Rochester, MI- Oakland ACHA DI Hockey general manager Corey Hagood is pleased to announce that defenseman CJ Panich has committed to Oakland. Panich previously played for the Capital City Capitals (USHS) where he scored three goals and five assists.
“I am excited to start this new chapter of my life and meet new people while getting an education.” Panich stated. “During the recruiting process the coaches were honest and knowledgeable with any questions that I had. “
“CJ comes from a great program and coaching and came high recommended to us.” Head coach Nick Mammel stated. “He plays the game with a high IQ and limits his mistakes by making strong reads and trusting his decisions. He battles every shift and will bring up our team intensity to special teams and net front defense.”
Committing to Oakland for education and hockey is a win-win for Panich. “It gives me the opportunity to play the sport I love at a competitive level.”
Panich will help improve the Oakland defense, by being a disciplined shot blocking defenseman. “I’m a Disciplined player who is defensively minded and isn’t afraid to block shots and works hard on the penalty kill.” Â
He will study Kinesiology at Oakland.
| Oakland ACHA DI Hockey 2025 Recruiting Class | Position |
|---|---|
| Alessandro Nicastro | Forward |
| Ethan Jordan | Goalie |
| Tyler Shinavier | Forward |
| Joe Borro | Defenseman |
| Joe Aiello | Forward |
| Owen Lemieux | Goalie |
| Patrick Czarnecki | Defenseman |
| James Clapp | Forward |
| Luca Cottone | Defenseman |
| Conner Gibson | Forward |
| CJ Panich | Defenseman |
| Antonio Carlisi | Forward |
| Jack Anderson | Forward |
| Jonah Stern | Goalie |
| Connor Carroll | Goalie |
| Cade Keisel | Forward |
| Brody Gibb | Forward |
Graphic By Oakland Hockey Alum Joseph Guenther