KC Photo Video
2023 Potsdam State Bears
#9 Oswego State Lakers @ #15 Plattsburgh State Cardinals Comfort Inn Winter Classic January 7th 2023
The Oswego State Lakers would be crowned the 2023 Comfort Inn Complex Winter Classic champions. It would be time for the championship of the 40th annual Comfort Inn Winter Classic at the Ronald B Stafford Arena and it would feature the classic rivalry this time with both of them ranked in the top 15 as the #15 Plattsburgh State Cardinals would host the #9 Oswego State Lakers. The game would start off great for the home Cardinals as they would score just 1:46 into the game on the breakaway goal from Adam Tretowicz. The Lakers would fight back and tie the game on the powerplay goal from Daniel Colabufo at the 13:47 mark of the period. Then with 34 seconds left in the first, the Laker's powerplay would strike again this time from Quinn Warmuth for the 2-1 lead. That would be all the scoring for the game but that would not be the whole story as the Cardinals would have there chances throughout the last two periods to tie the game but the Laker's defense would stand tall. With the win, the Lakers would be named the 40th annual Comfort Inn Complex Winter Classic champions as the Cardinals fall to 9-4-2 on the season in front of a crowd of 1384. The Cardinals will be back in action next weekend Gallery
NCAA Division III Men's Hockey Comfort Inn Winter Classic Consolation: Wentworth Leopards Vs Potsdam State Bears January 7th 2023
Wentworth's Jacob Shankar (19) with the hard hit on Potsdam State's Carter Lennon (4) in the corner as they battle for the puck in the corner. It would be the consolation game of the Comfort Inn Complex Winter Classic and would feature the Wentworth Leopards and the Potsdam State Bears. It would take a bit to get the game going but the Leopards would get the opening goal of the game at the 11:52 mark of the first period on the powerplay from Josh Faussett for the 1-0 lead. The game would stay there till just under five minutes left in the second period when the Leopards would strike again on the powerplay from Nikolas Sombrowski for the 2-0 lead. Then the Leopards would be looking to put the game away early in the third period with the powerplay with the goal by Nolan Lowe at 5:31 to make it 3-0 Leopards. although the Bears were not going to go out without a swing as they would score 56 seconds later from Ryan Mahlmeister to make it 3-1. With 7:54 left in the game, the Leopards would regain the three-goal lead at 4-1 on goal by Jacob Shankar. Although again the Bears would strike right back 37 seconds later on a goal by Michael McArthur to make it a two-goal game again at 4-2. The Bears would keep fighting and with just over five minutes left in the game they would make it a one-goal game on the powerplay goal from Drew Rose. That would end the comeback attempt by the Bears though although not without chances down the stretch including a 6x4 in the final minute that they could not find the equalizer on. In the winning effort, Jack McGovern would make 24 saves on the afternoon as the Leopards go to 3-9-1 on the season the Bears fall to 4-11-1. Gallery
Potsdam State's Justin Vernace (19) shoulders George Weiner (8) into the glass as they go after the puck behind the night. Gallery
Potsdam State Bears Vs #9 Oswego State Lakers Comfort Inn Winter Classic January 6th 2023
Oswego State's Cal Schell (30) with the save in the shootout on Potsdam State's Carter Lennon (4) to secure there spot in the championship. It would be the opening game of the 40th Comfort Inn Complex Winter Classic as the Potsdam State Bears and #9 Oswego State Lakers would face off. The upset-minded Bears would get the first goal of the game just 5:24 in from Jack Bloem to take the 1-0 lead. That is where the game would stand till the 5:31 mark of the second period when the Bears would double their lead at 2-0 on the Justin Vernace goal. The Lakers would finally have an answer at the 8:30 mark of the period on the Connor Sleeth goal to make it a 2-1 game. Although just 90 seconds later the Bears would regain their two-goal lead on the Josh Bifolch goal at 3-1. Although the Lakers would come back on the powerplay about three minutes later and make it a one-goal game again. That is where the game would stay till about the 11:30 mark of the third period when Shane Bull would score for the Lakers and tie the game at three. That would be where the game would officially end as there was no scoring the rest of the period or in overtime but because of the tourney they would go to the shootout to decide it and the Lakers would win 2-0. So with that, the Lakers would advance to the finals of the Comfort Inn Complex Winter Classic. Gallery
