Phone: (716) 673-3105
Fax: (716) 673-3135
Web: www.sunyac.com
Email: sunyac@netsync.net
For Immediate Release: March 3, 2004
Contact: Chris Gondek, SUNYAC Publicist
Oswego,
Plattsburgh meet in finals for third straight year
FREDONIA, N.Y. - For the past two seasons, not much has separated
the Plattsburgh State and Oswego State men's ice hockey teams. In 2002, the
Cardinals edged the Lakers 2-1 in game three after 2-2 and 3-3 ties to win
the conference title. Last year, Oswego wore the crown beating the Cardinals
5-3 in the decisive game three after the teams split the first two contests.
This year should be no different. The anticipated Plattsburgh-Oswego showdown
is set for this weekend at Stafford Ice Arena in Plattsburgh, NY on Friday
and Saturday, Mar. 5-6 at 7:00 p.m. If the teams split or tie both games,
a third game will be played Sunday, Mar. 7 at 3:30 p.m. to determine the champion.
The Cardinals are making their thirteenth consecutive trip to the SUNYAC Championship.
Last year, the Cardinals were forced to be on the road for the finals which
proved to be costly as they lost to the eventual champion Lakers. Needless
to say, the Cards are glad to be home. Since the SUNYAC moved to a two-game
format in 1993, Plattsburgh has won five of the six championship series it
has hosted and is 16-1 at home in overall SUNYAC series compiling a 27-3-6
record in those games. The Cards, after struggling for a portion of the season
with goal-scoring, have had success in putting the puck away thus far in the
post-season scoring 16 times in last weekend's semifinal series with Fredonia.
Senior Dave Friel (Mississauga, ONT/Streetsville Derbys) and freshman
Justin Joy (Norfolk/Cornwall Colts) have led the way for Plattsburgh
with three goals each. Plattsburgh will also rely on the play of First Team
All-SUNYAC Goaltender Craig Neilson (Markham, ONT/Ajax Axemen) who
has been solid all year.
The Lakers are peeking at the right time and are playing perhaps their best
hockey of the season. It took a first- round 5-4 overtime scare from Cortland
to get the Lakers going. Since that game, they defeated Cortland 9-2 and beat
second-seeded Potsdam, a team that swept them in the regular season, 6-3 and
8-2. The Lakers won 12 straight games to open the season before a 5-4 setback
to the Cardinals sent them on a four-game losing streak. Since a 3-2 setback
to RIT, the Lakers are 9-2 with only back-to-back losses to Plattsburgh and
Potsdam on Feb. 13-14. Oswego juniors Andy Rozak (Mississauga, ONT/Milton
Merchants) and Don Patrick (Fulton/Texas Tornado) lead the Lakers
in the post-season with eight points apiece. Senior Mike Lukajic (Mississauga,
ONT/Oakville Blades), and junior Sean Kotary (New Hartford/Des Moines
Buccaneers) each have six.
This weekend, Plattsburgh is looking for its seventh title in the last eight
years and 17th since 1978. Oswego hopes to defend last year's crown and collect
its eighth SUNYAC title.
-end-