With the season just around the corner, Oswego State women’s hockey is hard at work, practicing for its first exhibition game next weekend. 

Head coach Mark Digby has been busy making sure his team is prepared when the season starts. He feels as though his team will be ready to go when it is time for them to get into real games after scrimmaging and a week of practice.    

The amount of time they have had before the season to play together has allowed them to learn more about each other and the play style that best suits the team.The preparation that needs to be done before this season is different then other seasons. It has been a long time since they have played together, and because of that, they need to work harder to get in sync with each other. Digby believes that his team will work on what is needed and will be prepared when the time comes to start the season. 

 “I think at this point our main goal is to try and establish our identity,” Digby said. “Practices have really been about trying to get the players to play the way we want them to play … I think it is exciting to see how that translates once we get into games.”

Digby needs to see how the team plays together. This Lakers squad consists of 16 freshmen and sophomores who have not played a minute of collegiate hockey. This young core needs to be able to prove themselves and show that they belong in the league. 

So far, Digby is happy with what he has seen. He believes that these young players are doing exactly what is expected of them, and they are meshing well with the veteran players on the roster. This team chemistry will be important when it is time for them to play meaningful games with one another.

“From the new players, both this year’s freshman class, and last year’s freshman class, they play the style that we are hoping to play,” Digby said. “They play an up tempo game, they are pretty gritty. It’s been fun so far to watch them acclimate themselves into college practices.”

Seniors Philomena Teggart and Aislinn McAleer are both important veteran leaders on the team. Even through the hiatus that did not allow them to practice or really be together at all, they both were able to keep the team in touch. They both believe that the team chemistry was already there, and that it has continued to grow as the start of the season draws near.

“The vibes are good,” Teggart said. “We can see the good chemistry everytime we go out on the ice to practice, everyone is in sync.”

Teggart and McAleer both know they have things they need to work on to improve on their own games as well as their team game. Teggart knows that one thing she needs to improve on for this season is her consistency. She knows that she needs to be able to put up consistent strong numbers in order to help lead her team to success.   

But for McAleer it is a little different. She believes she needs to improve as a leader for her teammates. This is in order for her to continue to help teach the younger players what the standards are for this team and what they are expected to be doing. It also helps to create stronger chemistry between the players as well as helping to keep the energy up. This is an important factor in a team’s success during the season. 

Teggart is an important player on Digby’s squad. In 2019, Teggart was third on the team with 21 points. She had a solid nine goals and 12 assists which made her one of the main pieces on the roster. Teggart is also a part of the teams defense so for her to be a big part of the team’s offense shows off her versatility and ability to move the puck around the ice. With her being able to cover both ends of the ice, it allows Digby to play around her strengths and create a play style that works for her, and for the rest of the team. 

It has been a tremendous amount of time since Digby and returning players have taken the ice and have heard their names called. In the 2019 season the Lakers 16-7-4 and 10-4-4 in the conference. During that season they were led by Megan Teachout who led the team in points with 29, goals with 13 and assists with 16. During that season, Digby filled the role as interim head coach of the team, so he got to know some of the players 

 “Just being a leader on and off the ice,” McAleer said. “Making sure I’m keeping people up, and being there for people if they need me. Being a dependable person, player and leader is something I hope to achieve.”

This year will be Digby’s first year as the official head coach of Oswego State women’s hockey. Originally coaching on the men’s hockey coaching staff, to move over from men’s to women’s has been easy for Digby. Hehas the experience in coaching to continue to bring success to the women’s hockey team and to the culture of Laker hockey. But also being able to coach in the newly renamed Deborah F. Stanley Arena is important to Digby as he has seen firsthand what president Stanley has done for the school. He has a lot of pride in being able to represent Oswego as the women’s hockey head coach.

“It’s quite an honor,” Digby said. “I’ve been fortunate enough in my time with the men’s program to have seen firsthand the impact president Stanley has had here, and not just the facilities and the upgrades and on campus construction we get, but more so the mindset that she sets and carries through the culture of the people here. It’s such a welcoming environment, and that’s what we’ve tried to do with the program here.”

The Lakers get their season started when they open up the at home on Oct. 22, versus King’s College at the Deborah F. Stanley Arena. 

Alexis Fragapane | The Oswegonian