For Immediate Release: October 16, 2003

Contact: Chris Gondek, SUNYAC Publicist

SUNYAC Coaches Pick Oswego to Win 2004 Ice Hockey Championship

FREDONIA, NY – The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) men’s ice hockey coaches have picked Oswego to win the conference championship for the second year in a row. The Lakers received 49 points, garnering seven of the eight first-place votes.

            First-year Head Coach Ed Gosek will guide the Lakers this season after serving as an assistant coach on the team for 13 years. Last year, the Lakers finished 25-7-1 overall, 10-3-1 in the SUNYAC and advanced to the Division III NCAA Championship game where they dropped a 2-1 decision to Norwich University. The Lakers return a solid core of talented players from last year’s squad and will look to improve upon last year’s NCAA runner-up finish.

            Plattsburgh finished second in the coaches’ poll, receiving one first-place vote and 43 points. Bob Emery’s Cardinals will attempt to dethrone the defending champions and reclaim the SUNYAC title they held from 1997-2002. Last year, Oswego ended Plattsburgh’s season in the SUNYAC Championship, winning the third and deciding game of the series.

            Geneseo was selected third with 37 points and Potsdam was fourth with 29 points. Both teams finished 7-6-1 in the conference last year and battled in the SUNYAC Play-In where the Bears eliminated the Knights in two games.
The SUNYAC season kicks off Halloween night with Brockport hosting Geneseo.

2003-04 SUNYAC Ice Hockey Pre-Season Poll

1.         Oswego          49 (7)

2.        Plattsburgh     43 (1)
3.         Geneseo           37
4.         Potsdam           29

5.         Fredonia           27
6.         Buffalo St.        18

7.         Cortland           12

8.         Brockport          9