY Geneseo is on the road tonight for a league game against Morrisville State with a 7 p.m. puck drop
• Oswego State begins the North Country trip with a game at Plattsburgh State for a 7 p.m. start time
• The College at Brockport does not play tonight, but faces Bryn Athyn College tomorrow on the road
• Buffalo State will continue the Battle of the Lake against SUNY Fredonia on the road for a 7 p.m. game
• Morrisville State will host SUNY Geneseo to begin the weekend series with a 7 p.m. start
• Plattsburgh State takes on Oswego State at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena for a 7 p.m. game
• SUNY Cortland will also take part in the North Country trip but take on SUNY Potsdam tonight instead with a 7 p.m. puck drop
• SUNY Fredonia hosts Buffalo State, looking for its second league win, for a 7 p.m. game at the Steele Hall Ice Arena

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Prediction

After falling to SUNY Cortland in overtime last Friday, and then absolutely dominating SUNY Canton 8-2 last Saturday, this team seems to be finding itself with Steven Kozikoski in net. With the start tonight against rival Plattsburgh State, the sophomore might be getting tested to see if he will play not only against SUNY Potsdam, but potentially the SUNY Geneseo/The College at Brockport games next weekend.

It is obvious: this team needed a change. Maybe it was Mac Lewis, bringing in some mid-year talent, or maybe Kozikoski in net just to change things up for the defense. Rotating the extra skater is also a possibility. Whatever the change needs to be, it has to happen this weekend before SUNY Geneseo comes to town, especially after the 9-1 loss earlier this season to the Knights.

Plattsburgh State, despite its record and the 3-0 loss to the Lakers in November, is not to be overlooked. The Cardinals are coming off that 2-2 against SUNY Geneseo. The first game of the season series also went to overtime. Players say it all the time, that Oswego State gets everyone’s A-game — but now, SUNY Geneseo is on that list too.

While the Cardinals do not have as much top scoring, with only five players in the double-digits for points, compared to Oswego State’s 10 players, this is a young, physical team with a solid senior goaltender. Jimmy Poreda is the reason why Plattsburgh State can stick it with some top teams like SUNY Geneseo.

With the dominating win against SUNY Canton for the Lakers, and the tie against SUNY Geneseo for the Cardinals, this game could truly be interesting.

Prediction: Oswego State takes this one 3-1 over Plattsburgh State.

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Photo by Nicole Hube | The Oswegonian