Josh Kosack

Classroom

Kosack is a leader in the classroom. He boasts a 3.58 GPA as an economics major - one of the highest marks on the team.

He was named to the 2021 CoSIDA Division I Academic All-District At-Large Team and will be a four-time ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team selection. Kosack was also nominated for the ECAC Hockey Student-Athlete of the Year last season.

Character

Kosack is a three-year captain of the team, serving one year as an assistant captain, before being elevated to team captain during an extremely difficult season in 2020. He was tasked with guiding his team through a preseason that was filled with new challenges - without even knowing if his senior season would happen.

Kosack managed to represent the program and manage his own personal disappointment while helping his teammates deal with a crushing blow of having their season canceled.

He was named a 2020-21 Hockey Humanitarian Award finalist.

Community

Kosack had a chance encounter with a young fan with Down Syndrome at Dartmouth and wanted to make a difference. He came up with the idea to create “Kozi’s Kids” as a way to give local children from the COCOA House in Schenectady a chance to experience a college hockey game. With Kozi’s Kids unable to bring local children to hockey games in 2020-21, he singlehandedly raised more than $5,000 Christmas presents for the children of COCOA House.

After the success of last year’s fundraiser, Kosack raised $45,000 for C.O.C.O.A. House in the second annual Kozi’s Kids fundraiser. Money from the fundraiser went towards buying Christmas presents for local children, the development of a Kozi’s Kids Lounge in C.O.C.O.A. House’s second location, and funding other projects for the non-profit. In December, Kosack helped purchase $10,000 worth of toys for Capital Region children and assisted in giving out the gifts over two days during the holidays. Starting as a way to get local youth to attend Union hockey games, Kosack’s involvement with C.O.C.O.A. House now includes spending one afternoon a week at the facility, helping with homework and playing games.

In addition, Kosack has assumed leadership of Union Hockey’s annual Thanksgiving service at the local YMCA last year and delivered clothes, socks, and toiletries to those in need. He organized a coat drive on campus that resulted in more than 100 coats to City Mission in Schenectady.

Competition

While he is not Union’s leading scorer or someone who posts gaudy statistics, Kosack is a consistent member of the third line. He was one of only five players to play in every game during the 2019-20 season and has played every game this season as well.

The coaching staff calls Kosack a “follow-me type of leader,” with the ability to connect with every member of the team. This is due to his team-first mindset that has earned him the respect of his teammates and coaching staff.