After splitting wins with SUNY Stony Brook on Oct. 7 and 8, the Oswego State club hockey team returned to the Deb to face the Canisius University Golden Griffins on Oct 13.

The Lakers’ offense wasted no time, jumping to an early lead in the first period, with a score from Trevor Jubran at the 7:36 mark, he was assisted by Jeremy Keyes and Carter McWilliams. After some back and forth action, Josh Laravia found his fifth goal of the season in the final 10 seconds of the period on the power play, he was assisted by Adam Jubran and Stephen Matro. The Lakers dominated the puck in the first period, outshooting the Golden Griffins 14-8. The Lakers led after the first period 2-0.

Matro opened up the scoring in the second period, finding the net just six minutes in, he was assisted by Keyes. The Lakers struggled on offense for the rest of the period, the Golden Griffins capitalized on this with a score of their own in the dying moments, making the score 3-1.  The Lakers were outshot in this period 16-11.

The momentum continued to swing in the Golden Griffins way, as they scored again just two minutes into the third period, forcing the Lakers’ hand. The Lakers’ defense locked up for the rest of the game, only allowing seven shots after this.  Anthony DiVita scored the insurance goal halfway through the period, assisted by Ryan Durand and Matt Cardi.  Laravia added the cherry on top with under four minutes left, assisted by Matro and Adam Jubran. The Lakers won the game 5-2 and outshot the Golden Griffins 37-33.

Since it was a home-split, the Lakers traveled to the LECOM Harborcenter on Oct. 14 to face the Golden Griffins once again.

The first period saw stellar performances from both goalies. The Lakers outshot the Golden Griffins 14-12, but neither team were able to score, and went into the second period tied 0-0.

The Golden Griffins opened up the second period with a goal in the first minute, their first lead over the stretch of the two games.  The Lakers responded quickly with a score of their own, coming off the hands of McWilliams just three minutes after the first goal, assisted by Matro and Adam Jubran.  The Golden Griffins took the lead just as quickly, as they scored again just a minute after McWilliams’ goal.  At the 10:48 mark, Divita tied the game 2-2, assisted by Trevor Jubran and McWilliams. The Lakers took the lead before the period ended, with Brayden Palfi scoring his first ACHA career goal. He was assisted by Braydon Deming and Derek Boutin. The Lakers outshot the Golden Griffins in the second period 11-6.

DiVita scored what was the only goal of the third period at the 12:42 mark, assisted by Andrew Cardi and Durand. Lakers goalie Benjamin Di Fiore saved 29 shots of the 31 he faced on the day.

The story of the game was the physicality of both teams by the end of the game, there was no shortage of trash talk, hard hits and cross-checks.  This was all in the name of conference play, said alternate captain and defensemen Josh Matyasik.

“It really is just conference games,” said Matyasik. “They are all super physical…it was expected honestly especially after how the game ended Friday night (Oct. 13), we knew they had to be coming out tougher the game after. That is just how conference play is.”

DiVita had three goals stretched over the two games against the Golden Griffins. He said it is the finest hockey he has played.

“It is the best hockey I have played all season,” said DiVita. “I was in a big drought where I could not score, I was trying to do my best and during that drought I just did what I could do to help the team win. I got the puck in the net this weekend, but I will still work as hard as I can to help the team win.”

These two wins bring the Lakers to 8-2 on the season, which is their greatest start to a season in well over a decade. The secret to success according to head coach Travis Hyde: the returning class.

“Those guys we had returning this year, they know how to win,” said Hyde. “They want to win, they have been down that road of figuring out how to get those wins, I think that is a big part of it.  A lot of these guys come from winning cultures…it is good to see the team evolving.”

The Lakers have a well deserved bye week, before heading back to the Deb to face Syracuse University on Oct. 26 and 27.

Photo via: Oswego Athletics