The Oswego Lakers men’s hockey team welcomed 12 new recruits this season and each player brings a unique skill set that the coaching staff felt could benefit the team.

With a combination of freshmen coming in from junior hockey and transfers from other college programs, each player has plenty of in-game experience that should transfer into being a successful Div. III hockey player.

Here is a first-hand look head coach Ed Gosek gave on each incoming Oswego State player.  

Josh Zizek

According to Gosek, Zizek has a great compete level and is good in the classroom to go along with a skill set that should translate to the Div. III level. Zizek also has been one recruit the Lakers have been trying to land for quite some time.

“He’s a kid we started watching early on and over a two-year process,” Gosek said. “Nothing developed for him at the Div. I level and he liked what we have going on here.”

Jody Sullivan

“[Sullivan is] a little more of a grinder, hard-nosed kid. Going to go to the net a lot and get his nose dirty,” Gosek said.

Sullivan also has a good shot that could help him put up major points in the future after scoring 31 goals in the CCHL last year.

Aaron Huffnagle

A physical forward, he gives the Lakers a big two-way presence all over the ice.

“I think he’s going to be more of a playmaker than a goal scorer, but he wins an awful lot of battles down low,” Gosek said. “He’s not going to wow anybody with his skating, but he’s quietly effective.”

Charlie Pelnik

Pelnik has made a big impression in the early going. His big body and reach have impressed the coaching staff thus far in practice.

“He’s got a big upside, obviously he’s got reach and his size,” Gosek said. “He’s difficult to play against in practice, especially in 1-on-1 situations. I think he’s good at creating turnovers in our own end below the dots. He’s a big body, when he leans on you, it’s tough to get out of his reach.”

Mitch Emerson

The coaching staff views Emerson as a solid two-way forward who plays a reliable 200-foot game.

“He’s not going to blow anyone away with anything, but he does everything well,” Gosek said. “He’s got to get a little quicker, but the skill set is there,” Gosek said.

Emerson totaled 55 points in 51 games last year in juniors. 

Tyson Bruce

Gosek loves the talent he sees in Bruce, but is concerned about getting the forward’s motor at top speed. He also admits adapting him to Div. III level and getting him game ready is “a little bit of a process right now,” Gosek said.

“He’s got good hockey sense,” Gosek said. “He’s a smart player, he thinks [over] the game well. I see him at some point as a power play guy because of his ability to shoot the puck and the accuracy with which he could shoot.”

Eric Lipa

Lipa’s multi-faceted game was the biggest reason Gosek wanted to bring him in. He brings a versatile skill set on offense that covers all ends of the ice and sees him as a staple in the Lakers’ lineup eventually.

“[Lipa is] just a high energy kid,” Gosek said. “When you put him on a line with better players I think his upside increases, he’s got good speed, he can play on the perimeter, he can play a power forward role, penalty kill or powerplay. He’s got a high hockey IQ from what we can see early on here. He doesn’t cheat the game. I think he’ll have a great career here.”

Chris MacMillan

MacMillan is a four-year junior player and brings tons of valuable experience in every situation imaginable on the ice.

“He can quarterback your power play, or he can penalty kill,” Gosek said. “He can be a stay at home [defenseman], he can be an offensive [defenseman]. I think his ability to have multiple dimensions is what we like most about him. He’s got a good hockey IQ, he makes good decisions with the puck, plays a physical game and can join the rush offensively. Once he gets bigger and stronger and fills out we think he’s going to be one hell of a defenseman.”

Joey Scorpio

Scorpio is one of the smaller guys on the team, but is also one of the fastest, if not the fastest. He has a good blueprint in Kenny Neil to follow as a smaller forward in a Laker uniform, Gosek said.

“Obviously he’s got to get stronger,” Gosek said. “He’s got to fill out, but if he learns to use his quickness and his agility for puck protection, he’s a kid that we think can play valuable minutes for us.”

Joey Rutkowski

Even though he is a smaller player on the back end, his laser of a shot and willingness to throw the body makes him stand out to the coaching staff.

“Quick, agile, and shows us his physical presence,” Gosek said. “He rides guys out using his speed and quickness. We see him as a power play type guy. He doesn’t shy away from the competition even though he’s not the biggest guy.”

Cedric Hansen

“I thought he mentally gathered himself up and got his focus back. I thought for him that was a big plus for a young kid in this environment,” Gosek said on Hansen’s performance after allowing one goal in Saturday’s exhibition game against the CCHL All-Graduate team.

Hansen seems to be the third string goalie this year, but showed promise in his one-period audition.

David Jacobson

“He gave out a few rebounds, but the rebounds were under control to the corners,” Gosek said. “So I thought that was a positive for him.”

Jacobson showed the ability to battle through screens and was very agile in the crease, making last-second adjustments. He plays angles well and plays the percentages to make saves.

This year’s large recruiting class figures to have a major impact on this season and beyond, as they carry the Oswego State men’s ice hockey program into the future and back to SUNYAC supremacy.