OSWEGO, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's hockey team (6-0, 6-0 SUNYAC) is playing the best hockey it's played in some time. Going into the lion's or Lakers' den tonight against an Oswego State team (1-3-1, 1-3-1) that was coming off a tough loss to Plattsburgh and looking for revenge, the Bears had a tall task. Thanks to more superb goaltending by sophomore Brendan McMenimen (Merrimack, Mass./Islanders Hockey Club) and two more goals from senior captain Todd Thomas (Davidsville, Pa./Hartford Wolfpack) Potsdam defeated Oswego 4-1 on Saturday night. It's the second time the Bears have been 6-0 ever and the first time since 1995-96.

Oswego made things difficult for itself early on. Just 2:42 into the game, the Lakers were whistled for a high-sticking penalty. Eighty-one seconds later, freshman forward Tom Plese (Orange County, Calif./Salmon Arm Silverbacks) scored his first collegiate goal on the power play. Sophomore defenseman Sean Kacerosky (Kendall Park, N.J./New York Bobcats) recorded his first career point with an assist on the goal. The goal fired up the Lakers and they put intense pressure on Potsdam's defense and netminder. McMenimen stopped all 18 shots he faced in the first 20 minutes and the Bears led 1-0.

The middle stanza was the most evenly played, partially due to the three Potsdam penalties and four Oswego infractions. At the 8:38 mark, Thomas scored the eventual game winner, as he had against the Lakers last February, with assists from senior forward Jake Rivera (Pacific Palisades, Calif./Hartford Wolfpack) and sophomore forward Dylan Vander Esch (San Jose, Calif./Hartford Wolfpack). McMenimen turned aside 12 more shots to protect the 2-0 lead after 40 minutes.

Potsdam killed off a penalty early in the third period and 16 seconds later, Thomas gave the Bears some insurance. The goal chased goalie Justin Gilbert from the net. He was replaced by Adrian Ignagni. At 5:13, the Lakers finally cracked McMenimen as Andrew Barton struck to make it 3-1. Oswego's hope of rallying only lasted three minutes. At 8:14, the Lakers turned over the puck in front of the net and Vander Esch picked it up all alone. He moved right and cut left before backhanding the puck over Ignagni's right pad to make it 4-1. The frustrated Lakers then found themselves having to kill back-to-back penalties in the middle of the period, slimming any chance for a comeback. Two Potsdam penalties in the final six minutes allowed Oswego to pull Ignagni for much of the end of the game. However, the Lakers would not solve McMenimen again. The goalie stopped another 14 shots in the third period.

McMenimen finished with 44 saves, for a total of 91 on the weekend. Gilbert was tagged with the loss after stopping just 14 shots in 42:35. Ignagni made four saves on five shots in just 14 minutes.

At 6-0, Potsdam has more wins than any team in men's Division III ice hockey.

The Bears are now off until they head to fifth-ranked Plattsburgh next Saturday night. Potsdam has not beaten the Cardinals since Feb. 15, 2008 and hasn't won in Plattsburgh since Jan. 21, 2005.