The Oswego Lakers men’s hockey team faced a challenging start to their season, squaring off against the reigning Div.III national champions, the Hobart Statesmen. With the beginning of the season starting off hot, the Lakers entered the game with a singular goal: to make a resounding statement by defeating the top-ranked team in the nation.

The game started fast with both goalies making pivotal saves in the first period. Damon Beaver, Hobart’s goalie, entered the game on the heels of a remarkable season, culminating with him being named as Player of the Tournament at Nationals. On the opposing end, Cal Schell, who had also enjoyed an impressive season, stood tall in the Lakers’ net. Despite a barrage of shots exchanged between the Lakers and Statesmen, the first period concluded in a scoreless deadlock. 

As the second period got underway, the Statesmen came out swinging, putting three shots on goal before Oswego could even get one in. That didn’t sway the Lakers however as six minutes in, Lakers defenseman Quinn Warmuth netted the first goal of the season courtesy of some great passing by Tyler Flack and Shane Bull who were both credited with assists on the play. 

With the Lakers maintaining a slim 1-0 lead, the pace of play intensified on both fronts. Both teams relentlessly peppered the net with shots, yet the expert goaltending prowess of Schell and Beaver thwarted every attempt to find the back of the net. 

However, with less than a minute remaining in the period, Laker defenseman Nolan Barrett was penalized for hooking, giving the Statesmen a crucial power-play opportunity. A mere 16 seconds into the advantage, the Statesmen capitalized as Hobart’s Chris Duclair ripped a shot past Schell, equalizing the game with less than a minute left in the second period. The period concluded in a draw.

Tied 1-1, the game was completely up for grabs. The Statesmen struck first in the third just five minutes in. Ignat Belov snuck a goal past Schell and put them up 2-1 and also put the pressure on the Lakers 

With the game now in jeopardy for the Lakers, they played hard trying to battle back but Damon Beaver just seemed too much for them. They put shots on goal all throughout the period but they were all saved. The Lakers were going to need a miracle to get back into the game. Lucky for them, they had Tyler Flack. 

With less than two minutes left in the game, the Lakers were on the attack. Tyler Flack found an opportunity and slotted a goal past Beaver tying the game up.  As the clock ran out on the final period of play the Lakers went into overtime with all the momentum in the world. 

Overtime unfolded with breathtaking swiftness. A mere minute and 22 seconds into the extra period, the Lakers seized a breakaway opportunity, and in a poetic twist of fate, it was none other than Tyler Flack, the very player who had earlier netted the game-tying goal, who delivered the decisive strike, clinching the victory for his team.

After the impressive win, the Lakers traveled immediately next to Elmira to take on the Soaring Eagles. After a great game the day before the Lakers were looking to keep the momentum going. That was not in the cards however as the Lakers were caught completely off guard in the first period. Only five minutes into the game the Lakers were down 2-0 and now had to struggle to come back. At around the ten minute mark, the Lakers tried to come back with a remarkable goal scored by Lakers veteran Shane Bull. Unfortunately, the Eagles bounced right back and scored two more goals to finish the first period. 

Early in the second period, the Lakers started hot as Ryan Dickinson brought the Lakers within two with an unassisted goal, but the Eagles had other ideas in this game as they scored two more goals in the second period to put them up 6-2. 

The final period was no different with the Eagles scoring a seventh goal against the Lakers. The only upside to the final period was the 17-minute mark goal by Thomas Rocco bringing the final score of 7-3 Elmira. 

The Lakers are now 1-1. They come back home to Oswego on Friday, Nov. 3 as they take on the Fredonia Blue Devils. The next day they stay at home to take on Buffalo State. 

Photo via: Oswego Athletics