NYSHSHCA.org

Erik Cole grew up in Oswego in the 1980's playing youth hockey and attributes much of his hockey success to being on the ice with outstanding players.  It's a pattern that started in minor hockey right in his hometown of Oswego.  "We had a great group of hockey players.  Right on up through, we were always in the states," Cole said.  "We lost the state final at the squirt level. We won it in peewees. In bantams, we lost the state final, and in high school we lost the state final."

His coaches and teammates played key roles in Cole's development, but nobody was more important than Erik's father, Dennis.  "Definitely, my dad was a big influence on me.  He got me excited to play hockey," Cole said.  "Something he's always said to me is 'Skate hard.' I think that's carried quite a bit of weight."  Cole described himself as a "late bloomer" in terms of physical growth.  he said he never had to prove anyone wrong, but knew he had to work hard to make the most of his opportunity.

• Played in the 1996 State Championship game for Owego
• Selected by Carolina Hurricanes in round 3, 71st overall, in 1998 NHL Entry Draft
• Played one year with Des-Moines Buccaneers of the USHL
• Played for three years at Clarkson University.
• 1998-99 First-Team All-Conference (ECAC)
• 1998-99 East Second All-American (NCAA)
• 1999-00 Second-Team All-Conference (ECAC)
• Member of 2006 US Olympic Team in Torino
• 2007 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
• Currently Playing with the Carolina Hurricanes.
• Scored six goals his rookie season during the Stanley Cup Championships
• First and only Oswegonian in the NHL
• Erik was the only player to be awarded two penalty shots in the same game.