Oswego State Men Fall to Fredonia in SUNYAC Semifinal. Await NCAA Tournement Fate

It was a night most at Oswego State would like to forget. The opening round of the SUNYAC Tournament as Oswego State played host to Fredonia. The game story is provided by the Oswego State Sports Information department:

Ben Waldman continued his post-season tear as he scored the game-winning goal 11:34 into overtime as No. 6-seed Fredonia upset the top-ranked Oswego State men's ice hockey team, 2-1, in a SUNYAC semifinal game Saturday night in Oswego. The Laker offense ran into another hot goaltender in Mark Friesen, who registered 43 saves, including eight in the extra frame.

Oswego State, which fell to 22-4-0, will now await word from the NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Selection Committee on Sunday, March 6 as to whether it will make the national tournament. Fredonia, which moved to 14-12-1, will travel to Plattsburgh to face the Cardinals on Saturday, March 5 at 7 p.m. with the winner earning an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

The Blue Devils jumped out to the early lead as Alex Morton scored his tenth goal of the season on the game's first power play with Mat Hehr earning the assist at 6:08. The score stayed at 1-0 heading into the first break.

Oswego State came out of the locker room with increased intensity as it began to apply more pressure to the Fredonia defense and Friesen. Midway through the period, Paul Rodrigues caused a neutral ice turnover to create a 2-on-1 opportunity. Rodrigues held on to the puck on the left side before sliding the pass through the slot to Luke Moodie on the left side. Moodie slid the puck behind Friesen as it went across the crease before the net became dislodged at 8:50 to tie the game at 1-1.

The Lakers continued to knock on the doorstep throughout the rest of the frame and well into the third period, but the game quickly became a battle between goaltenders as Oswego State goalie Paul Beckwith made 10 saves and Friesen made 17 saves in the final regulation period.

The home team had several scoring chances in overtime, but Friesen and the Blue Devil defense was up to the task. With the puck in the Oswego State zone, Mitch Kulikoski jumped on an errant clearing attempt, swinging the pass to Hehr, who found Waldman for the game-winning goal at 11:34.

Beckwith finished the game with 35 saves compared to Friesen's 43. Oswego State went 0-for-3 on the power play, while Fredonia went 1-for-3.


So that is how the night went. Fredonia will play in the SUNYAC Championship game this Saturday night March 5th at 7PM as they travel to the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena in Plattsburgh to take on the Plattsburgh Cardinals for the conference crown and an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. Oswego will have to await word from the NCAA as to whether or not they will be playing in the NCAA Tournament as an at large bid. If anybody else remembers this is the same thing that happened back in 2007 when Fredonia beat Oswego in the SUNYAC Semifinal. We all remember what happened a few weeks later on easter Sunday.

(Part of the story as well as the photo provided by Oswego State Sports Information Department)

Oswego State Women's Hockey Makes History Knocking off #1 Ranked RIT 2-1!

The Impossible has happened! The Oswego State Lakers Women's Hockey team have done something no other team in Division Hockey could do. They defeated the #1 Nationally Ranked RIT Tigers 2-1. Here is the story as provided by Oswego State Sports Information:


The Oswego State women's ice hockey team added another first to its list of season accomplishments, as it upset No. 1-ranked and previously undefeated RIT by the score of 2-1 for the biggest win in the program's history Saturday night in Rochester. Emi Williams came up big in goal for the Lakers, stopping 46 shots, while Olivia Boersen assisted the game's first goal and scored the eventual game-winner. Oswego State improved to 12-9-3 overall and 8-7-3 in the ECAC West with the victory. The Tigers fell to 21-1-2 on the season and 14-1-2 in the league.

Mackenzie Lee got the Lakers out to another quick start when she slid a shot between the legs of RIT goalie Laura Chamberlain at 2:13 after receiving a feed from Boersen on a 2-on-1 chance. Kathryn Sbrocchi also earned an assist on the goal, which was the lone score of the period as Oswego State carried the 1-0 lead into the locker room.

RIT dictated the tempo in the second period, outshooting the Lakers by a 13-3 margin, but Williams and the defense stood tall to preserve the slim advantage heading into the final 20 minutes of the game.

Oswego State doubled its lead at 3:45 when Boersen sent a centering pass from behind the net that careened off a Tiger defender's skate through the legs of Chamberlain. RIT's Katie Stack got the Tigers on the scoreboard when she pounded home a rebound on a RIT power play less than two minutes later. RIT went on to tally 20 shots in the period compared to three for the Lakers, but the Tigers were unable to get the puck past Williams for the upset victory despite pulling Chamberlain for the final 1:11.

After scoring two power-play goals on Friday night, RIT went 1-for-8 with the extra attacker, while Oswego State went 0-for-6. The Tigers finished the game with 47 shots on goal, and had another 30 shots blocked by the defense. RIT's Laura Chamberlain finished the game with eight saves.

The Lakers return to action for their regular season finale on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 3 p.m. versus Castleton State at the Campus Center Arena before beginning post-season play.

History has been made in Rochester on this night.

Peter Forsberg is Back in the NHL!

News came down today that Peter Forsberg is Back in the National Hockey League. Here is the story courtesy of NHL.COM:

Peter Forsberg is back with the Colorado Avalanche.

After practicing with the team Sunday morning at the South Suburban Family Sports Center, the 37-year-old forward said he is ready to resume his NHL career, and the Avalanche confirmed he signed a contract and traveled with the team to Phoenix, where Colorado opens a four-game road trip on Monday.

The deal is pro-rated for $1 million, quite a bargain for a former Art Ross and Hart Trophy winner.

