OSWEGO, NY - The NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Tournament kicks off with a compelling first-round matchup between the SUNY Oswego Lakers and the Trine Thunder. Both teams enter the contest with something to prove, setting the stage for an intense showdown.

"Thank you to the community, fans and students for their support last Saturday and all year. Coming into the season with a young team we have progressed with each practice and game. We are proud of the accomplishment of winning the SUNYAC championship. We are extremely excited and grateful to have the opportunity to play in the National Tournament against Trine. Our focus is on executing our game plan and earning another week of practice with this group. We are excited to have the chance to represent our school and league on a national level." Assistant Captain Daniel Colabufo.

Oswego rides into the tournament with momentum, having secured their 11th SUNYAC championship behind a dominant 5-2 victory over Plattsburgh State. The Lakers have been an offensive powerhouse all season, averaging 4.37 goals per game while peppering opponents with nearly 38 shots per contest. Their depth has been a key factor, highlighted by three first team All-SUNYAC selections—Daniel Colabufo, Travis Baker, and Ryan Burke. Burke, along with Brandon Cohen and Nico Paone, also earned spots on the conference's All-Rookie Team. Cohen's standout play earned him SUNYAC Tournament MVP honors, while Baker was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year and Burke claimed Rookie of the Year recognition.

On the other side, Trine has put together a strong campaign, finishing with a 20-6-2 record and an impressive 12-4-2 mark in conference play. The Thunder have been virtually untouchable at home, posting a perfect 12-0-0 record in their own barn. Despite their regular-season success, Trine fell short in the NCHA Harris Cup semifinals, suffering a 6-1 loss to fifth-ranked St. Norbert. The Thunder are led by All-NCHA selection Sean Henry, while freshman standout Alexander Babich earned a spot on the league's All-Freshman Team.

This will be the first ever match-up between the Thunder and the Lakers. With Oswego's high-powered attack and Trine's disciplined play, this matchup has all the makings of a tightly contested battle. The stakes are high, and both teams will be looking to extend their postseason run with a statement win. Expect a fast-paced, physical clash as these two teams fight for a spot in the next round.

You can watch the Lakers take on Trine at the link below! The game will start at 7:00 PM.
https://www.ncaa.com/game/6385418

Tickets are available now but are running out fast! Click the link below to purchase!
https://trineutickets.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?id=1423