OSWEGO, N.Y. – For the first time since 2003, someone other than Ed Gosek will run the SUNY Oswego men's ice hockey bench. Jon Whitelaw, a former Laker captain and longtime assistant, makes his debut as interim head coach when Oswego opens the 2026-27 season Oct. 30 at perennial national power St. Norbert.

Gosek retired this spring after 23 seasons as head coach, a run that included the program's 2007 NCAA Division III national championship. Whitelaw played for Oswego from 2009 to 2013, captained the Lakers as a senior and ranks among the program's all-time scorers with 139 career points. He has been a full-time assistant since 2019.

The Lakers went 19-7-2 last season and 14-4 in SUNYAC play. After winning the 2025 SUNYAC title, Oswego returned to the championship game in March before falling 4-0 at undefeated, top-ranked Hobart.

Key Returners

Senior defenseman Travis Baker (Waterloo, Ont.) headlines the returners after being named a CCM/AHCA First Team East All-American as a junior. Baker was the only player outside Hobart named first-team All-SUNYAC, his second straight first-team selection, after posting 6 goals and 17 assists in 25 regular-season games.

Sophomore goaltender Michael Manzi (Smyrna, Del.) is back in net after earning a spot on the SUNYAC All-Rookie Team. He went 9-4 with a 2.16 goals-against average, a .915 save percentage and three shutouts, then made 33 saves in the conference final.

Up front, junior Ryan Burke (London, Ont.) returns after leading the Lakers with 39 points as a freshman in 2024-25, when he earned first-team All-SUNYAC honors and was named an AHCA Third Team East All-American. Junior Brandon Cohen (Toronto, Ont.) was named to the 2026 SUNYAC All-Tournament Team after earning All-Rookie honors the year before. Junior Colin Vassallo (Buffalo, N.Y.), who posted 25 points (5 goals, 20 assists) as a freshman, also scored against Hobart last season.

Oswego graduated captain Matt McQuade (second-team All-SUNYAC) and Tommy Bannister (third-team All-SUNYAC).

Schedule Highlights

• Oct. 17 and Oct. 24 – Home exhibitions vs. St. John Fisher and Nazareth.
• Oct. 30-31 – at St. Norbert (De Pere, Wis.). Whitelaw's regular-season debut comes against a perennial national power.
• Nov. 6 – Home opener vs. rival Geneseo, followed by a Nov. 7 trip to Brockport.
• Nov. 13-14 – SUNYAC opens at Plattsburgh and Skidmore.
• Nov. 20-21 – First conference home weekend vs. Canton and Potsdam.
• Dec. 4 – at Hobart, a rematch of last season's SUNYAC final.
• Jan. 2-3 – Oswego State Hockey Classic. The Lakers open against defending national champion Hamilton, then face Utica or Trine.
• Jan. 30 – vs. Plattsburgh, the annual White Out game.
• Feb. 5 – vs. Hobart at the Deborah F. Stanley Arena and Convocation Hall.
• Feb. 12-13 – Final home weekend vs. Cortland and Morrisville.
• SUNYAC Tournament: first round Feb. 24, semifinals Feb. 27, championship March 6.

The Lakers play 25 regular-season games, 13 at home. Tickets for all home games are on sale now through the SUNY Oswego box office, and the complete schedule is available at oswegolakers.com.

Written by Lilian Haggerty