PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men’s hockey team travels to Oswego State with its sights set on its 21^st State University of New York Athletic Conference Title. The 2012 conference champion will be crowned at the Campus Center Ice Arena Saturday night, with the finals beginning at 7 p.m.
 
Fans who are unable to make the trip to Oswego will have numerous ways to follow the Cardinals:

• Live Audio – Courtesy of WIRY 1340 AM
• Live Video – Courtesy of WTOP-10 TV SUNY Oswego
• Live Stats
• Time Warner Cable Ch. 1027 (This option is only available to Time Warner Customers and is not available in the immediate Plattsburgh area.)
• Viewing Party – Sponsored by the Plattsburgh Hard Hattians and the Athletics Committee. Viewing begins at 6 p.m. in the Alumni Lounge of the Angell College Center on the campus of SUNY Plattsburgh. All are welcome!

 
How They Got Here
 
As the top two teams in the tournament, both received first-round byes. Plattsburgh secured its spot in the championship game after defeating No. 3-seed Buffalo State, 4-3, in triple overtime in the SUNYAC semifinals. With the win, the Cardinals improve to 18-4-4. Top-seeded Oswego defeated No. 5 Fredonia, 8-3, last weekend and comes into the title game with a 22-2-2 record overall.
 
Tournament History

• The Cardinals are making their 21^st straight trip to the championship game. This is also their 22^nd appearance in the tournament under Head Coach Bob Emery.
• It is the 15^th finals appearance for Oswego and fourth in the last five years.
• Plattsburgh’s 20 titles are 12 more than Oswego, whose eight championships rank second in SUNYAC history.
• Oswego and Plattsburgh have met 11 times in the finals with Plattsburgh winning the title in nine of those meetings.
• Plattsburgh owns a 19-4 record against Oswego in the SUNYAC Tournament.

 
Scouting Reports
 
Plattsburgh State Cardinals

Much of the Cardinals’ success this season can be attributed to an emphasis on team defense and a balanced scoring attack. Kyle Kudroch is the only player with 20+ points, leading the team with nine goals and 13 assists. Despite missing eight games at the start of the season, Jared Docking has also proven to be a catalyst with 12 assists and 18 points. Contributions from the freshman class have also been crucial this season as Jake Mooney leads all Cardinal rookies with 16 points.
 
All-SUNYAC defenseman Mike Grace has appeared in all 26 games for Plattsburgh thus far, helping the Cardinal defense hold its opponents to 1.96 goals per game. Mathieu Cadieux assumed primary goaltending duties midseason and has provided the team with a solid presence between the pipes. Cadieux comes into the weekend with a 15-4-3 record. His 1.79 goals against average is sixth in the country.
 
While the Plattsburgh power-play has struggled at times throughout the season (17.7 percent), the penalty kill has been outstanding. The Cardinals’ boast the top penalty-kill unit in the country at 93 percent, killing 80 of 86 penalties.
 
The last time the Cardinals earned a victory against Oswego was in the SUNYAC Championship game in 2009 when Plattsburgh skated to a 5-4 overtime win.
 
Oswego State Lakers
 
The Lakers come into the SUNYAC finals riding a 12-game unbeaten streak and have had no trouble scoring goals. Oswego has the nation’s top-ranked offense, scoring 4.77 goals per game and 124 on the year. Three players have scored 30 or more points with Jon Whitelaw leading the way with 18 goals and 39 points. Paul Rodrigues follows with 35 points and a team-leading 22 assists.
 
After goaltender Paul Beckwith suffered an injury in the first game of the season, Andrew Hare stepped in and hasn’t missed a beat. Hare has a 19-2-2 record and his 1.71 goals against average is tops in the conference and third in the country.
 
It has not been easy for opponents as the Lakers have held teams to 1.77 goals per game. Defensemen Jesse McConney and Zack Josepher have made their presence felt beyond the blueline scoring 21 points apiece. Josepher added three points in the semifinal game last Saturday to help Oswego advance.
 
The Lakers finished the regular season unbeaten in conference play with a 14-0-2 record. Oswego is also unbeaten in its last seven meetings with Plattsburgh.