OSWEGO, N.Y. – The No. 4 Oswego State men's ice hockey team will host its 12^th PathFinder Bank Hockey Classic on Friday and Saturday at the Marano Campus Center Arena. This year, the Lakers host No. 7 Hobart College, Manhattanville College and Skidmore College.

In the past 11 years that the Lakers have hosted the classic, they have emerged victorious seven times. The first season that Oswego hosted the tournament (2006-07) the Lakers not only won the tournament title, but the title of NCAA Champion as well. The trend continued the next season when tournament victor St. Norbert went on to win the NCAA Championship. Eight out of the 11 winners of the PathFinder Classic went on to compete in the NCAA Championship that year.

The Lakers have had seven players named the classic MVP. Mitch Herlihey, who is currently a senior, earned the MVP honor when the Lakers won in 2014-15. Herlihey notched a goal and two assists in Oswego's 5-2 victory over Nazareth College in the championship.

This year, Oswego enters the classic with a 9-2-1 record, and will look to keep its perfect 5-0-0 home record intact as it faces Skidmore on Friday night and Hobart or Manhattanville on Saturday night. The Lakers currently rank 12^th in the nation in both offense and defense. Offensively, the Lakers are averaging 3.83 goals per game. Josh Zizek leads the team with eight goals and 10 assists this season. The sophomore has scored four power-play goals, putting him in a tie for ninth place in the country.

Defensively, the Lakers have allowed an average of 2.00 goals per game. Sophomores Cedric Hansen and David Richer have split the duties in goal this season, each playing six games for Oswego. Richer, who has not taken a loss yet this season, ranks 15^th in the country, allowing an average of 1.81 goals per game. Hansen's average of 2.17 goals allowed per game puts him in 35^th.

At 7 p.m. on Friday, the Lakers will face off against Skidmore. The Thoroughbreds enter the classic at 1-11-1 this season. Skidmore's lone win came 3-2 against Fredonia on Nov. 25, as it hosted its Thanksgiving invitational. The Thoroughbreds are dealing with a challenging schedule, with over half of their opponents in their first 13 games ranked in the top 15 in the USCHO poll.

Two of Skidmore's losses have come against conference rival Hobart. The Statesmen, who are coming off of a 5-1 win over Connecticut College on Dec. 30, will open up play at the classic when they take on Manhattanville at 4 p.m. on Friday. They enter the competition with an 8-2-3 record. Hobart has been particularly impressive defensively this season, ranked 10^th in the country with only 1.92 goals allowed per game. Goalie Alexander Connal, who has played in seven games for the Statesmen, is 11^th in the nation with a 1.70 goals-against average.

The Statesmen's first opponent, Manhattanville, is another top defensive team. The Valiants, who carry a 6-4-2 record this season, have allowed an average of 2.08 goals per game. Goalie Tyler Feaver has a1.87 goals-against average in ten games for the Valiants, good for the 19^th spot in the nation. Classmate Matt Lippa leads Manhattanville with 14 points this season, with half coming off goals and the others coming off assists.

Oswego looks to claim its second-straight PathFinder Bank Holiday Classic title this weekend. For more information, visit the TOURNAMENT PAGE.