CORTLAND, N.Y. – Five members of the nationally ranked Oswego State men’s ice hockey team have been selected for the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) All-Conference teams, as voted on by league coaches.
Forwards Josh Zizek and Mitch Herlihey were named to the first team, making it two-consecutive years that Oswego has had a pair of forwards named to the All-Conference First Team. Goaltender David Richer was named to the second team, while forward Michael Gillespie and defenseman Max Novick were named to the third team.
Zizek, who has experienced a breakout sophomore campaign after scoring six points his freshman year, led the SUNYAC in points for conference games (22) in 16 games.
Herlihey, the team’s captain, also received his first career All-Conference nod. In his senior season, Herlihey collected career-highs in goals (13) and total points (29). The Ottawa, Ont. native was tied for second in conference points with 20 and was third with 10 goals.
Richer – a sophomore standout — topped many categories for SUNYAC goaltenders in his first season for Oswego. Richer led all conference goalies in goals-against average, with an average of 1.16, more than half a goal per game better than the second closest goalie. The Mirabel, Que. native also led the conference in save percentage (.948), 14 percentage points better than the next goalie. Richer finished 9-2-1 in conference play – both losses coming by a 1-0 score — en route to leading the conference with a .792 winning percentage.
The third forward for Oswego to receive All-Conference accolades was Gillespie. He tied for fifth in the conference with 18 points and is the third sophomore from Oswego to receive All-Conference honors.
Joining him on the third team was Novick, one of only two freshmen to be named All-Conference, and the lone freshman blueliner. Experiencing significant time on the power play, Novick scored one goal and assisted on nine others, as he led all Laker defenders in scoring.
Top-seeded Oswego will host No. 5 Fredonia in a SUNYAC Championship Semifinal at 7 p.m. on Saturday night in the Marano Campus Center Arena.
