Carlos Verde, Communications Manager
Oswego, N.Y. — It’s incredible to see them here, at the beautiful Marano Campus Center Arena, bringing thousands to their feet with acrobatic cross-crease saves.
Oswego State Lakers goaltenders David Richer and Cedric Hansen have much in common.
They both sport the beautiful green sweaters of one of the NCAA Division-III’s best-supported teams; both played in the CCHL; both were drawn to this town on the shores of Lake Ontario; both suffered through the leanest years of the Gloucester Rangers franchise.
But now, one and two years removed from their trying days at the Earl Armstrong Arena respectively, Hansen and Richer are living the dream as members of the Lakers.
“It’s truly an honour to be able to play in front of 3,000 people every weekend,” beamed Hansen following a 3-1 win over the CCHL All-Graduate Team on Saturday night. “Gameday here is everything, it means so much to the town — we really are fortunate with everything we get here.”
For Hansen, an Ottawa native, the combination of academics and hockey offered by Oswego State was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.
“I was looking for an engineering school, and Oswego had both tremendous hockey and the software engineering program I was looking for,” said the Gilmour Academy (’15) alum. “In addition to that, it was only three hours away from home — I couldn’t have asked for a better school, for me.”
For Richer, who spent his 20-year with Kingston in the OJHL following his stint in Gloucester, the decision to join Ed Gosek’s program on the shores of Lake Ontario was a no-brainer.
“I chose Oswego because of the hockey experience,” said Richer, who redshirted last season. “With the fans, the organization and everything, it was the best D-III school for me.”
Both goaltenders experienced tough times during the final years of the Gloucester Rangers’ existence — Richer and co. managed to win a playoff series in 2014-15 amidst inner turmoil, but Hansen’s 2015-16 team slumped to a 5-52-5 record.
Nonetheless, both have fond memories of their time in the CCHL and enjoyed facing their former league.
“It was a great time,” laughed Richer. “We didn’t have the best team in the league — same for Ceddy — but it was great to play against the CCHL. It reminds me of good memories.”
Saturday’s game against the CCHL’s All-1997 team had some extra meaning for Hansen.
“Being a ’97 myself, it was kind of cool to play against a bunch of guys that I grew up playing with,” said Hansen. “Obviously it felt good to get the first win of the year out of the way for our team.”
Considering all the trappings at the Lakers’ MCC Arena — video jumbotron, 3,000 seats, a large concourse, in-house training facilities — it’s obvious the program is run at a Division-I level.
Richer raves about his experience as a Laker, and believes that more uncommitted Canadians should consider the Division-III route.
“I’d tell them that D-I is not everything, that there are some D-III schools that look like D-I — Oswego, Plattsburgh, even Utica,” smiled Richer. “I’m really happy to be here.”
