Oswego State Men's Hockey Season Recap

For the 2012-13 Oswego State Men's Hockey team, the end goal for the 14 seniors on the team fell just short. A national championship was the final destination. The boys got to the championship but were sadly unable to bring home the title. However the season that lead up to the championship game will be one for the ages in the port city of Oswego.

For the second time in five years Oswego kicked off its season with an exhibition game against the USA Under 18 Team. Last time they played the USA won it in overtime 4-3. This year it was again in favor of the US but by a 2-0 score. The season kicked off offically with a two game homestand against Cortland (7-4 win) and Elmira (9-0 win). Chris Ayotte, Jon Whitelaw and Luke Moodie each had three points in the opening night win. With the win over Elmira, Andrew Hare made 26 saves for his first shutout of the year, Luke Moodie had a five point night and Paul Rodrigues netted four goals. Oswego closed out October with a 2-0 record.

So to the Month of November we go, and the Lakers started it off with a three game road trip, which began with a trip to Brockport and Geneseo. In Brockport, Zach Josepher and Luke Moodie handled the scoring and Andrew Hare made 20 saves for his 2nd straight shutout in the 2-0 win. The following night the Lakers offense EXPLODED during a 10-1 domination of the Ice Knights. Hare made 21 saves in the win and ten different guys scored goals. Every skater for Oswego except for Taylor Farris picked up at least one point that night. Oswego finished off the three game trip with a 5-1 win in Morrisville, with Matt Singelton figured in three of the five Laker goals. Oswego retu5rned home from their road trip to face a pretty tough five game homestand that started with a 5-4 win over Buffalo State, with Luke Moodie and Paul Rodrigues proving to be the hero's late in the game. The next night the Fredonia Blue Devils made the trip to the Campus Center and ran into a buzzsaw named Luke Moodie. Moodie recorded a hat trick, as Oswego rolled to a 7-1 victory. Moodie had a five point night whil Paul Rodrigues contributed a goal and five assists in the victory. After the Thanksgiving break, Oswego returned home for whiteout weekend when Potsdam and Plattsburgh made the trip to Oswego. The Lakers closed out the month of November with a sound 6-0 win over the Bears. Zach Josepher had a three point night and Andrew Hare made 30 saves in the shutout. Oswego closed out November perfect going 6-0 for the month and outscored their opponents 35-7 in November.

December kicked off with the biggest home game of the year, Whiteout night against rival Plattsburgh. This night, unlike the past few years, didn't go in Oswego's favor as the Cards handed them their first loss of the year, 2-1. Chris Muise scored the only goal for Oswego that night. Things didn't get any better the following week as Oswego closed out the five game homestand with a tough 3-2 loss to the Utica Pioneers. Kyle Badham and Paul Rodrigues scored the Oswego goals. Oswego closed out the first half of the season with a road game at Hobart. Oswego fought hard in this won and snapped the two game losing streak with a 3-2 overtime win. In the past Paul Rodrigues had been the overtime hero, but on this night in early December it was Chris Brown scoring the winner with less than a minute to go in the extra frame. Oswego closed out the 2012 portion of the season with the Pathfinder Bank Oswego Hockey Classic, a tournament held each year in Oswego. This year was the Lakers year as they won the whole thing beating Plymouth State 6-2 and then Lawrence 7-2 to capture the title.Chris Ayotte scored twice and Jon Whitelaw had a three point night in the win over Plymouth State. In the championship win over Lawrence, Jesse McConney lead the charge with four points. Oswego had closed out December with a 3-2 mark.

With the first half of the year behind them, Oswego kicked off the 2013 portion of the schedule with a two game road trip to Elmira and Utica. Oswego dominated Elmira to the tune of a 5-2 win, with Jon Whitelaw Paul Rodrigues and Luke Moodie each having two point nights. Next up was a game at the Aud in Utica and that didn't turn out so well for Oswego. Utica had won the first meeting back in Oswego in early December and things went south on them in Utica, as the Pioneers dominated Oswego to the tune of a 6-0 win. It marked the first time ever that Utica had swept the season series from Oswego. The Lakers returned home the following weekend to face former head coach George Roll and Nazareth. The Oswego faithful gave former coach Roll a nice ovation, but the game itself went in favor of Oswego, 4-1. Chris Brown scored a pair, while Paul Rodrigues and Chris Muise had two points each. Next up was a quick stop over in Cortland for the Lakers. Oswego kept the winning ways going with a 4-2 victory. The Chris Cubed line powered the offense that night, with Chris Ayotte scoring twice and Chris Brown and Chris Muise getting the assists on both goals. Following the Cortland game, Oswego embarked on a four game homestand to close out the home portion of the regular season. It started with an 8-0 win over Hamilton, which saw Andrew Hare make 18 saves in the shutout, Tyler Leimbrock scored twice and Moodie and Whitelaw had three points each. Oswego closed out January with home games against Brockport (5-1 win) and Geneseo (4-3 win). In the win over Brockport, Chris Muise had a goal and two assists and Zach Josepher chipped in two helpers. With the victory over Geneseo, David Titanic proved to be the hero late in the game, scoring the winner with a little less than five minutes to go in regulation. In the month of January Oswego posted a 7-1 record.

