OSWEGO, N.Y. – The nationally-ranked Oswego State men’s ice hockey team hosts Brockport at 7 p.m. on Friday in the Marano Campus Center Arena. Friday marks the third-annual “Teddy Bear Toss,” with joint efforts from the Lakers, the community and Toys for Tots.
Fans are encouraged to bring teddy bears and/or stuffed animals to the game and toss them on the ice after the Lakers score their first goal. The stuffed animals will be collected for Toys for Tots and distributed to children throughout Oswego County for the holidays. There will also be stuffed animals available for donation at the Toys for Tots table.
Both the men’s and women’s ice hockey teams will also be collecting canned goods and toys prior to their games this weekend. Women’s ice hockey hosts Plattsburgh at 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The donations are part of both teams’ annual campaign to help the United Way/SEFA.
The men’s ice hockey team was victorious in last season’s “Teddy Bear Toss,” defeating Brockport 3-0. Cameron Berry’s second-period goal, assisted by Aaron Huffnagle and Chris MacMillan, ignited the second-annual toss. A total of 736 stuffed animals rained down onto the ice and were collected and distributed throughout the county last year.
That win is part of an ongoing eight-game win streak Oswego has compiled against the Golden Eagles, dating back to 2015. In those eight victories, the Lakers have outscored Brockport 40-7.
Oswego is coming off a 4-1 victory over conference foe Buffalo State, a game in which Joseph Molinaro netted a hat trick. The junior’s effort put him into a tie for first on the team in goals (3), along with Josh Zizek and Travis Broughman. The latter recorded an assist on Molinaro’s second goal, increasing his team-leading points to seven.
Both teams have started the season hot, with each suffering just one loss thus far. Despite having just one loss apiece, each were at the hands of Fredonia. With Oswego’s 4-1-0 overall record, the Lakers remained at the No. 6 spot in USCHO’s ranking while moving up two spots to No. 8 in the D3hockey.com poll. Brockport also appears in both national polls, aided by a 7-1-1 mark, receiving eight votes by USCHO and five from D3hockey.
