The Oswego men’s hockey team started their week on Feb. 2 playing at home against the SUNY Brockport Golden Golden Eagles. This game against the Golden Eagles was the Lakers’ annual pride night, and it was also WTOP-10’s first ever all women’s broadcast.

The game started in a scoreless deadlock after the first period. Despite the lack of goals, the Lakers outshot the Golden Golden Eagles 11-7. The Lakers finally broke through in the second period, with Shane Bull scoring a breakaway goal at 4:26, assisted by Tyler Flack. Bull continued to shine, finding the net again seven minutes later, notching his second goal of the night with assists from Connor Gatto and Rocco Andreacchi.

The Lakers’ lead was bolstered by the goaltending from Cal Schell and a crucial penalty kill, ensuring they maintained their advantage heading into the final period. In the third period, Bull completed his hat trick just 1:34 in, with assists from Flack and Andreacchi. He then capitalized on a power-play opportunity at 4:28, adding to the Lakers’ lead with assists from Tristan, Francis and Andreacchi. Riding the wave of momentum, Tyler Flack extended the lead just twenty seconds later, courtesy of Jackson Arcan.

Despite Brockport’s efforts to mount a comeback, they could only muster a power-play goal at the 14:28 mark, resulting in a final score of 5-1 in favor of Oswego. This victory marked the Lakers’ 1000th win in program history, a testament to their excellence in collegiate hockey.

The next day the Lakers headed to Geneseo to face off against their conference rivals: SUNY Geneseo. From the moment the puck dropped, both teams engaged in a back-and-forth exchange of shots on goal. The Knights gradually seized control of the game, putting the Lakers on the defensive with their pressure in the offensive zone. Despite the balanced play early on, it was Geneseo’s Tyson Gilmour who broke the deadlock, finding the back of the net at the 9:04 mark, setting the stage for their dominance.

As the first period continued, Geneseo capitalized on their opportunities to extend their lead. With just under five minutes remaining in the period, the Knights surged ahead with three rapid-fire goals, leaving the Lakers stunned and trailing 4-0 at the conclusion of the opening frame.

Entering the second period, the Knights continued their offensive onslaught, wasting no time adding to their lead. Within the first few minutes, they found the back of the net once again, followed by another goal midway through the period, this time on a power play opportunity. The Lakers’ struggles continued as they failed to convert on multiple power play chances, while Geneseo’s relentless attack saw them firmly in control with a commanding 6-0 lead heading into the final period.

As the third period got underway, Geneseo showed no signs of relenting, maintaining their aggressive play while the Lakers began to show signs of fatigue. Defensive breakdowns plagued the Lakers, leading to yet another power play opportunity for the Knights, who capitalized once more to make it 7-0. Despite a late consolation goal from Oswego’s Connor Gatto, it was too late as the Knights sealed their dominant 7-1 victory.

The Lakers are hoping to shake off that loss with the most important weekend of their season coming up. 

Whiteout Weekend is the biggest game of the season for the men’s team; the fans come together and white out the Deborah F. Stanley Arena. Most important of all, the game is against Oswego’s top rival: the SUNY Plattsburgh Cardinals. The last time the Lakers faced off against the Cardinals it was in Plattsburgh and they came out in a 5-3 victory. 

The Lakers face the SUNY Potsdam Bears on Feb. 9, and the Plattsburgh State Cardinals on Feb. 10 in the Lakers’ annual senior night. Come out and support your Oswego State Lakers!

Photo via: Oswego Athletics