Matt Niskanen
University of Minnesota-Duluth
As a freshman, Matt Niskanen recorded 14 points (1g, 13a) in 38 games. In 2006/2007, as a sophomore at Minnesota Duluth, he posted 31 points (9g, 22a) in 39 games. He was named to the All-WCHA First Team as a sophomore. He played for the United States in the 2006 World Junior Championship and also participated in the 2009 IIHF World Championship. Dallas drafted Niskanen in the first round, 28th overall, in the 2005 draft. He signed as a free agent with the Capitals, July 1, 2014. He has played with the Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins and now plays with the Washington Capitals. During the 2014-15 season, Niskanen played in all 82 games for the first time in his career, and ranked second on the team in ice time (22:21). Niskanen recorded his second-career three-assist game, Led Washington in ice time and was named the game’s first star vs. NYI (11/28).
Facts:
Born: December 6, 1986
Birthplace: Virginia, MN, US
Position: Defense
Height: 6’0’’
Weight: 209
Shoots: Right
NHL Affiliations: Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals
Brooks Orpik
Boston College
Brooks Orpik played college hockey at Boston College. During his freshman year he recorded 11 points (1g, 10a) and led the league with 96 penalty minutes. During the 1999-2000 season, Orpik played in 38 games recording 10 points (1g, 9a) and 102 penalty minutes. He also played for Team USA at the World Junior Championship in Sweden. During his junior year, Orpik recorded 20 points (0g, 20a) and once again led the league with 102 penalty minutes. He won the NCAA National Championship with Boston College and appeared in three Frozen Four Tournaments. Orpik has represented the USA in two Winter Olympic Games (2010 & 2014) and won a silver medal with the 2010 team. He was selected by Pittsburgh in the first round, 18th overall, in the 2000 NHL Draft. He played over 700 games with Pittsburgh before signing with the Capitals as a free agent in 2014.
Facts:
Born: Sep 26, 1980
Birthplace: San Francisco, CA, USA
Position: Defense
Height: 6’2’’
Weight: 219
Shoots: Left
NHL Affiliations: Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals
T.J. Oshie
University of North Dakota
T.J. Oshie played college hockey at the University of North Dakota. Oshie played three season (2005-2008), registering 142 points in 129 career games. North Dakota reached the Frozen Four in all three seasons. Oshie was Named 2007-2008 American Hockey Coaches Association first team West All American and was named to the NCAA Midwest Regional All-Tournament Team after recording four points in wins over Princeton and Wisconsin. Oshie was also named First Team All-WCHA & to the WCHA Final Five All-Tournament team. In his 2006-2007 year, Oshie played in all 43 of North Dakota’s game and earned third team All-WCHA honors, being second on the team in scoring with 52 points. Oshie led the WCHA in assist with 35 in all games, becoming the fourth-best assist leader in the nation. In his first season (1005-06), Oshie finished tied for second in the nation among freshman with 45 points and was ranked first among all players with nine game-winning goals. Oshie was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team and Inside College Hockey’s All-Rookie Team.
T.J. Oshie was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the first round, 24th overall, in the 2005 NHL Draft. Oshie was Acquired by Washington in exchange for Troy Brouwer, Phoenix Copley and a third-round draft pick in the 2016 NHL Draft on July 2, 2015.
Facts:
Born: Dec 23, 1986
Birthplace: Everett, WA, USA
Position: Right Wing
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 189
Shoots: Right
NHL Affiliations: St. Louis Blues, Washington Capitals
Nate Schmidt
University of Minnesota
Nate Schmidt appeared in 13 games as a freshman at Minnesota where he split his playing time between forward and defense. As a sophomore he posted a career-high 41 points (3g, 38a), led his team in assists, and also finished 3rd overall in the nation with 38 assists. He ranked 1st among Minnesota defensemen and 4th on the team in points. His team won the MacNaughton Cup as Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) regular season champions. Schmidt’s Minnesota team also participated in the 2012 Frozen Four. His junior season he recorded 32 points (9g, 23a) and was named to the All-WCHA First Team and AHCA West Second-Team All-American after leading the league in scoring by a defenseman. Schmidt led all collegiate defensemen and ranked tied for sixth among all skaters with 19 power-play points and also helped lead his team to a second consecutive MacNaughton Cup. He signed with Washington as a free agent in 2013. In the 2014-2015 season, Schmidt appeared in a career-high 39 games, and scored his first goal of the season vs. BOS (3/15).
