The Oswego State men’s hockey team is coming off a down year with a record of 14-11-2. The team finished their season with a 4-3 overtime loss to SUNY Plattsburgh in the semifinals of the SUNYAC playoffs.
This year’s team is coming in with a chip on their shoulder to prove last year was a fluke. With the Lakers being a perennial SUNYAC and NCAA powerhouse, a finish in the middle of the pack fell short of their expectations. There is a lot of pressure coming from coach Ed Gosek, his staff and the players to prove themselves.
The men’s hockey team is Oswego State’s biggest attraction when it comes to sports and their performances always have the campus buzzing. With last year’s disappointing results, the team knows from top to bottom that there must be improvement.
It is a priority for the team to achieve redemption, for themselves, the school and this year’s senior class who has under achieved compared to their predecessors.
With two excruciating losses to archrival SUNY Plattsburgh in the SUNYAC tournament the last two seasons, the biggest theme for the Lakers this year is retribution.
Through all these shortcomings, there is still some optimism coming from team through the confidence they have in themselves.
Gosek, who is entering his fourteenth year at the helm of the Lakers, knows what it takes to have a successful team on the shores of Lake Ontario.
The former NCAA champion coach has had a storied career to this point comes into this season reflecting on what brought this team into the current troubles they face, as well what they must do to get out of it.
“There’s lots of lessons you learn from. Fortunately, for us we learned when you have some adversity and from those lessons, from last year, you take it.” Gosek said. “Firstly, as a staff we self examine ourselves on how we do things, things that need to be changed with what we do.”
Accountability is huge for the Lakers this year, especially when it comes to the senior class who is coming off a down year and has so much to prove heading into their final season at Oswego State.
Last year saw a huge downward turn in offensive production for many forwards, especially senior star Shawn Hulshof, who is depended on as the offensive focal point for Oswego State.
The Stouffville, Ontario native saw his goal total dwindle from 20 during the 2014-15 season, to 11 last season. He has a point to prove for himself and will play a major role in the success of the team.
“Offensively, I don’t think we’re worried because we got a lot of guys that can score,” Hulshof said. “We still have a lot guys that could put the puck in the net for us, but last year seemed like one of those years that just didn’t win for us.”
Many of this year’s seniors saw a dip in production during their junior season’s, but there is much optimism in this year’s supporting cast, from both the upperclassmen and coaching staff, to help get the job done.
“We brought in a lot of guys who could put the puck in the net too, which is always nice.” Hulshof said.
This season’s new additions will be a major factor in how far the team is able to go in the season and will be depended on for success in all facets of the game.
Experience would tell me that our success would be based on our upperclassmen and what they bring,” Gosek said.
Incoming freshmen and transfers such as Jody Sullivan, a 5’11 forward coming from the Ottawa Jr. Senators, Nepean Raiders alum forward Josh Zizek and DIV.I Arizona State transfer goaltender David Jacobson.
These are just three of a large incoming class who figure to play significant roles in the upcoming season, and when paired with the returning talent, it figures to be a boon for the Lakers.
The team is returning 82 of their 85 goal scorers from last year and with the new additions coming from prestigious junior organizations and great college programs, there should be a great boost in the offensive zone, some solid patches to an always dependable defensive corps and an outstanding goaltending trio in incumbent starting senior Matt Zawadzki, freshman Cedric Hansen and Jacobson.
Goaltending figures to be a major strength of the Lakers this season, with the three heralded goaltenders all fighting for minutes in the crease. Zawadzki had a 2.14 GAA last season for Oswego State, Jacobsen brings seven starts of DIV. I experience and Hansen has a wealth of junior hockey under his belt from the Gloucester Rangers.
The 2016-17 season figures to see the Lakers take a step back towards SUNYAC prominence, with a group of motivated seniors and coaching staff pushing the talented new personnel.
