Hudson D-man Oakes on his way to Bethel

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Last Updated on Friday, 07 September 2012 15:11

By Nick Clark
MnJHL Director of Media Relations

Hudson’s most reliable defenseman has earned the chance to try and duplicate his iron-man nature at the college level.

The Crusaders announced that Beloit, Wis., native Russell Oakes will play Division III college hockey for Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference member Bethel University this coming season.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound defensemen played each of the past two winters in Hudson, appearing in over 100 games in that span.

In all, Oakes dressed in 105 of the 106 games Hudson played in 2010-11 and then 2011-12, a worthy exhibit of what Crusaders head coach Ted Urschel called a combination of luck and the ability to play big minutes wisely.

“Guys get hurt, and a lot of times that can just be bad luck,” Urschel said. “But Russell took care of himself. He took care of his body. And he played smart. This past year, he was our No. 1. He was playing 25 to 30 minutes a game. And I could tell through the first 10 games he was getting tired. He needed to keep working hard, but also work smarter. He kind of embraced that. He wasn’t wearing himself out, and that’s the key. When guys get tired, they get worn out, and they start getting hurt. He didn’t do that.”

Another factor Oakes had in helping stay on the ice was his flat-out skill level. He came to Hudson prior to the 2010-11 season as a highly touted defenseman that had somehow fell through the Tier I and II cracks before choosing the Crusaders.

At the time, he had offers from as many as a dozen Tier III programs, which Urschel admitted might actually be an under-estimated number.

He arrived in Hudson that fall and – for a blueliner – made an immediate impact offensively. Four games into his Minnesota Junior Hockey League career, Oakes had already racked up three assists.

He would finish that first year with 29 total assists in the regular season, giving him a 31-point rookie campaign. Oakes then added five more assists in eight MnJHL postseason games, helping Hudson clinch its first ever Tier III National Tournament appearance.

Oakes pitched into that national tournament stay with two more points, including a goal in a 5-3 Hudson victory over the Seattle Totems.

“He was so good for us that whole season,” Urschel said. “He was one of our most reliable players all year, and he was a huge reason we played in the national tournament.”

The postseason opportunity on a national stage wouldn’t repeat itself in 2011-12, but that had little to do with Oakes play.

Once again, he was a rock on the Hudson backend. He played in every game last year – making it into 53 total – and scored five goals and assisted on 27 others.

“It was, again, a really solid year,” Urschel said. “I never had to worry much when Russell was on the ice.”

The coaches at Bethel are likely hoping the same, but they are hinging that anticipation to a Hudson connection they have used before.

Oakes will join former Crusaders Brock Raffaele (2009-10) and Matt Lindquist (2011-12) when he arrives on campus.

“Like those other guys, Russell is getting to go to a really good school, and he gets to play hockey,” Urschel said. “That is really our goal. We want to help these guys go somewhere they can play for another four years, and where they can get this type of education.”