Facts:
Born: July 16, 1991
Birthplace: St. Cloud, MN, USA
Position: Defense
Height: 6’0’’
Weight: 194
Shoots: Left
NHL Affiliations: Washington Capitals
 
Daniel Winnik
University of New Hampshire, Hockey East
Winnik played 118 games over three seasons at the University of New Hampshire (HE) collecting 95 points (37 goals, 58 assists) with 82 penalty minutes. In 2005-2006 he was named Hockey East Second Team All-Star and ranked 5th in the league for scoring with 41 points. He ranked 1st on New Hampshire in assists and 2nd in points. He was named Hockey East Player of the Month for November 2005.
Winnik was originally drafted by Phoenix 165th overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He was traded to Colorado by Phoenix on June 28, 2010. He was traded to San Jose from Colorado on February 27, 2012. He was signed as a free agent by Anaheim on July 20, 2012, then signed as a free agent by Toronto on July 28, 2014. He was traded to Pittsburgh by Toronto for Zach Sill, then signed as a free agent by Toronto in July 2015.
Winnik was acquired in the 2015-2016 season from Toronto on February 28 with a fifth-round selection in the 2016 NHL Draft in exchange for Brooks Laich, Connor Carrick and a second-round selection in the 2016 NHL Draft. He registered 14 points (10g, 14a) in 56 games with the Maple Leafs this season.
Facts:
Born: March 6, 1985
Birthplace: Toronto, ON, Canada
Position: Left Wing
Height: 6’2’’
Weight: 203
Shoots: Left
NHL Affiliations: Arizona Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche,
San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, Toronto
Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins,
Washington Capitals
Rod Langway
Washington Capitals Alumnus
The son of a U.S. Armed Forces member, Rod Langway had an unusual beginning to life. While his father was stationed in Taipei, Taiwan, baby-Rod was born on May 3, 1957, at a U.S. Armed Forces Hospital within the Maag Compound. Once returned to the U.S. he would spend his formative years growing up in Randolph, Massachusetts. Hockey was not the focal point of his athletic endeavors early on, leaning more towards the all-American sports of baseball and football. Langway first participated in organized hockey in 1970 at age 13 and two years later was a member of his High School club, the Randolph Blue Devils. His hard work quickly became evident in all aspects of his life, overcoming a minor learning disability that involved a problem with memory re-call to become an honor student, while also participating as a three-sport athlete. During three years at Randolph he led the hockey team to the State Championship in 1973 and 1975 and in his weakest sport, baseball, would gun down every single runner that attempted to steal a base every year he was catching. However, it was football that Langway was perhaps the most efficient at, leading an influx of College scouts to recruit the talented quarterback.
Scouts from all the major institutions made a trip to the Boston suburb to recruit a football player, however, Langway had his eye on playing two sports, not one. When University of New Hampshire recruiter Dave O'Connor, who also happened to be an assistant with both the football and the hockey team, made the trip, Rod convinced O'Connor to watch him play hockey and immediately after a deal was struck. Langway would spend two seasons as a member of the Wildcats, working relentlessly to refine and tone the abilities and body nature had supplied him, not taking anything for granted. Langway missed the first season of football due to an injury, but was able to play hockey. During his second year at the school he accomplished a unique feat among collegiate athletes by appearing in two NCAA Championship tournaments in the same year. A leader both on and off the field/ice in Durham, New Hampshire, the pro ranks were now calling his name.
Now recognized as a potential hockey star, Langway was selected during the summer of 1977 in two different leagues. The Montreal Canadiens used their 3rd round choice, 36th overall in the NHL Draft to select the hard-nosed defenseman. Meanwhile over in the rival World Hockey Association, the Birmingham Bulls used their 1st round selection, 6th overall to choose Langway. He would split the first year between the Bulls and the Hampton Gulls of the AHL, posting an impressive combined total of 43 points in 82 games. However, when the rampant rumors of a merger between the NHL and the WHA failed to develop, he was quick to exercise a special clause in his contract allowing him to terminate the deal and begin his 15-year NHL odyssey.
Langway trained harder than ever that summer, weightlifting, running, boxing, scuba diving and playing racquetball and softball, reporting to the Canadiens 1978 training camp in peak condition. Under the tutelage of Montreal's' "Big Three", Robinson, Savard and Lapointe, he developed into a regular for the club over the next three seasons, participating in his first two All-Star Games in 1981 and 1982. Just prior to the start of the 1982 training camp, a blockbuster deal was struck with the Washington Capitals, changing the face of both clubs. Langway was on his way to the U.S. capitol, along with Doug Jarvis, Craig Laughlin and Brian Engblom in exchange for Ryan Walter and Rick Green. Immediately, the Capitals named Langway their captain and the tide had begun to turn.