Forsberg, who last played in the NHL with the Avalanche in 2008, skated with the team or on his own every day after arriving from his native Sweden on Jan. 21. He seemed frustrated with his troublesome right foot and ankle as recently as Wednesday, but on Sunday said he noticed a gradual and substantial improvement.

"It's been feeling better and better," said Forsberg, who helped the Avalanche win Stanley Cups in 1996 and 2001, and has remained a beloved figure among Colorado hockey fans. "The first couple of practices were tough. Guys were flying around you and I felt like I was 47 instead of 37. It might be the case when I get out playing, I don't know, but it has been feeling better and better and I came here to try and I want to play hockey. I love playing hockey. I'm not sure I’m going to be good. We’ll see when I get going.

"I'm 37 and those guys are 20, 25 and flying around me. Of course you’re going to be down because guys are fast and flying around you. I was a little down, thinking these guys are good, but the more I practice and the more I get to skate and the more I get to the tempo, it feels like maybe I can do it."

Forsberg said he decided before Sunday's practice to continue with his comeback and to speak with GM Greg Sherman about a contract if the session went well.

"Peter believes he can compete at the NHL level based on how his workouts went," Sherman said. "He will provide additional leadership to our club and he will have an impact with this young team."

Forsberg isn't expected to play Monday and he isn't sure when he'll be ready to suit up for a game. The Avalanche also will play Minnesota, Columbus and Nashville on the trip before returning home to meet Calgary on Feb. 14 at the Pepsi Center.

"I don't know how long before I can start playing," he said. "There are a few issues that have to be straightened out first. I'd like to play, but I'm not sure how it's going to go. I'm here, I came here to try and it's going pretty good. I'd like to start playing and see if I'm good enough."

Avalanche coach Joe Sacco said Forsberg's presence would provide a much-needed spark for a team that has lost five of its past six games and fallen into 12th place in the Western Conference with 30 regular-season games remaining.

"Definitely," Sacco said. "When he's available to us it will be a big boost for us emotionally and a big boost in our lineup. He has a strong history in our organization, but we're not doing it just for that reason. We're doing it because we really believe that he can help us here down the stretch in the last 30 games. We all know how tight the conference is and the importance of these games.

"Over the last couple of days having the opportunity to see him practice and see him get more comfortable out there and see the improvement he made each day, I was excited to hear his choice."

Sacco said it was too early to tell where and how he would use Forsberg, but he likely will skate at left wing. The Avalanche's top three centers are Paul Stastny, Matt Duchene and Ryan O'Reilly. O'Reilly, who had missed seven games because of a shoulder injury, practiced Sunday and is expected to play against the Coyotes.

"When the time comes for me to make those decisions, when I know he's going to be available to us, I'll make those decisions," Sacco said of Forsberg's role with the team. "My intention right now is to start him at wing. We know the type of player that he is and I know the situations he has to be in in order for our team to be successful."

Forsberg said he was relieved to have finally arrived at a decision after several stress-filled days wondering if he could actually play again.

"It's up and down in this game," he said. "The last couple of days have been horrible, actually. Going back and forth, not knowing, and it's going to be nerve-wracking before the first game. I'm not sure how it's going to go, if I'm going to be good or not, but I'd like to give it a shot."

Forsberg ranks fourth in Quebec/Colorado franchise history with 755 points (217 goals, 538 assists) in 589 regular-season games. He is second in franchise history in playoff scoring with 159 points (58 goals, 101 assists) in 140 games.

Overall, Forsberg has 249 goals and 636 assists in 706 regular-season games that included stints with Philadelphia and Nashville. He has 64 goals and 107 assists in 151 career playoff games.


This could be a huge pickup for the Avs. Peter Forsberg at one time in his career was considered the best player in the game. And at the time it was a valid argument. Look no further then the 2001-2002 season. That year he missed the entire regular season due to a foot injury only to come back for the playoffs and lead the Avs to Game 7 of the Western Conferance finals before losing to Detroit. That playoffs he lead the League in scoring, registering 27 Points in 20 Games. Now thats an impact!

Women's Ice Hockey Solidifies Playoff Spot With 3-1 Win Over Buffalo State

Three different players scored to help the Oswego State women's ice hockey team defeat Buffalo State, 3-1, during Pink at the Rink night on Friday at the Campus Center Arena. The Lakers outshoot the Bengals, 43-20, to gain the program's first 10-win season as they improved 10-8-3 overall and 6-6-3 in the ECAC West. Buffalo State fell to 7-12-0 overall and 3-10-0 in the league.

Oswego State applied pressure to the Bengal defense from the onset, as it registered 14 shots compared to five for the opposition. The aggressiveness resulted in the Lakers scoring two first-period goals. The first goal came off the stick of Kelly Collins after she received a pass from Olivia Boersen at 11:02. Before the end of the frame, Sarah Hannon gave Oswego State a two-goal lead with 49 seconds remaining. Assists were awarded to Kristin Metzger and Breanne Reith on the play.

The Lakers built a three-goal cushion early in the second period when Brenna Weber posted her second goal of the season a minute into an Oswego State power play at the 3:50 mark for the only score of the period. Kathryn Sbrocchi and Megan Howe were credited with helpers.

Buffalo State ended the shutout bid at 3:39 in the third period when Marissa McMullan tallied a power play goal, but the Bengals were unable to get any closer.

Oswego State goaltender Emi Williams registered 19 saves on 20 shots, while Alyssa Koniar finished with 40 saves.

Both squads will wrap up the series Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m., as it is also Senior Day for Oswego State. Coverage will begin at 2:30 with puck drop at 3 on WNYO 88.9 FM

(Story and Photo courtesy of Oswego State Sports Information_