The Cleveland Monsters have announced that they have signed forward Zach Okabe from the St. Cloud State University Huskies to an Amateur Tryout.
St. Cloud Career
Okabe recently finished his fifth season with the Huskies where he played in all 38 games of their season. Okabe recorded ten goals and 14 assists for 24 points. He had 21 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -4. Through five seasons at St. Cloud State, Okabe played in a total of 176 games, tying former Husky, Easton Brodzinski for second All-Time Games Played in Husky history. Okabe finished his collegiate career with 52 goals and 67 assists for 119 points. He had a total of 81 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +13.
Okabe had a rough start to his collegiate career having zero points entering Christmas break. But he went on to score four goals in his first game after the Christmas break and ended his slightly shortened freshman season with seven goals and two assists for nine points. This season, Okabe did see himself a little snake bitten again, but he was still able to join the 100 point club, becoming just the 43rd player to do it in St. Cloud State Hockey history. Even though Okabe was not getting on the scoresheet as much as he may have wanted to, he still showed up for every game and still tried to find his way onto the score sheet.
After a rough start to his collegiate career, Okabe went on to have a total of 23 multipoint games including 16 two point games, 6 three point games and one four point game.
With his 52 goals and 67 assists for 119 points, Okabe finishes his collegiate career tied for 21st in goals, tied for 31st in assists, and tied for 24th in points for players in a Husky uniform.
Off the Ice
Zach Okabe earned himself a spot in the leadership group at St. Cloud State gaining the opportunity to wear an “A” with the Huskies this season. Not only was Okabe a leader on the ice, but he was also a leader off the ice and earned the respect of his teammates in and out of the locker room.
Zach Okabe should be a nice pick up for the Monsters. While he is on the small side, he is an incredibly hard worker on and off the ice, and is not afraid to sacrifice his body to make a play or score a goal. Okabe is a player that can score a good or make a nice play when the team needs it most and tends to help give the team a burst of energy when needed.
