Heave Away
By Heave Away Podcast
Look out for a new show every Friday for the biggest storylines and analysis heading into the weekend's slate of games. Plus, hear from head coach Ed Gosek and select players throughout the season.
About the hosts: Ben is the Sports Editor at The Pall-Times and covered the Lakers for four seasons as a beat writer with The Oswegonian.
Matt covered them for several years in a variety of capacities as well with WTOP and WNYO.
Heave AwayMay 19, 2022
Offseason Episode 6: Travis Broughman
Travis Broughman, from his first game to his last, made an impact with the Lakers. He recorded over 20 points in each of his three seasons. Broughman was also named captain his senior season.
Ben Grieco talks with Broughman on his career, plus what's next in store after his first taste of pro hockey down in Roanoke.
Offseason Episode 5: Steven Kozikoski
Steven Kozikoski went from the third string goaltender to the first string goaltender in January 2020 as a sophomore. Then the rest is history, as they say, playing in 21 games this past season and posting strong numbers all year. Ben Grieco talks to Koz about his career, being a local kid from Liverpool - and playing local his entire career - as he moves on from the Oswego State men's hockey team.
Offseason Episode 4: Josh LeBlanc
Ben Grieco sits down with 2021-22 assistant captain Josh LeBlanc to talk about his career with the Oswego State men's hockey team. Hear from LeBlanc as he discusses how small the hockey community can be sometimes, plus what some of his favorite memories are from his time with the Lakers.
Offseason Episode 3: Mac Lewis
Mac Lewis's time was limited with Oswego State, playing just one and a half seasons with the Lakers due to the COVID-19 year after transferring from Wilfrid Laurier out of Canada. Ben Grieco talks to Mac about the differences between CIS/U Sports and the NCAA, plus what's next now that he graduated.
Offseason Episode 2: Ryan Bunka
In the second of six senior features, Ben Grieco sits down this time with Ryan Bunka, except this isn't really a senior feature. Bunka is coming back next year with his extra year of eligibility, and will be captaining the 2022-23 Oswego State men's hockey team. So, what exactly does Bunka expect going into next season? Hopefully some improvement.
Join Ben during the Heave Away Podcast Offseason Series, talking to the six seniors from Oswego State men's hockey.
Offseason Episode 1: Tyler Antonucci
Ben Grieco sits down with Tyler Antonucci to talk about his upbringing with New Jersey hockey, eventually coming to Oswego State as a defenseman and what's coming up now that he's graduated.
Join Ben during the Heave Away Podcast Offseason Series, talking to the six seniors from Oswego State men's hockey team.
Episode 26: Season Finale
Episode 25: SUNYAC Championship in Review
Matt and Ben break down the final game of the season, as the Lakers fell 6-1 to the Knights. Later in the show, the guys give their biggest takeaways of the game and hear from coach Ed Gosek
Episode 24: SUNYAC Championship Preview
The big game is finally here. Ben and Matt take you through how each team reached the SUNYAC Finals. Later, hear from Ed Gosek and the guys give their predictions for the game.
Episode 23: SUNYAC Semifinals Preview
The big game is here, and Matt and Ben chat about how Cortland got to this point after taking down Fredonia last Saturday. Plus, Matt chats with the bench boss for the Red Dragons, Joe Cardarelli, and find out the key to a Lakers' win from Ben.
Episode 22: End of the Regular Season
The guys break down the final two games of the regular season, and Matt wonders if Friday's loss could actually be a good thing for the team. Plus, Ben shares what team he is most afraid of coming out of the SUNYAC Quarterfinals.
Episode 21: A Wednesday in Morrisville
Matt and Ben touch on the Morrisville game from last week and why it is somewhat hard to play your A-game during a mid-week game, despite the commanding win. Plus, did Fredonia give Oswego State the roadmap on how to beat Geneseo on Tuesday night? And what does Ben want to see out of the final two games of the regular season.
Episode 20: Not Plateauing
After the narrow loss to Geneseo, Coach Ed Gosek said the team has yet to play its best hockey, adding they have not plateaued either. Matt and Ben are excited over the constant improvement from the Lakers but ponder when they might see their best game. The guys also discuss the win over Brockport and where the Lakers stand in the PairWise with the smaller than slim chance of an at-large bid.
Episode 19: A Different Hockey Team + Coach Chris Schultz
Matt pulls an interesting note from last weekend's slate of games and coach Ed Gosek's comments to Ben, prompting the idea that this Lakers team is much improved compared to the one that started the year. Plus, do the Lakers have any shot at an at-large bid and can fans be disappointed with a loss on Saturday in Geneseo? Later, Ben sits down with Geneseo's head coach Chris Schultz
Episode 18: A Flurry of Goals
As the guys put a bow on the annual Whiteout Weekend, which saw plenty of goals, Ben believes the Lakers have yet to play their best hockey. PLUS, hear what is the biggest difference in this team from the second exhibition game until now in Matt's eyes.
Episode 17B: Whiteout from a Different Perspective
As you wait on line for either the Potsdam or big game, sit back and learn the history of the Oswego State - Plattsburgh State rivalry from Luke Owens, who researched its origins for an Oswegonian story back in 2019. Later, Brian Rudman, the sports director at WTOP-10TV, shares how he is getting ready for Whiteout from a producing standpoint.
Episode 17A: The Comprehensive Whiteout Preview
In the first of a two-part Whiteout special, hear from both coaches, Ed Gosek and Steve Moffat. Before Matt and Ben get into the main event, Ben and Matt recap the big win over Buff State and look to Friday night's game against Potsdam.
