Oswego is in the NCAA's

The Oswego State Lakers will be playing for the NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Championships as they will be hosting a quarterfinals matchup on Saturday night March 12th at the Campus Center Ice Arena on the campus of SUNY Oswego.

The NCAA released that "Seven conferences have been awarded automatic qualification. The remaining four teams were selected at-large by the committee. The championship playoff format involves three first-round games and four quarterfinal games that are played on the campuses of the participating institutions. All games in the championship are single elimination. The four quarterfinal winners advance to Minneapolis, Minnesota, at Ridder Arena for the semifinals and championship game, which will be conducted March 25-26. The Northern Collegiate Hockey Association will host the championship".

Conference	School
ECAC DIII Men’s East Hockey League	Norwich University (20-5-3)
ECAC DIII Northeast Hockey League	Curry (16-8-3)
Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association	Adrian (23-3-1)
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference	Hamline University (16-6-5)
New England Small College Athletic Conference	Bowdoin College (17-7-1)
Northern Collegiate Hockey Association	St. Norbert (22-4-1)
State University of New York Athletic Conference	Plattsburgh State  (20-7-1)

Elmira College, Neumann College, State University of New York at Oswego and University Wisconsin, Superior, enter the field as the four at-large selections.

Oswego will await the winner of the Bowdoin/Neumann matchup. Plattsburgh will play either Norwich/Curry on Saturday as well. The other play in game on Wednesday night will feature Wis-Superior/Hamline. 

Oswego wins Third Pathfinder Bank Oswego Hockey Classic Title

The Oswego State Lakers captured their third Pathfinder Bank Oswego Hockey Classic Championship by defeating the number six ranked Elmira Soaring Eagles 3-1 tonight at the Campus Center Ice Arena. Oswego State foward Justin Fox (pictued) was named MVP for his 5 point performance over the weekend. In the Consolation game earlier today, Connecticut College defeated the Milwaukee School of Engineering 2-1 in Overtime as JJ McGregor scored both goals for the Camels including the game winner in the extra session.

In the Championship game, it was a goaltenders dual between Kyle Gunn-Taylor of Oswego State and Casey Tuttle of Elmira. Tuttle made an unbelievable save on Tyler Leimbrock late in the third period just to name an instance and also if it wasnt for the play of Tuttle, the game would have been a totally different outcome. Oswego got the scoring going on a shorthanded goal by Neil Musslewhite. For Musslewhite, it was his 10th marker of the season and his 5th shorthanded. The Lakers would bump the lead to 2-0 as Luke Moodie would score a powerplay goal with Justin Fox and team Captain Tyler Lyon getting the assists. When Elmira returned to even strength, Darcy Vaillancourt would score his eighth of the season with Rick Acorn getting the lone helper. Oswego would then regain their two goal lead as Eric Selleck returned to the lineup and scored a "garbage goal" as he was camped right infront of the net for his 14th of the year with Fox and fellow linemate Chris Laganiere getting the assists.

Kyle Gunn-Taylor would stop 18 out of the 19 shots he faced to pick up his 10th win on the season. The last Laker netminder to have the kind of streak that Gunn-Taylor has was Ryan Scott in 2006-2007 as he went 10-0-3 in his first 13 games before a 5-2 loss at Utica. Casey Tuttle made 26 saves on 29 Laker shots. The next contest for Oswego will be on Friday January 8th as they host Adrian for a non-conference game at 7:00 pm from the Campus Center Ice Arena.

2009-2010 Pathfinder Bank Oswego Hockey Classic All Tournament Team
Connecticut College: JJ McGregor (2 goals including GW in 2-1 OT win vs MSOE in Consolation Game)
Milwaukee School of Engineering: Todd Krupa
Elmira College Soaring Eagles: Darcy Vaillancourt (2 goals including GW in 4-2 win vs MSOE in opening round) and Casey Tuttle (allowed 5 goals in two games)
Oswego State Lakers: Kevin Huinink (Assist in 4-1 win vs Conn College)
Tournament MVP: Justin Fox (Oswego State - 1 G 4 A in two games)

Third Times the Charm... Oswego and Elmira for the Pathfinder Title

The number one ranked team according to the USCHO Oswego State Lakers will take on the number six ranked Elmira College Soaring Eagles tonight at the Campus Center Ice Arena in Oswego, NY for the right to be called Pathfinder Bank Oswego Hockey Classic Champions. The last time these teams met for the Pathfinder title was back during the 2006-2007 season as Oswego came out victorious by the score of 4-1. Scoring the goals for the Lakers on that night were team Captain Ryan Woodward, Ryan Ellis, Matt Whitehead and current Assistant Captain Neil Musslewhite.

