NAME: Josh Cohen

SCHOOL: Allegheny College

HOMETOWN: Baltimore, MD

YEAR: Senior

POSITION: Forward

Q: What is the single best thing about playing college hockey for your current CHE team?
A: For me, the best thing has been the opportunity to continue playing hockey at a competitive level in college.  I stopped playing hockey during high school to focus on football and ended up playing 2 years of football at Allegheny while also playing hockey.  When I decided to stop playing football, my team and the CHE gave me that competitive outlet, and it gave me a chance to still be a part of a team, even if it wasn't at the NCAA level.

Q: What is the most-memorable hockey game you have ever been involved in, at any level?
A: Our season opener this year is my most-memorable game.  We played Edinboro, who is only about 15 minutes up the road from us, in an "away" game that happened to be at our home rink.  We played at 8 o'clock rather than the usual 10:40 PM, so the place was packed!  The energy was electric and felt like the true college hockey experience.  After winning only 2 games over my first 3 years on the team, we were looking to get this season started off on a good note.  As captain and president of the club, I had been working to get our program to buy-in to a new culture of being a competitive team in the league.  With an influx of new players this year, we took the game down to the wire.  The score was 11-11 with only seconds to play when one of our new freshman, #9 Noah Bebee, score a goal to win the game in the closing second.  The crowd erupted and students packed into the small area in front of our locker room to take pictures and congratulate us on the win.

Q: Are there any routines or rituals you must stick to before every game, such as listening to a certain song?
A: I always tape and wax my stick one hour before we hit the ice.  It's just something I've always done and, for some reason, feel like it'll help if I do it before I get dressed.  I also eat a pack of those peanut butter sandwich crackers before each game since we normally play late-night games where it's been a few hours since dinner.

Q: Which opposing CHE team do you really enjoy playing against, and why?
A: Edinboro, for sure!  It's been the one game where, regardless of the skill level of the two teams each year, it's always a close and very physical game.  We've played them twice this year, and both were one-goal games where we won 12-11 and 7-6, both times with the game-winning goal coming in the final minute of play.  Also, the schools being so close to each other helps fuel the energy since the rink is usually more packed than normal.

Q: If you were put in charge of the entire sport of hockey and could change just one thing about the game, what would it be?
A: I'd have to say that I would want to figure out a way to make the game more accessible to those not in your stereotypical communities.  Whether that means more affordable ice/equipment in under-served areas, or even just more rinks in states where hockey isn't as popular.  Whatever we can do to grown the game is going to be a good thing!

Q: What made you choose to attend your current school?
A: I was looking for a school where I could be in small class settings, play D3 football, and be involved with Jewish life on campus.  When I visited Allegheny for the first time and met with the coaches, faculty/staff, and students, I knew instantly that it was going to be my home for the next 4 years.  The amazing sense of community really drew me in, and I ended up applying to Allegheny via early decision.

Q: What is your major and what do you want to do with it after graduation?
A: I am a Political Science and Community and Justice Studies double-major, and I plan on attending law school next year.  I have always had a passion for helping others and those less fortunate, so being able to take my academic coursework, combined with future law courses, will allow me to continue to help those in need.

Q: What person outside of your family has done the most for you?
A: For me it has been Kweisi Ehoize, who has been a mentor of mine since the 10th grade.  Kweisi runs a youth sports program in Baltimore City, and I ending up volunteering to coach youth football with him during the program's first year of existence. Since then, the program has extended to football, cheerleading, basketball, and lacrosse.  Kweisi taught me the value of helping those who may be in a less-fortunate position than you are.  In the beginning, I felt out of my comfort zone, being a white, Jewish teenager in a predominantly African-American community, but Kweisi made me realize the true value of difference and that sports are a way to bridge the gap between different communities.  That has truly fueled my passion for coaching sports, and it is something I have continued in college by coaching the youth hockey program and varsity lacrosse program in Meadville, the town where Allegheny College is located.  If it weren't for Kweisi, I wouldn't be the man I am today or where I am today because I even wrote my college essay about him and his program.

Q: Would you rather be Superman or Batman, and why?
A: Superman, for sure!  As nice as it would be to have all those cool bat-gadgets and the Batmobile, he doesn't even have any superpowers.  If I was Superman, I'd have super strength and could fly, which would be so cool!

Q: What are your two favorite apps on your smartphone, and why?
A: I'd have to go with the Jeopardy app because I'm a huge trivia nerd. And the Netflix app because I love binge-watching some TV whenever I have free time.