When students attend Oswego State, most of them know hockey is practically a lifestyle. Although Oswego is mostly known for their varsity team, the club hockey team is just as important.
For the club team, four guys who make a big impact on the team are senior captain Adam Webster, senior assistant captain Nick Phelps, sophomore DJ Mazzoni and junior assistant coach Brian Tosti.
As it is with most hockey players, the four guys started playing hockey when they were all very young, around the ages of 3-5. While all of the guys started playing for different reasons, one thing remains the same. They all enjoy the physical part of the game, like the hitting, and the fast pace of the game.
Webster, a marketing major, plans on living in Oswego for the next couple of years, to hopefully assist the club team expand and become better known on campus. He would also like to work for himself and be able to help students in club organizations with money and market their club.
Phelps, a business administration major, would like to find a job after college like most college graduates. Other than that, he would also love to coach a youth hockey team.
“I would love to share what I know about the game of hockey with a group of young players who love the game as much as I do.” Phelps also plans on playing in a men’s hockey league.
Mazzoni, a wellness management major, would like to receive his bachelor of science at SUNY Upstate after college for radiation therapy and still play some hockey. He also works as a personal trainer at the facilities on campus and plays broomball.
Totsi, a broadcasting major, wants to be an announcer for hockey and hopefully make it up to the NHL. He is also a member of the men’s tennis team and is part of WTOP.
The guys do not only concentrate on hockey; they’re also here to get an education.
“Actually I think that playing hockey makes school easier for me,” says Phelps. “It keeps me so much more organized and prepared and I have to have all of my work done before the weekend because we have games every single weekend.”
Off the ice, the team members are great friends. They eat meals together, take trips, play golf, and many other activities.
“It really is where most of us have found our friends here in college,” says Tosti.
Photos by Mike Reid.