The Oswego State men’s hockey team will host the SUNYAC Championship game after their win over Buffalo State in the semifinal round of the post season. The Lakers won 4-1 after two goals in the first period in a span of 15 seconds.
Oswego State would go on to net a goal in the each of the next two periods to close out the contest. On Mar. 4, the Lakers will host Plattsburgh State to decide the winner of the SUNYAC conference. The Cardinals are coming off a 5-1 win over the third seed of SUNY Geneseo, the reigning SUNYAC champions.
For the Lakers, it was Troy Robillard leading the way on offense with two assists. 10 different players got on the box score tonight as Oswego State has now outscored opponents 20-4 in their last three contests.
Oswego State head coach Ed Gosek was pleased with the performance as the Lakers executed their plan and will play for another conference championship. He touched on his post-game thoughts in a press conference after the game.
“I thought our first power play group forced pucks and I was upset about the lack of intensity,” Gosek said. “Those are habits we had when we were not playing well and that is something we need to work on. Entering our zone defensively and picking up the right guys off the backcheck. That is going to be a focus especially against Plattsburgh [State]. Our defenseman will need to eat their Wheaties this week. They get a lot of pucks deep. They are going to need to take hits to make plays. Those are all things we will need to simulate.”
That is the plan for practice this week as coach Gosek discussed what the group needed to work on heading into a nationally ranked matchup against the Cardinals.
Cal Schell won his first playoff game in his freshman season this evening. Schell made 15 saves on 16 shots after allowing a late goal in the third period that went right over his blocker. Schell’s first playoff game was not in an unusual arena playing in front of the hometown crowd.
“Playoffs are a different feeling and there is a different buzz in the rink,” Schell said. “I think we used that to our advantage tonight and we got a jump on them early. We were really hounding pucks and being the best team, we could be. That atmosphere really pushes us to be a better team and helps us out.”
Schell had plenty of playoff experience prior to this evening during his junior hockey career. The goaltender made the comparison between junior hockey and college hockey.
“It is obviously that same atmosphere of the buzz in the rink,” Schell said. “It is that nitty gritty, hard work game that has to be played. At this level we have older guys, and it is men versus men. It is a battle out there.”
The Lakers will now turn their attention to the Cardinals for the fourth time this season. Oswego State is 2-1 against Plattsburgh State this season with the most recent game going to the Cardinals as the Lakers travelled to North Country.
Another chapter of the rivalry will be written in the Deborah F. Stanley Arena on Mar. 4 as Oswego State prepares for another chance at a SUNYAC Championship. For the past few seasons, captain Ryan Bunka and the rest of the Lakers have always travelled on the road to face off against SUNY Geneseo in the final game of the playoffs. Now, Oswego State gets to play in front of their home crowd as the number one seed.
“Having it at home is huge,” Bunka said. “You saw tonight how we went up two nothing and got behind the fans and it is a lot of energy. But we are saying the same thing. We have to stick to our hockey and get pucks to the net. We have to keep doing exactly what we have been doing that past five games that is making us successful.”
The Lakers will host the SUNYAC Championship for the first time since 2017 when Oswego State lost to Plattsburgh State 3-2. Puck drop is schedule for 7 p.m. at the Deborah F. Stanley Arena on Mar. 4 between the number one team and number two team in the SUNYAC. The Lakers are excited to play in front of the Laker faithful for possibly the final time.
“It feels great having the [community] behind us and having the stands full,” Bunka said. “A lot of teams do not and as well as the Blueline Club. You see kids in the stands and see kids at Steamers. You get to see people you get to know over your four years. I can go through the stands and see people that we have worked with in the community. It is great to have that behind us. We play for our fans.”
Photo Provided by Jim Feeney
