The hockey season is upon us again! The Lakers took to the ice this past Friday to start their season with a scrimmage against the Central Canada Hockey League. Starting off the season with the win, the Lakers proved that a “rebuilding year” does not lessen their chances for the NCAA title, causing the excitement on campus to build. Seasoned students, staff and faculty are feeling a sense of excitement as each weekend draws closer, because that means we are closer to a “Hockey Night in Oswego.” Come the weekend, all fans alike pack into the Marano Campus Center in their best green and gold apparel, excited to watch the Lakers and of course, shout their favorite chants. Through the years, I have experienced many “hockey nights in Oswego” and it is an experience like no other.But what exactly does hockey mean to the SUNY Oswego community? Being a junior and starting to wrap up my time at Oswego, I decided to make this hockey season memorable. To start the season, I decided to go around campus and ask a handful of students, staff and faculty, what Oswego hockey means to them.
To Rachel Marcus ‘18, Oswego hockey means a chance for the entire community to come together for something positive. She explained that in everyone’s busy schedules and different lives, it is rare to see the majority of the campus community come together.
For Justin Pedolsky ‘19, Oswego hockey means weekends with the boys. He explained that hockey brings his entire friend group together, if only for a few hours. It brings the family atmosphere to the campus, making it feel small and connected.
For Shannon Brookes ‘19, hockey is a sign of the winter approaching, quite possibly some of the coldest and most hectic months in Oswego. However, she says that the Friday and Saturday nights in the arena give her something to look forward to throughout a crazy week.
For Adam Osarczuk ‘19, hockey season brings a newfound excitement to campus each season. Just when students start to stress over midterms and the middle of the semester as a whole, hockey season brings in a freshness; almost like a calming effect.
Julie Geraci ‘20, and the youngest Laker I interviewed, explained that Oswego hockey gives her a sense of family, even with being over four hours away from her family. She said that hockey season is the heart of SUNY Oswego and that there is no better feeling.
Everyone I interviewed agreed: hockey season is the heart and soul of SUNY Oswego. So all Laker fans, put on your best Oswego gear and make sure you catch some games!