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The Oswego State athletics
department announced the Pathfinder Bank Oswego
Hockey Classic, which will feature four of the
best teams in NCAA Division III men's hockey at
the Campus Center hockey arena December 29 and
30. Pictured from left to right are Oswego State
men's ice hockey head coach Ed
Gosek ’83, M ’01,
Shane Broadwell of the Best Western Captain's
Quarters and Econo Lodge Inn & Suites, Pathfinder
Bank President and CEO Tom Schneider, Oswego State
Athletic Director Timothy G. Hale, and Oswego
State Blueline Club president Mike
Cullinan ’79
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The Oswego State men's hockey team will showcase the
new Campus Center hockey arena when it hosts three of
the nation's best Division III college hockey teams
Dec. 29 and 30 in the Pathfinder Bank Oswego Hockey
Classic.
The Lakers will welcome Elmira, New England College,
and St. Thomas to the newly opened Campus Center hockey
arena, one of the finest college hockey facilities in
Division III with a seating capacity of 2,540.
Oswego State has established itself as one of the premier
programs in Division III hockey. The two-time defending
SUNYAC regular season champions were ranked in the top-15
nationally for every poll released in the 2005-06 season
and were among the top five teams for most of those
weeks. The Lakers finished the season with an 18-7-2
overall record and return the majority of the lineup,
including All-American and SUNYAC Player of the Year
Ryan Woodward ’07.
Three accomplished opponents will join Oswego State
for the Pathfinder Bank Oswego Hockey Classic. Each
of the teams has participated in the NCAA Division III
Men's Frozen Four within the last four seasons. The
opening-round games on Dec. 29 will match Elmira against
St. Thomas at 4 p.m. and Oswego State against New England
College at 7 p.m. The Dec. 30 schedule features the
championship game at 7 p.m., preceded by a 4 p.m. consolation
game.
"The Campus Center gives us an opportunity to host
an event of this magnitude and we are excited to bring
in traditionally strong programs for a tournament that
will help promote hockey on this campus and in this
community," Laker coach Ed
Gosek ’83, M ’01 said. "Oswego
State hosted an invitational tournament many years ago
and we're happy to be able to continue that tradition.
We intend for the Pathfinder Bank Oswego Hockey Classic
to be one of the finest events of its type in the country
and are working with the community and sponsors to ensure
its success."
Pathfinder Bank is one of the sponsors that has taken
on a vital role in supporting this tournament as the
title sponsor.
"Pathfinder Bank is pleased to partner with Oswego
State in this inaugural Oswego Hockey Classic in the
beautiful Campus Center hockey arena," Pathfinder
Bank President/CEO Tom Schneider said. "The college,
its students, and athletics play a vital role in the
economic vitality of our community. We are excited to
be a part of that growth."
Two Oswego hotels, the Best Western Captain's Quarters
and Econo Lodge Inn & Suites will serve as the official
host hotels for the event and will provide lodging for
the visiting teams from Minnesota and New Hampshire.
"We're very excited to have this tournament in
Oswego on the Oswego State campus. It's great to be
a part of helping to get things going in this inaugural
event," Shane Broadwell, a representative of the
host hotels, said. "We're excited to see what a
facility like this could bring to the community in the
future."
Traditional Laker rival Elmira College finished the
2005-06 season with a record of 18-9-2 and finished
third in the ECAC West. The Soaring Eagles qualified
for the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Frozen Four.
Elmira head coach Tim Ceglarski is excited about playing
high-level competition at the holiday tournament.
"It's a great opportunity for all four teams and
we are really happy to be playing at this exciting event,"
Ceglarski said.
New England College, located in Henniker, N.H. ended
last season with a record of 19-6-3 and finished third
in the ECAC East. Pilgrims head coach Tom Carroll said,
"The tournament is going to be great. We are really
excited. It's four good teams and we’re happy
to be a part of it."
The University of St. Thomas, located in St. Paul, Minn.,
finished with a 17-9-1 (.648) record and first place
in the MIAC. St. Thomas was the runner up in the 2005
national championship game.
— Joe Gladziszewski |
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