Stephen Mallaro, Oswego State Defenseman: Profiled In Syracuse Post-Standard

For the second time this season, Lindsay Kramer has profiled a member of the top-ranked Oswego State men's ice hockey team.  This time around, Kramer tells the somber story of the Lakers' top-scoring defenseman, junior Stephen Mallaro .  Mallaro's father tragically died during winter recess last school year.

"When Stephen left his house in Onondaga on the night of Dec. 17, 2008, to skate with some friends, he shouted a goodbye up the stairs to his father. “All right. Be careful. I love you,” Marc replied before Stephen hurried out the door.

They were the last words Stephen ever heard from his father.

Around noon the next day, Marc, 48, who worked for the Solvay Electric Department, was electrocuted while doing wire work in a cherry picker. He was pronounced dead on arrival at St. Joseph’s Hospital.

Stephen, at home at the time, got a call from a family friend that his dad was hurt. He was initially only mildly concerned, because the dad he knew had an unbending body and spirit. When he arrived at the hospital and parked his car, he started running because a sense of dread overtook him. The crowd around the scene inside confirmed his fears.
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The article goes on to mention the success that Mallaro has had in this his third season donning the hunter green and gold.  After playing in just 11 of 53 games through his sophomore year, Mallaro has been in coach Ed Gosek's lineup for all 17 games this season.

The Lakers' power play—a group that had converted on less than 20 percent of their opportunities in each of the last two NCAA tournament-less seasons—has been a beneficiary of Mallaro's addition to that unit.  He has five power play goals thus far, second-best in Division III among blueliners.

Mallaro looks to increase that number tonight against a Buffalo State club that has allowed 26 power play goals while leading the SUNY Athletic Conference in penalty minutes.