Over the next ten seasons, Langway was a pillar of strength on the Capitals blueline. Teammate Al Jensen once stated, "You have to respect a guy who works as hard as Rod does." Langway would capture a second Norris Trophy in 1984, along with another 1st Team All-Star selection and a 2nd Team All-Star selection in 1985, while participating in five more All-Star contests, including the Rendez-vous '87 match-up versus the USSR National Team. An extremely patriotic person, Langway rarely missed an opportunity to represent his country on the international stage. He was the captain and leader of Team USA on four separate occasions, the 1981, 1984 and 1987 Canada Cup's, along with the 1982 Pool 'A' World Championship. Despite never tasting team success during the high-caliber tournaments, Langway was always considered one of the best at his position, earning All-Star honors along with the USSR's Viacheslav Fetisov at the 1984 Canada Cup.
Langway retired from the Capitals following the 1992-93 season, mainly due to torn cartilage in his knees that was hampering his performance. Immediately he joined the coaching ranks with the Richmond Renegades of the East Coast Hockey League and it wasn't long before he was back on the ice, suiting up for the club at the end of the 1994-95 season in six regular season and nine playoff games due to injuries. With the juices flowing once again, Langway decided to make a permanent return joining the San Francisco Spiders of the International Hockey League while mentoring many of its younger defensemen. The return lasted only one season before heading back to Richmond in 1996, although he would play 10 final games for the Providence Bruins of the AHL due to a rash of injuries in 1997-98, recording one final assist before hanging the blades up forever to focus on his coaching role.
Langway's accomplishments throughout his career spoke for themselves and were appreciated by all those who had the benefit of watching him play. His first tribute took place during the final game ever played at the old Capital Centre on November 26, 1997, when his number '5' sweater was officially retired by the club and lifted to the rafters. In 1999, he was officially inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame and followed that up with his induction into the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001. Finally, the ultimate accolade was received with his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002.
*Bio courtesy of the Hockey Hall of Fame
Alan May
Washington Capitals Alumnus
Right-winger Alan May was a hard-nosed grinder who demonstrated pugilistic ability when challenged during his eight NHL seasons in the 1980s and '90s. I addition to his toughness, he was also a responsible defensive player whose plus/minus rating was always respectable.
The native of Swan Hills, Alberta, May played junior with the Medicine Hat Tigers and the New Westminster Bruins. After scoring 23 goals for the Carolina Thunderbirds of the Atlantic Coast League in 1986-87, the young forward was signed by the Boston Bruins as a free agent. He spent most of the next season in the AHL and joined the Edmonton Oilers where he also added grit to the farm team.
May's career took a turn for the better after he was traded to the Washington Capitals in June 1989. The burly winger spent nearly five years with the Caps where he checked diligently, took the body, and contributed a bit of offense with his forechecking. In 1990, his work down low helped Washington reach the semi-finals for the first time in franchise history.
Toward the end of his NHL tenure, May also toiled for the Dallas Stars and Calgary Flames. He retired in 1997 after playing two years in the IHL, which included a Turner Cup championship with the Utah Grizzlies in 1996.
May currently serves as a hockey analyst for the Washington Capitals.
A.J. Toews
Washington Capitals Amateur Scout
A.J. is a current scout for the NHL Entry Draft for the Capitals. Raised in California, he attended Shattuck St. Mary's Prep, then Northeastern University. Has been an assistant and head coach/general manager in the USHL, as well as coaching youth hockey at the bantam and midget levels. Based in Delano, Minnesota with his wife and 4 kids.
Joe Beninati
Capitals Play-by-Play Announcer, Comcast SportsNet
Joe Beninati has the play-by-play announcer for CSN’s live-game coverage of the Washington Capitals, apposition he has held since 1994.
A nine-time Emmy Award-winner, Beninati also regularly provides play-by-play for CSN’s coverage of college sports, including football and basketball, and has served as the network’s announcer for its coverage of the Washington Kastles of WorldTeam Tennis.
