(Mason Oakes)
In the fast-paced, physical sport of hockey, it isn’t every day that you come across someone like Mason Oakes. Mason is the type of guy Jill Beck is talking about when she gives her altruism spiel. Over the years, Mason has volunteered with a handful of jobs including a retirement home, the Boys and Girls Club, and the West Madison Hockey Association. For his pursuits, Mason has received one of seven nationwide nominations for the Hockey Humanitarian Award – a yearly award given out to college hockey’s finest citizen. He is the only such nominee to play in Division III. Despite a current injury, Oakes has the second-most goals on the team and also has the fewest penalties per minute played.Year: Senior
Hometown: Madison, Wis.
Major: Biology with an interdisciplinary emphasis in biochemistry.
Why and when you started playing hockey: “When my family moved to Minnesota from Virginia when I was 7. My Dad played hockey all of his life and it seemed like the thing to do if you lived in Minnesota.”
Favorite Canadian province: “It’s too hard to narrow it down to one, but if I had to . the one where Terrance and Phillip are from.”
Biggest change seen in the LU program since being here: “Probably commitment of the players. Every new class of guys seems more committed to improving the hockey program.”
Most memorable moment over the course of LU hockey career: “Beating Lake Forest this year to mark the first time that Lawrence has ever beat a team from the NCHA.