Beckwith shining in the Laker spotlight
Standout goalie: Paul Beckwith, a junior goaltender for the Oswego State hockey team, is 11-0 with a 1.37 goals-against average this season.
By GARY AYD
Intern
Published:
Tuesday, December 7, 2010 3:58 PM EST
OSWEGO — After rededicating himself to the sport, Oswego State hockey goalie Paul Beckwith is reaping the fruits of his labor.
Beckwith is thriving as the No. 1 netminder on the No. 1 team in NCAA Division III. His next test will be at 7 p.m. Friday when the Lakers (8-0 in the SUNY Athletic Conference, 11-0 overall) host Utica at Campus Center Ice Arena.
Success has been knocking on the door for Beckwith since his arrival in Oswego. He has performed well when given the opportunity, but injuries and illness sidelined him for much of his first two seasons.
As a freshman, Beckwith started the 2008-09 season behind senior goalie Chris Hyk, and then later Tim Potter. He saw action in only seven games, including five starts.
Beckwith won the starting job last season, but came down with the H1N1 virus just prior to the team’s weekend trip to Potsdam and Plattsburgh. Senior Gunn-Taylor got the nod, played well in those two key wins, and took over as the starter the rest of the season.
During the offseason, Beckwith recognized that he would have the opportunity to be the starter in 2010-11. He put in the work to make certain he would win the job.
“This year his weight loss, stamina, strength, and overall conditioning is clearly better,” Head Coach Ed Gosek said. “He is quicker on the ice. It makes him a better goalie, and also he is better shape to avoid injury, which he has been prone to.”
The Cleveland, Ohio native has started every game this season and has a 1.37 goals-against average with a save percentage of .949. Those are even better than his Laker career numbers (1.85, .927).
Beckwith has allowed two or fewer goals in all but one game this season, the Nov. 6 “whiteout” contest against Plattsburgh at Campus Center Ice Arena. The Lakers won that game, 5-3.
He has also registered the first two shutouts of his career this season. He stymied Fredonia 3-0 and this past Saturday blanked host Genseo 4-0. Beckwith has twice earned conference Goaltender of the Week honors.
As his numbers would suggest, Beckwith is relishing the opportunity and the challenge of playing every day.
“It has been a long time coming,” Beckwith said. “I’m excited to finally be the guy and be in a position to play all the time.”
The position of hockey goalie is one of particular stress due to its final line of defense nature, and often the position proves to be of central importance to a team’s ultimate success or failure.
Beckwith has accepted those pressures and has adapted well to them.
“The mental aspect of things I have always been pretty good at,” Beckwith said. “It’s you that they are relying on as the starter. I have to be ready to go day in and day out. I enjoy it.”
Freshman goalie Dan Jones, the only other netminder on the roster, has not seen one second of action thus far this season. That is because of Beckwith’s stamina and excellence.
“The pressure does cross your mind sometimes, but you push it out of your mind quickly,” Beckwith said. “As of right now. I look at it as there are only two of us and I’m the starter, so I have to kick it into gear and stay healthy.”
It certainly beats the alternative of not getting the chance to play, something he had to endure after getting H1N1 last season. It put him in a position that required a large dose of humility.
“It was very humbling. You really had to swallow your pride,” Beckwith said. “After I got sick, Kyle came in and played terrific. I couldn’t be mad at him or coach. We were winning and he was playing well, so there was no reason to pull him.”
Making the most of the situation, Beckwith learned from his time on the bench. “I really just learned to have fun with hockey again, and to not get down or upset when you’re not playing,” Beckwith said. “You have to look at it as a growing experience and learn from it, and when you get that chance you’d better show up and be ready to play.”
The experience of sitting on the bench with an injury or sickness and then returning, only to find your backup has taken your job, was not new for Beckwith. He had the same thing happen to him when he played for the Pembroke Lumberkings, a team that also featured current Laker forward Chris Laganiere, who played a role in recruiting Beckwith to play for the Lakers.
To ensure injuries would not derail him again, Beckwith engaged in what he described as an “intense” offseason regimen. Beckwith employed a personal trainer multiple times a week, stuck to a rigid diet, and did goalie-specific workouts five or six days a week in preparation for the season.
All the work has paid off for both Beckwith and the team.
He ranks among the best goalies in NCAA Division III, and the Lakers are ranked No. 1 in the nation in the USCHO.com poll.
Beckwith has grown accustomed to hearing the cheers of the fans at Campus Center Ice Arena, where the Lakers have won 24 consecutive games since a 2-1 loss to Potsdam on Feb. 21, 2009.
“The whole atmosphere is just amazing here,” Beckwith said. “I get goose bumps every time I skate here. The fans help so much, you can’t even put it into words.”
Beckwith is a public justice major and a big college football fan. Surprisingly though, he does not enjoy watching hockey games.
“I really don’t like watching hockey. I can’t stand it,” He said. “I pay attention to goalies in the NHL, but other than that I don’t really watch hockey.”
One thing’s for sure. Beckwith’s play for the Lakers has been worth watching this season.
