After winning the Stony Brook hockey team’s Rookie of the Year award last season, center Will Kormanik’s sophomore year is shaping up to be his for the taking. As a freshman with high expectations coming in, Kormanik became one of the bright spots on an otherwise disappointing team.

As the Stony Brook club hockey team attempts to capture its first-ever American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) national title, its team captain will be integral to achieving the feat. However, Pepe’s story in hockey long precedes his Stony Brook days, going all the way back to his infancy in Essex Falls, N.J.