Whiteout 2018: Looking back on Oswego State’s hockey rivalry

OSWEGO, N.Y. — As SUNY Oswego prepares for its 11th annual men’s hockey whiteout game, Lakers’ coaches look back on where whiteout began.

Before whiteout existed, Lakers fans had another tradition – bagels.

“Every time Plattsburgh would come to Oswego, we would throw bagels on the ice, symbolizing feeding the Cardinals,” said hockey head coach Ed Gosek.

The doughy tradition continued for years until it got out of control and cost the Lakers the 2006 league championship game.

“One of our fans threw a bagel on the ice; our player picked it up and the referee assessed the penalty,” said Gosek. “Plattsburgh scored on that power play.”

The next year, the Lakers moved to a new home at Marano Campus Center. A new home meant it was time for a new tradition. White shirts and towels replaced the disposed bagels, and the new tradition quickly became the largest regular season game of the year.

“It makes a good atmosphere for the team, a good atmosphere for the students themselves,” said assistant coach Mark Digby. “What other college around here has an event that really everybody gets behind?”

Tickets to the game are sold out. The Marano Campus Center arena will be full of more than 2500 students and fans.