Laker hockey season review

    St. Norbert's Cody Keefer ended the Oswego State men's ice hockey team's season on a goal with 39 seconds remaining in the NCAA semifinals to send the Green Knights to the title game and the Lakers home.

    Despite the semi-final loss, the Lakers have had a memorable season after losing 13 seniors a year ago. Oswego State finished with a 26-3-0 overall record and spent a majority of the season a top the USCHO.com men's ice hockey poll.

    The Lakers nearly ran the table in the SUNYAC, finishing 15-1-0 after losing to SUNY Geneseo in their SUNYAC finale. The SUNYAC proved to be a strong conference this season, compiling the third highest winning percentage in inter-conference play. In 83 games against teams from other conferences, the SUNYAC finished 46-31-6 for a .590 winning percentage. Only the NESCAC (.667 winning percentage) and the NCHA (.745 winning percentage) had higher winning percentages.

    Home ice proved to be an advantage for the Lakers this season, finishing a perfect 17-0-0 at the Campus Center Ice Arena. The Lakers defeated nationally-ranked Elmira College (twice), SUNY Plattsburgh, Adrian College and Bowdoin College, Hobart College and Utica College at home this season. Oswego State finished undefeated for the first time since before the 1999 season. The Oswego State fans played a large part in the Lakers success on their home ice. The Lakers finished second in attendence this season with an average attendence of 2,313 fans per game. Only Utica College at 2,791 fans per game had more fans attend each game.

    This season marked the first time the Lakers defeated arch rival Plattsburgh since 2006. Oswego State swept both the regular season series and the season series against the Cardinals, winning all three matches this season. The Lakers defeated Plattsburgh, 5-2, on Saturday, Nov. 7 in Plattsburgh and defeated Plattsburgh, 3-2, Saturday, Jan. 30 in Oswego. The Lakers claimed the SUNYAC title after defeating the Cardinals for the third time this season, 6-3, on Saturday, March 6 in the SUNYAC final at Oswego. The perfect season against the Cardinals was the first under head coach Ed Gosek.

    The Lakers won their 8th SUNYAC title in program history and appeared in their 11th NCAA tournament, reaching their fourth Frozen Four.

    Sophomore forward Eric Selleck tied for the division lead in scoring with 54 points. In 28 games this season, Selleck netted 21 goals and added 33 assists. Selleck's 33 assists was second in Division III. In recognition of his achievements on the ice this season, Selleck was named a 2010 RBK Hockey Division III All-America East First Team honoree. Selleck finished runner-up for the 2010 Sid Watson Award, symbolizing the nation's best Division III hockey player. In SUNYAC play, Selleck led the conference in scoring with 39 points on 14 goals and 25 assists. He was awarded the Herb Hammond Most Valuable Player and was named First Team All-SUNYAC.

    Selleck's linemates, junior forwards Chris Laganiere and Justin Fox, helped create perhaps the best line in Division III hockey this season. Fox and Laganiere finished tied for fifth in Division III scoring with 46 points. Fox registered 14 goals and 32 assists while Laganiere scored 16 goals and added 30 assists. Laganiere was second in the SUNYAC in scoring with 30 points on 14 goals and 16 assists. Fox finished fourth in the SUNYAC in scoring despite missing two games with a shoulder injury. Fox registered five goals and 22 assists for 27 points.

    Perhaps the most notable player on the Lakers roster this season was senior forward and assistant captain Neil Musselwhite, who netted a natural shorthanded hat trick against SUNY Brockport this season. Musselwhite led the entire NCAA in shorthanded goals with six. He was third in Division III in goals with 23.

    Heading into the season, one of the key conerns was the goalie situation. Sophomore goalie Paul Beckwith started the season in net, but was not able to play against SUNY Potsdam and Plattsburgh when he became ill. Senior goalie Kyle Gunn-Taylor stepped in and solidified the starting job, finishing the season with an 18-2-0 record. Gunn-Taylor finished 8th in Division III in goals against average at 2.10 goals per game. Gunn-Taylor helped lead the Lakers to the fourth-ranked defense, allowing 2.03 goals per game.

    The Lakers offense was one of the best in Division III all season, finishing second in team offense with 5.31 goals per game. Only Adrian College at 6.71 goals per game had a higher scoring average this season. The third period was the Lakers most dominate, outscoring opponents 61-21. In the second period, the Lakers outscored opponents 55-18. The first period was the Lakers least productive period, outscoring opponents 38-20.

    The power play unit ranked sixth with a 24.4 percent success rate. The Lakers averaged 5.8 power play chances per game. Laganiere led the team in power-play goals with seven, while Selleck and sophomore defenseman Stephen Mallaro each scored six.

    The Lakers ranked 33rd in penalty minutes per game with 16.97. For the season, Oswego State committed 205 penalties for a total of 492 penalty minutes. The team's penalty kill ranked 11th with a 86.3 percent success rate. The Lakers killed off 139 of 161 power play opportunities by opponents. While on the penalty kill, the Lakers scored seven shorthanded goals, ranking 5th in Division III. Musselwhite netted six shorthanded goals and junior defenseman Kevin Huinink netted the other.

    A 12 freshmen lineup seemed to signify a rebuilding year for the Lakers, but the freshmen matured much quicker than anyone would have thought. Freshman forward Jon Whitelaw led the team in freshmen scoring with 38 points on 12 points and 26 assists. Whitelaw was named SUNYAC Rookie of the Year after leading all SUNYAC freshmen in scoring with 22 points. Freshman forwards Luke Moodie and Paul Rodrigues were second on the team in freshman scoring with 25 points. Moodie netted 13 goals and 12 assists while Rodrigues scored seven goals and added 18 assists. 

    The 2009-10 season was the most successful in Laker history in terms of winning percentage (.897) . Prior to this season, the team's highest winning percentage was set back in the 1980-81 season when the team compiled a .883 winning percentage with a record of 26-3-1.

    Next season, the team will return 24 of 28 players. The team will lose Musselwhite, Gunn-Taylor, senior forward and assistant captain Brad Dormiedy and senior defenseman and captain Tyler Lyon to graduation. In terms of production, the team will lose 33 goals and 45 assists of offense. What the team will miss most of the four seniors is their leadership ability on and off the ice.

-Mike Kraft