To February we go, and the first game of the month was Senior Night for the 14 seniors on this years hockey club and the Mustangs of Morrisville were the opponent. Jon Whitelaw, David Titanic and Luke Moodie scored for Oswego and Andrew Hare made 32 saves in the 3-2 win to close out the regular season on home ice. Oswego finished the year off with a four game road trip, that started with a 4-0 win at Buffalo State. Tyler Leimbrock, Chris Muise, Luke Moodie, and the first career goal for Bobby Gertzakis provided the offense, while Andrew Hare made 32 saves in the shutout win. Next up was the Fredonia Blue Devils and another win for Oswego, this time by a 3-2 score. Chris Muise scored once and Bobby Gertzakis scored a pair in the win. Oswego closed out the regular season with a trip to the North Country to take on Potsdam and rival Plattsburgh. With the game against Potsdam, it wasn't even close as Oswego rolled to a 10-0 victory, scoring seven goals in the first period. Oswego finished the regular season on a bit of a sour note as they fell to the Cardinals in Plattsburgh by a 4-3 score.

So with the regular season now over, a lot was taken care of. We had two new members of the 100 point club in school history in Luke Moodie and Paul Rodrigues. A new record was set for career shutouts and single season goals against average by Andrew Hare. The Pathfinder Bank title was back in Oswego as was the SNUYAC regular season title. That was all good, but the SUNYAC Championship was now the main focus.

Oswego opened the SUNYAC tournament with a home game against Buffalo State. The Bengals put up a good fight but Oswego came out on top with a 5-2 win. Luke Moodie scored once, while Chris Muise and David Titanic scored a pair each to provide the offense. So it was now set for a re-match with rival Plattsburgh for the SUNYAC crown. The Cardinals won it in Oswego last year and the Lakers were determined not to let that happen again this season. Oswego pressed hard all night and walked away the SUNYAC Champions after a convincing 4-0 win. Tyler Lemibrock, Jon Whitelaw and a pair from Luke Moodie provided the scoring punch needed to clinch the title.

So with the SUNYAC in the bag, it was time for the NCAA Tournament for the Division III Ice Hockey crown. Oswego had to do something they haven't done in a very long time, and that was go on the road for the opening round game of the tournament. Adrian provided the location and the opponent, as it was a rematch of the final four from 2010. This time Oswego would get the last laugh. Chris Muise got Oswego on the board first. But a pair of goals from the Bulldogs put Oswego in a hole. That was until Laker Captain Jon Whitelaw tied the game late in the 2nd to force overtime. And that is where Paul Rodrigues plays his best hockey. He didn't disappoint this night, as Rodrigues scored the game winner at the 13:32 mark to send Oswego to their fourth straight final four appearance.

Oswego made the trip to Lake Placid in hopes of bringing back a national championship. First up was the Cadets of Norwich. Norwich held it close through the first two periods, but Oswego proved to be the better team in the third and skated away with a 6-3 and a date the next night for a title. Paul Rodrigues, Tim Carr, Tyler Leimbrock, Matt Singelton, and a pair from Chris Muise powered Oswego to the title game.

So Oswego was set to play for a championship for the 2nd year in a row. This time the opponent was the Wisconsin Eau-Clair Bluegods. Oswego was in it most of the game, but seemed as if they ran out of gas, falling in the title game 5-3.

So with that being said, Oswego put up another incredible season. Thanks to WNYO Sports Director Mike Keeley for this, we have a video tribute package for the 2012-13 Oswego state Hockey Season. Enjoy!


So with the season over, it is the end of the careers for 14 outstanding hockey players. The members of the team who are leaving due to graduation are: Luke Moodie, Paul Rodrigues, Jon Whitelaw, Chris Brown, Chris Ayotte, Chris Muise, Tyler Leimbrock, Matt Singelton, Taylor Farris, Zach Josepher, Jesse McConney, Tim Carr, Dan Jones and Andrew hare. I personally have gotten to know a lot of these guys off the ice and it really is an honor to say that. I think I can speak for most Laker fans when i say this. Boys it was a hell of a run over the last four years, and for everything you guys have given us over that time I say THANK YOU. It has been a real pleasure.

That will do it for coverage of Oswego State Hockey for the summer. We will be returning with our coverage of the team once the season starts up again in October!