In addition to his duties with CSN, Beninati spent six seasons announcing NHL games for Versus, which is now NBCSN. He has also called hockey games during the NHL regular season, Stanley Cup Playoffs, and World Cup of Hockey for other national outlets, including ESPN and NHL Radio, and served as the radio announcer for Westwood One’s coverage of the 200 and 2006 Olympic Winter Games.
Beninati has also called select men’s college hockey games on College Sports Television (CSTV), now CBS Sports Network, as well as the NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament on ESPNU. Prior to joining CSN, he spent five seasons as a radio and TV play-by-play announcer in the American Hockey League in Portland, Maine, and Providence.
Beninati is also recognized as one of the leading announcer in the sport of lacrosse. He calls collegiate regular season and NCAA Tournament Action on ESPNU. He has also spent more than a decade providing play-by-play for ESPN’s Major League Lacrosse coverage. His experience also includes four seasons calling college football for Versus and Westwood One.
A graduate of Bowdoin College, where he spent two years as sports information director, Beninati has a bachelor’s degree in biology.
*Bio courtesy of Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Coaches
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Ed Gosek
Head Coach, Oswego State University of New York
Ed Gosek, a former Laker hockey player and a 1983 graduate, has been the head coach of the Oswego State Lakers since 2003, sporting a career record of 253-68-22 in 12 seasons.
During the 2014-15 campaign, the Lakers made it to the NCAA Championship for the sixth-straight season, finishing with a 19-5-4 mark after bowing out in the quarterfinals round. Gosek again helped Oswego gain a spot in the SUNYAC Championship title game, its third trip to the final in a row, ending the regular season with a 12-2-2 mark against conference foes. His tutelage also aided Shawn Hulshof and Bobby Gertsakis to AHCA All-America accolades, with Hulshof also being named the SUNYAC's Player of the Year. Along with Hulshof, four other Lakers earned All-Conference honors.
In the 2013-14 season, Gosek directed Oswego State to an overall record of 22-7-2. Despite losing 14 seniors from the previous national runner-up squad, Gosek’s recruitment of 19 freshman and five transfers along with the core of returners kept the pace of the winning tradition. Oswego captured its second-straight SUNYAC Championship and made its fifth-consecutive appearance in the Frozen Four of the NCAA Division III Men’s Ice Hockey Championship.
During his tenure, Gosek has had 40 players receive 52 All-SUNYAC honors and 15 players named as All-Americans.
In 2012-13, Paul Rodrigues was named the 2013 American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Sid Watson Memorial Award winner, which is symbolic of the nation's best Division III men's hockey player. He was the first player in SUNYAC history to win the award.
A two-time SUNYAC Coach of the Year, Gosek has led Oswego State to the top of the SUNYAC standings in eight of the last 11 regular seasons. Gosek reached the 200-win plateau in his 270th game behind the bench as a head coach during the regular season in 2012-13.
Gosek holds the distinction as being the only coach in Oswego State history to guide a team to an NCAA Division III championship, capturing the men's ice hockey title in 2007 with a 23-3-3 overall record. That same season, Gosek was also honored with the Edward Jeremiah Award by the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) as the Men's Division III Ice Hockey Coach of the Year.
Gosek joined the coaching staff in 1990 and worked under both Don Unger and George Roll, before becoming the fifth head coach in program history. During his time with the program, each team Gosek has qualified for post-season play, eight of which advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
Known as a strong recruiter, Gosek looks to continue to bring in quality student-athletes while maintaining the rich hockey tradition at Oswego State. His teams have been active in the community and have participated in campus leadership activities as the Lakers moved into the Campus Center in 2006. His commitment and dedication to the program have been instrumental in the Lakers consistently being considered among the elite teams in the nation. Prior to his appointment as head coach in 2003, Gosek focused on developing the team's defense along with special teams.
Gosek has been involved with the Oswego Minor Hockey Association for many years and won four New York State titles in his time as a head coach at that level. His efforts resulted in him being given the NYSAHA Peter Rush Award in 2008 for displaying a selfless long-term dedication and commitment to the growth of youth hockey. Gosek was also the recipient of the Walter Yaciuk Award in 2009, presented annually by USA Hockey's Coaching Education Program to the individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the program during many years of volunteer service. He is also an active participant in USA Hockey's select summer festivals and has coached at those events in St. Cloud, Minn. and Rochester, N.Y.
Gosek earned his undergraduate degree in 1983 and his master's degree in Science and Education in 2001, both from Oswego State. He and his wife, Mary, make their home in Oswego with their children, Jeremy and Sarah
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