As the calendar flips to a new month, another page will be written in the historic rivalry between Oswego State men’s hockey and the Plattsburgh State Cardinals. The 134th edition of the matchup between the Lakers and Cardinals returns to the Deborah F. Stanley Arena on Nov. 4. Oswego State is seeking its fourth straight win against Plattsburgh State on Whiteout Weekend. 

That history dates back before hockey was first played in the Marano Campus Center. That rivalry started across Route 104 in the Romney Field House. Plattsburgh State head coach Steve Moffat played for the Cardinals from 1994-98 before his coaching career at his alma mater. Moffat played when bagels and tennis balls were a part of the games.

“It was so much fun,” Moffat said. “It was a crazy atmosphere in there because the fans were right on top of you. As a player, you felt like you were in the stands sometimes especially in the corners. As a coach, you were literally walking through the stands.”

Plattsburgh State has not played a regular season game yet this year in the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena. The Cardinals tied Plymouth State 2-2 on Oct. 28 before a 5-0 shutout at Castleton University in Vermont the following day.

“It was okay,” Moffat said. “Obviously you are always looking to win every game that you can. I think we played well in spurts and we struggled in spurts. It was kind of your typical opening weekend.”

For the Lakers, the team split the regular season start with a 5-2 loss against nationally ranked Hobart College on the road. However, Oswego State followed up the loss with a 5-2 win versus ranked Elmira College on Teal Day, five years after the passing of Mary Gosek. Junior Tommy Cahill felt that the team found their stride in the Oct. 29 matchup against the Soaring Eagles.

“We won every puck battle on the wall, and everyone was going as hard as possible,” Cahill said. “On Friday, we were missing the net on every other shot. Come Saturday, we were hitting the net and we capitalized.”

Games against nationally ranked opponents help towards an at-large bid in the NCAA Division III national tournament. But these contests also help prepare the Lakers for the important matchups that come in the SUNYAC.

“You play games like Hobart [College], Elmira [College], [and] Stevenson [University] to prepare yourself for teams like Plattsburgh [State],” Gosek said. “They have very good team speed, and it is early in both of our seasons…You are good as your last game.”

The next two games for both teams are the first contests of the 2022-23 conference schedule. This week marks the start of SUNYAC play for the nine schools competing in the conference. 

Last season, Oswego State missed the number one seed in the postseason due to a tiebreaker with SUNY Geneseo as both teams finished with 37 points. The two seed meant the loss of home ice advantage in the SUNYAC Championship which resulted in a 6-1 victory for the Ice Knights. Each game is an opportunity to secure those crucial points.

“Every game matters in the SUNYAC,” Cahill said. “We want the SUNYAC Championship and to have home ice at the end of the year when it really matters means every game matters.”

Last time the north country teams traveled to Oswego, the Lakers took victories against the two teams. The set of games started with a 3-0 shutout victory against SUNY Potsdam. The following evening, the Lakers won 5-2 with goals from players up and down the lineup. All five of those goal scorers return for the Lakers and bring experience including junior AJ Ryan.

“Just trying to explain what Whiteout Weekend means to the freshman and how they have to enjoy the weekend,” Ryan said. “Plattsburgh [State] and [SUNY] Potsdam are good teams, and we will see if we can play the same way we did against Elmira [College].”

The Lakers host the Cardinals and Bears both for 7 p.m. puck drops on Nov. 4 and 5 in the Deborah F. Stanley Arena.

Photo provided by: Alexis Fragapane