The history of the Pathfinder Bank Classic is short but this tournament has turned out two of the last three National Champions as Oswego (2007) and St. Norbert (2008) won the Classic title on their way to win National Championships. Last year, Oswego did infact win their second Pathfinder title last season with a 5-2 victory over Augsburg. Garren Reisweber was named Pathfinder Classic MVP for his performance over the two games played.

Tonight's matchup against Elmira is the third time these two programs have met this season. In the season opener back on October 23rd, Oswego beat up the Soaring Eagles 7-2. But Elmira would get the last laugh and give Oswego their only loss on the season to this point by defeating the Lakers 2-1 the following night in Elmira.

The consolation game in this year's edition of the Pathfinder Bank Oswego Hockey Classic features the Connecticut College Camels and the Milwaukee School of Engineering Raiders. Action starts at the Campus Center at 4:00 pm and the action will be heard on WNYO-FM 88.9 with Tyler Atkinson and Joe Crahan with the call. Then at 7:00 pm, its the game that "is for all the marbles" as Oswego takes on Elmira. Rob Lippolis and Matt Solomon will have the action on WNYO.

Oswego and Elmira will meet again for Pathfinder Title

The Oswego State Lakers and Elmira Soaring Eagles will meet for the third time this season and second time in the championship game for the Pathfinder Bank Oswego Hockey Classic at the Campus Center Ice Arena.
In the first game on the afternoon, Elmira defeated the Milwaukee School of Engineering 4-2.  Colin Hoey got the scoring going at 6:39 in the opening period with the assist to Larry Willard. The goal was Hoey's first goal on the season. MSOE would get even 16 seconds later when Jacob Furey beat Casey Tuttle for his second on the season with Ben Plocar getting the assist. Elmira would regain the lead when Andrew Wilcox scored his fourth of the season with Kevin Willer getting the lone helper with 34 seconds remaining in the first period. Then the Soaring Eagles would score the eventual game winner when  Darcy Vaillancourt scored his seventh of the year with Greg Moore and Rusty Masters getting the assists. Then Elmira would bump the lead to 4-1 when Kevin Willer would score a short-handed goal at 19:58 with Brock Sawyer getting the assist. Willer scored his fourth of the season. Todd Krupa would score just over three minutes into the third period to make the game 4-2 but that would be as close as MSOE would get to Elmira as the Soaring Eagles picked up the win by the same score of 4-2. Elmira net minder Casey Tuttle stopped 20 of the 22 shots he faced while his counterpart Conner Toomey stopped 27 out of 31 shots he faced.

In the nightcap, the number one ranked team in the nation Oswego State Lakers took care of business as they defeated the Connecticut College Camels 4-1 at the Campus Center. The Lakers would give up the first goal of the game in the second period as Joe Capuano beat Paul Beckwith. But that would be the last time the puck passed Beckwith. Justin Fox would tie the game for the Lakers on the powerplay with Chris Laganiere and Jon Whitelaw getting the helpers. Then Oswego would gain the lead as Andrew Mather was "Johnny on the Spot" as he put the puck in the back of the net for a 2-1 lead in favor of the home squad. Then the Lakers would bump the lead to 3-1 in the third as Chris Ayotte scored with Kevin Hulnick and Owen Kelly getting the helpers. Then Tyler Leimbrock would put the icing on the cake as Justin Fox and Tyler Lyon grabbed the assists as the Lakers made it 4-1. Paul Beckwith made 19 saves as the Lakers put 32 shots on net.

WNYO-FM 88.9 will have the action for you tomorrow night as the Lakers and Elmira meet up in the Championship Game for the Pathfinder Bank Oswego Hockey Classic. MSOE and Conn College will play in the consolation game at 4:00 pm as the Lakers and Soaring Eagles meet up at 7:00 pm. The last time Oswego defeated Elmira in the Classic was during the 2006-2007 season as Oswego beat Elmira 4-1. WNYO's coverage will start at 3:55 pm tomorrow afternnon as Steve Petty Sports just found out that they will have the Conn College/MSOE matchup on the air with Tyler Atkinson and Joe Crahan with the action and then it will be Rob Lippolis and Matt Solomon with the contest between Oswego and Elmira. 

Oswego State Hosts 4th Pathfinder Bank Classic

The Oswego State Men's ice hockey team is gearing up for the fourth annual Pathfinder Bank/Oswego Hockey Classic, which is set to begin on Saturday, Jan. 2 and will conclude on Sunday, Jan. 3, at the Campus Center Ice Arena. This year’s tournament field includes Connecticut College of the New England Small College Athletic Conference, Elmira College of the ECAC West, Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) of the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association, and host Oswego State. Saturday's contests feature Elmira versus MSOE at 4 p.m. followed by Oswego State versus Connecticut College at 7 p.m.

