Oleksy puts in overtime to stay on degree track

By LINDA BOUVET, LSSU Sports Information Director

Senior Steve Oleksy has once again turned disappointment into opportunity.

When the Lake Superior State defenseman learned that playing a fourth year of college hockey wasn't an option, he got down to the business of paving his way into the business world. Oleksy put the student-athlete concept into overdrive and took 20 credit hours during the fall semester. He is taking 18 credits this semester to make sure he earns his business management degree this spring.

He showed the same determination five years ago when a year of junior college baseball failed to live up to expectations and he switched his focus to hockey. Now in his third season of collegiate hockey, Oleksy has already equaled his highest single-season point total. He is third among LSSU defenseman in plus-minus at +3.

This season, hockey is a diversion from his demanding class schedule.

"I've been working so hard in school, so hockey is my release," said Oleksy, who is so busy that he had difficulty fitting in time for an interview. "It's my time to relax and hang around with my teammates, and enjoy myself. The games too - Fridays and Saturdays are my two days to just not worry about school and focus on hockey."

Oleksy found out last March that the 2008-09 season would be his last with the Lakers. With help from Dr. John Erkkila, a professor in the LSSU School of Business, Entrepreneurial and Legal Studies, he enrolled in two summer courses and set up a schedule that basically required two years of required courses for degree completion to be crammed into one year.

"I even went through an adventure with my summer courses," Oleksy said. "I got my papers turned in at Oakland University about a half hour too late to register." A staff member in the registrar's office just happened to be in the office that summer day, answered the phone and got him set up.

Valerie Filek, assistant professor in the LSSU School of BELS, helped Oleksy set up internships so he could acquire enough credits to earn a double major in management and marketing. 

"I had some long nights last semester, as well as this semester just getting everything done," Oleksy said. "It was a lot of added stress. I don't have any down time. Towards the end of the semester, it starts to become overwhelming. I had a nice break at Christmas. The Wisconsin tournament was fun. I was able to just focus on hockey, and it was a pleasure."

"I have 16 credits, and I have a tough time keeping up. I can't imagine having 20," said sophomore defenseman Tyson Hobbins, who has often been paired on defense with Oleksy this season. "If you have any Saluja classes, you might be in trouble."

Hobbins, a defenseman who was converted to forward then moved back to the blue line, appreciates Oleksy's always positive outlook.

"He always has a smile on his face," Hobbins said. "When we're paired together, he'll say ‘Let's go have some fun.' It relaxes you."

Hobbins has also noticed the eye-hand coordination that Oleksy has developed from playing baseball and in-line hockey. It comes in handy when battling for loose pucks in the corners.

"The best part of his game is his defensive play," he said. "Being a former forward, I try to play a more offensive game. His defensive game allows me to jump into the play more. If you can get the odd-man rush or a battle in the corner, he'll be there for you."

Although LSSU's defensemen all bring unique skills to the table, Oleksy said it wasn't hard to find pairings that work.

"Guys like Steven (Kaunisto) and Simon (Gysbers) are starting to get older and they are the obvious leaders of the D core," Oleksy said. "Matt (Cowie) and Dillin (Stonehouse) are in their second year and have improved drastically. The D core is really close. We all work together and get along well on and off the ice, and that's important."

Oleksy hopes to land an internship with the company Homecare America, which is one of his roller hockey sponsors. He has made connections while playing inline hockey and representing Team USA at the International Ice Hockey Federation InLine World Championships. He went to Slovakia with the U.S. team last year and hopes to go to attend this year's world championships in Germany.

In the meantime, he wants to make the most of his final season with the Lakers.

"It passed by so quickly," Oleksy said. "I'm focusing on the last couple weeks, the playoffs and making a run. I'm hoping it is similar to my first year here when we made it to the Joe. It goes back to last year too when we played our best hockey toward the end of the year. The guys we have are competitors. In the playoffs is when we want to play our best hockey."