OSWEGO, N.Y. -- The No. 2/3 Oswego State men's ice hockey team will play a home-and-home series with SUNY Canton over the weekend, beginning with a 7 p.m. puck drop on Friday in the Marano Campus Center Arena. That game will also be Service Appreciation Night, where the Lakers will pay thanks to the branches of the United States Armed Forces.

Following a 1-1 week, Oswego earned the second spot in the latest D3hockey.com rankings – including two first-place votes – while sliding one spot to No. 3 in the USCHO.com poll. The Lakers will have a great opportunity to bounce back from a loss in their last game, as they have never lost a contest to the Kangaroos in five all-time meetings. Last season, Oswego downed Canton 3-2 on the road before returning home for a 4-0 win the next evening for Senior Night.

Oswego is currently led by two prolific point-scorers, as Shawn Hulshof (32) and Kenny Neil (31) rank inside the top 15 nationally in total points. Both Lakers get the lion's share of their points in the assist column, as each rank in the top-20 in the country for that category. Just outside that top-20 is defenseman Stephen Johnson, whose 18 assists is tied for 23rd nationally. As a team, Oswego ranks second in the country in team offense (4.76), seventh in power-play efficiency (.260) and 10th in team defense (2.10). Aiding in the defensive effort is senior goalie Matt Zawadzki, posting the sixth-best goals-against average in the country (1.72).

Prior to Friday's game, Oswego will honor Hometown Hero Tom Galloway during the ceremonial puck drop. The decorated staff sergeant is a lifelong resident of Oswego and served in the Army's 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team during the Korean War. Galloway was integral in the "Tree's for Vet's Program," that has produced more than 100 trees being planted along the sidewalks of Bridge Street with bronze plaques honoring veterans. The Oswego Veteran's Council named Galloway its "Veteran of the Year," which joins a myriad of other medals and citations from various groups.

Please join us in recognizing Tom Galloway and all of our military personnel at Friday's hockey tilt. Tickets are still available by visiting the box office, by phone at 315-312-3073 or online at tickets.oswego.edu.