The Pathfinder Bank/Oswego Hockey Classic has become one of the premier tournaments in Division III since its inception in 2007, as two of the last three NCAA Division III National Championship teams have also been champions at the Classic.  Host Oswego State won the first edition of the Classic en route to its first national title in 2007, while St. Norbert College captured the 2008 tournament title on its road to a national championship.  Tickets are still available and may be purchased prior to game time. 

The Lakers, who are the defending Classic champions, enter as the nation’s top-ranked team as bestowed by US College Hockey Online (USCHO) on December 14 with an overall record of 13-1-0.  Since suffering a 2-1 loss to Elmira on October 24, Oswego State has rattled off 12 straight wins to match a program-best mark set on two different occasions during the 1987-88 and 1990-91 seasons.  During the stretch, the Lakers have won nine of those contests by three or more goals, including a 5-2 road win over conference Plattsburgh State, to climb from a pre-season ranking of eighth to the top of the list.
Oswego State’s early season success can be attributed to strong play at both ends of the rink and youth, as the team is comprised of five sophomores and 12 freshmen.  The Laker offense ranked third in scoring in NCAA Division III at the end of the calendar year, averaging 5.71 goals per game after posting 80 goals.  What makes the squad even more dangerous is its’ unselfish play as Oswego State is also averaging 15.1 points per game.  The line of sophomores Eric Selleck and Chris Laganiere and junior Justin Fox has become one of the most dynamic lines in the nation, as they have combined to score 34 goals and 57 assists for 91 points this season and are each nationally ranked in the top eight in points per game.  Special teams have also played a key role as the Lakers have the 11th ranked power play in the country, converting 25.8 percent (23/89) of the opportunities it receives.  Senior Neil Musselwhite, who leads the nation with four short-handed goals, anchors a penalty kill unit that ranks 16th (70/81 at 86.4 percent).
One of the largest questions for Oswego State entering the season was goaltending, but senior Kyle Gunn-Taylor and sophomore Paul Beckwith have combined to allow only 26 goals for a 1.86 goals against average, which is tied for seventh-best in Division III.  Gunn-Taylor carries a record of 9-0-0 with a 1.67 goals against average to go along with a .927 save percentage, while Beckwith holds an equally impressive .926 save percentage, a 4-1-0 record, and a goals against average of 2.21.

The Lakers will be forced to shake off any rust from the break when they face opening-round opponent Connecticut College (1-7-0).  The Camels have been competitive in every game they have played this season having dropped six games by two or fewer goals, including a season-opening 3-2 overtime loss to 11th-ranked Williams.  Senior Greg Parker has dominated time between the pipes for Connecticut College as he has played seven of the eight contests compiling a 3.02 goals against average and a .918 save percentage.  Sophomore Julien Boutet and senior Trevor Bradley lead the offensive attack with five points each with Boutet recording four goals and an assist and Bradley posting three goals and two assists. 

Since starting the season 1-2-0, Elmira brings an eight-game winning streak into the Classic for an overall mark of 9-2-0 and is ranked sixth in the recent USCHO.com poll. The Soaring Eagles averaged 1.67 goals per game in their first three contests, but have turned up their offensive production by more than three goals to 4.75 goals during the eight-game stretch.  Senior captain Rusty Masters and sophomore Darcy Vaillancourt pace the Elmira offense with 17 points each.  Masters is the team’s leading goal scorer with ten goals, including five power play goals, while Vaillancourt is the top assist recipient with 11.  The Soaring Eagles boast one of the most experienced goaltenders in the nation in Casey Tuttle, who is one of four goaltenders in Division III with at least eight wins.  Tuttle ranks in the top 30 in save percentage (28th, .914) and goals against average (25th, 2.44).  Strong special teams have also played an important part early in the season as Elmira has the eighth-best power play unit in the country converting 28.4 percent (21/74) of its opportunities and the 11th-best penalty kill at 89.6 percent (60/67).

Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) is the West Region representative at the Classic this year, coming in with a record of 5-4-1.  The Raiders, who have a youthful roster of 19 underclassmen, started the season 4-0, but look to reverse their fortunes in 2010 after closing out 2009 1-4-1.  MSOE sits in the top 15 in scoring offense (15th, 4.20 goals per game) and scoring defense (12th, 2.10 goals per game).  The stingy defense is led by sophomore goaltender Connor Toomey, who has appeared in nine contests with a record of 4-4-1.  Toomey owns a paltry 1.80 goals against average, which is ranked 11th in Division III, and has a .917 save percentage.  Offensively, MSOE is led by sophomore forward Todd Krupa’s 14 points (five goals, nine assists).  Classmate Brock King has numerous timely goals for the Raiders, as he leads the team with four power play and three game-winning goals.

Courtesy of SUNY Oswego Sports Information Department 
Photos courtesy of SUNY Oswego Sports Information Department 

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