Senior defenseman Ryan Dickinson has signed a contract with the Worcester Railers of the ECHL leaving the Oswego State men’s hockey team in the middle of the season. 

The Railers issued a press release on Jan. 11 announcing Dickinson’s signage with them for the 2023-24 season. Dickinson said the Worcester team first reached out to him as they were in search of a defenseman. 

“It was a really hard decision,” Dickinson said. “Leaving all the guys on the team and coach [Edward] Gosek and [Jon] Whitelaw, I owe them a lot of respect.” 

Before making his final decision, Dickinson talked with some of his friends who currently play in the ECHL, to get familiar with all the opportunities the league has to offer. 

“The ECHL is a good and fast league,” Gosek, the head coach of the Oswego State men’s ice hockey team, said. “It is filled with guys right out of college or junior minors that are hoping to make the jump to the American Hockey League (AHL).” 

Coming from a hockey family, Dickinson also made sure to discuss the matter with his family before reaching a decision, as he has many relatives who have played for various teams in the AHL and the National Hockey League (NHL).

One of his relatives, Bill McCreary Sr, played for NHL teams such as the New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings and the St. Louis Blues. Another relative of Dickinson, Bill McCreary Jr, played for the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

Teams in the ECHL are affiliated with teams in the AHL and NHL, as the ECHL and AHL serve as developmental leagues for players before potentially stepping into the NHL. Many NHL players have passed through both of these leagues to get to that monumental point in their careers. 

Dickinson’s new ECHL team is affiliated with the Bridgeport Islanders of the AHL and the New York Islanders of the NHL. 

“It was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down,” Dickinson said. 

On Jan. 9, Dickinson played in his final game with the Lakers, where they faced and defeated Nazareth College. Gosek said he was informed after this game about Dickinson’s decision to sign with the Railers. 

“People have to do what is right for them,” Gosek said. 

Since Dickinson’s departure, senior forward Rocco Andreacchi has taken on the role as a defenseman for the Lakers. They have played six games thus far without the 6’3” defenseman, winning all but their most recent matchup, where they fell to the SUNYAC first-placed SUNY Geneseo Knights. 

During his three seasons with the Lakers, Dickinson played in 65 games, accumulating 28 points with 47 penalty minutes and a +28 rating.

“I owe a lot of credit to my teammates and coaches,” Dickinson said. “The way Oswego goes about their business on a daily basis really resembles how it is in the ECHL.” 

During the 2020-21 season, Dickinson attended Ohio State University and played one season with the Buckeyes, playing in 14 games and recording one assist, 29 penalty minutes and a -3 rating. 

Prior to his collegiate hockey career, Dickinson played for various teams in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) such as the Topeka Roadrunners, Brookings Blizzard and the Shreveport Mudbugs. In his time with the NAHL, he played in 192 games, recording 60 points to go with 547 penalty minutes and a +23 rating. 

With the Massachusetts-based team thus far, Dickinson has appeared in six games, recording two penalty minutes so far. The Railers have their next matchup on their home ice on Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. against the Maine Mariners. 

“We wish him the best of luck and hope it all works out,” Gosek said.

Photo by: Oswego Athletics