Episode 16: A COVID Cancellation + 3 New Recruits
COVID-19 forced Oswego State to postpone its game against Utica College last Sunday but the Lakers' news continued on as three new recruits were announced. Matt and Ben give a little bit of insight on the recruits and hear from head coach Ed Gosek as the team gears up for its weekend contest against Buffalo State.
Episode 15: A Classic Split + Utica College Coach Gary Heenan
The guys recap the Oswego Hockey Classic, where Oswego State went 1-1, falling to No. 4 Augsburg. Despite the loss, Matt and Ben may have found a positive to facing a West division foe, a style of play the Lakers have not seen all season long. Later in the show, Ben chats with Utica College's head coach, Gary Heenan, to preview the upcoming battle with yet another elite Div. III team.
Episode 14: The Oswego State Hockey Classic + Liam Gotimer of WNYO
Matt and Ben preview the Oswego State Hockey Classic tournament coming up this weekend before Ben welcomes in Liam Gotimer of WNYO's Lakers coverage. Later in the show, Matt ponders if Oswego State might be able to snag an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, much to the chagrin of Ben.
Episode 13B: Anthony Passero – Former Lakers' Assistant Captain
Anthony Passero joins the Heave Away podcast to share how important the Fort Erie Meteors are to his family, the team it owns and he currently coaches. Also on the show, hear about his reasoning to transfer to Oswego State, how Josh Zizek impacted the decision and how the 2019-20 team faced more challenges than people actually knew.
Episode 13A: Devin Campbell – Former Oswego State Captain
Devin Campbell joins the show to chat about his current work in hockey as an assistant coach with the Carleton Place Canadians and his 2.5 year career with the Lakers.
Episode 12: End It on a High Note + Former Goalie David Richer
Despite third period troubles, Oswego State took care of business at Nazareth College, ending the 2021 portion of the season on a 5-game road trip. Plus hear from former Laker David Richer about his career in France and the green and gold.
Episode 11: A Dominant Weekend + Former head coach George Roll
The Lakers provided exactly what Matt was asking for just one weekend ago: a dominant performance, as they outscored Morrisville and Canton 13-3. Also on the show, Ben speaks with former Oswego State and current Nazareth College head coach George Roll who will host the Lakers on Saturday for their final game of 2021.
Episode 10: A Chance for a Run + Jon Whitelaw
After a pair of wins against Williams College and three winnable games to end the 2021 portion of the season, the guys figure now is a great opportunity for the Lakers to go on a run and start to find their game at even strength. Plus, Matt speaks with assistant coach Jon Whitelaw to see what the power play has done so well and where the coaching staff is at with one-third of the season completed.
Episode 9: Longer to Gel?
After a disappointing loss to Geneseo and 0 goals at even strength this past weekend, Matt wonders if it is going to take longer than he expected for the offensive output to get there given how young the team is. Also on the show, Ben sees this coming weekend against Williams as a chance to develop internally and help the team in a long-term sense.
Episode 8: The Biggest Weekend Yet?
Matt and Ben look back at a narrow win over SUNY Cortland and how it might look like an even better win after the Red Dragons took down Hobart. Later in the show, Ben speaks with former Geneseo Knight and current grad assistant Devin McDonald as the Lakers prepare for what Matt calls the biggest weekend of the regular season.
Episode 7: A Much Tougher SUNYAC
After the first weekend of conference play, the guys realize that there are no freebie games in the SUNYAC after the season-long hiatus. Also on the show, hear from head coach Ed Gosek and a preview of Friday's Teal Game.
Episode 6: Non-conference Opener + Travis Broughman
One week into the season and Ben and Matt already disagree regarding the importance of the early non-conference losses to Hobart and Elmira. Also hear from coach Ed Gosek on the Hobart loss and Travis Broughman joins Ben.
Episode 5: And Now It Gets Good + Hobart Head Coach Mark Taylor
The exhibition season is over and the Oswego State men's hockey team is getting set for its first regular season game in over a year. Matt and Ben recap the exhibition slate before Matt is joined by Mark Taylor of the Hobart Statesmen. Later in the show, the guys explain just how difficult this first weekend may be with two really talented teams on the docket in Hobart and Elmira.
Episode 4: 'Game Ready' and Assistant Coach Jon Whitelaw
After going nearly 600 days without a game, the Oswego State Lakers dropped their first exhibition game to the Utica College Pioneers. Matt and Ben react to the loss, which does not hold much weight given the fact that UC played last year. Later in the show, assistant coach Jon Whitelaw joins Matt to share his insight on the game and look ahead to the Josh LeBlanc Test Matt and Ben will endure.
Episode 3: The Utica Pioneers and Ray Biggs
On a very special episode, Matt is joined by Utica play by play man Ray Biggs. Before that, the guys preview the first exhibition game of the season against the Pioneers, and after, Matt and Ben have a challenge for the audience that could be costly to their physical well-being.
Episode 2: New Faces
With just over a week until the first exhibition game, Matt and Ben offer insight on the five new transfers and lone freshman coming to Oswego this year. Also on the show, hear from head coach Ed Gosek on those players and how they might impact the team's playing style and their presence In the locker room.
Episode 1: Press Conference Reactions
On the first official episode of the podcast, Matt and Ben hear from coach Ed Gosek and members of the team from the season opening press conference. Also on the show, Ben shares his player to watch this season and the guys discuss expectations for the 2021-22 season.
Episode 0: The Beginning
Welcome to the first episode of the Heave Away Podcast! The guys, Matt Watling and Ben Grieco, share what brought them to create the show, what to expect and Ben's biggest takeaway from the pre-season press conference.