One of the highest-scoring players in the transfer portal will transfer to the University of Wisconsin men's hockey team for his final season of college eligibility.
Cody Laskosky will join the Badgers for the 2024-25 season after spending four years at RIT.
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Goaltender Tommy Scarfone also announced his transfer this offseason, becoming the second player from RIT to transfer to Wisconsin.
Laskoski, 24, will fill the Badgers' need for a right-handed forward, as the team has lost six players since the 2023-24 season ended with a loss to Quinnipiac in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
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He visited Wisconsin this week and gave the Badgers a commitment before returning to Rochester, New York, on Wednesday.
“It's very exciting to have a program like Wisconsin interested after the season,” Laskosky said in a phone interview from the Atlanta airport as he prepared to board a connecting flight. “It worked out well for me with my schooling and everything else, so it was an easy fit and an easy decision.”
He was looking for a school to transfer to where he could earn a master's degree in psychology.
Laskosky had 14 goals and 27 assists in 37 games as a senior at RIT. His 41 points tied him with teammate Carter Wilkie for the most among players who entered the transfer portal this offseason.
Wisconsin also pursued Wilkie, but Wilkie joined North Dakota.
The Badgers had good success with one of the highest scoring players in the portal in 2023, following in the footsteps of Minnesota State coach Mike Hastings. Cilliers was Wisconsin's top-line center last season.
As a right-winger, Wisconsin also expects great contributions from Mr. Laskoski. All six forwards who left the program were right-handed. Mathieu de Saint Phalle and Cilliers have signed professional contracts with one season of eligibility remaining. Cruz Lucius (Arizona State), William Whitelaw (Michigan State), Charlie Stramell (Michigan State) and Sam Stange (Omaha State) transferred.
“I think I can offer exactly what I've been doing here at RIT: playing a 200-foot game and it starts on the defensive side of the puck,” Laskoski said. “But I can provide some offense, whether it's five-on-five or on the power play.”
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Laskosky played in 124 games over four seasons at RIT, scoring 32 goals and 84 points. He previously played four full seasons in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, scoring 40 goals in 56 regular season games with his hometown Camrose Kodiaks in 2019-20.
Laskoski was the fourth addition to the Badgers roster through the transfer portal this offseason. Forwards Ryland Mosley and Kyle Kukkonen join from Michigan Tech, and Scarfone joins from RIT. Wisconsin had to replace 11 players who left last season, and the team won 13 more games than it did in 2022-23.
The University of Wisconsin has added depth to its defense with the commitment of Weston Knox, captain of the Minot Minotaurs of the North American Hockey League.
The Badgers will likely look to add more forwards to fill out their roster for the 2024-25 season. Forwards Gavin Morrissey and Ryan Botterill, defensemen Logan Hensler and Jack Phelan, and goaltender Anton Castro have signed to join Wisconsin as freshmen next season.
“The team had a great season under Coach Hastings in his first year,” Laskoski said. “I think this program has a bright future under him over the next few years, and I'm very excited to have the opportunity to learn from him for a year.”
PHOTOS: Samantha Madar's favorite photos of Wisconsin men's hockey from the regular season
Wisconsin's Christian Fitzgerald takes to the ice before a game against the Lindenwood Lions on Jan. 13, 2024, at the Kohl Center in Madison.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
University of Wisconsin forward Quinn Finley celebrates after scoring a goal in an unofficial penalty shootout against Minnesota at the Kohl Center on February 3, 2024.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin forward Owen Mehlenbacher shoots the puck against Minnesota defenseman Karl Fisch during the first period at the Kohl Center, Feb. 2, 2024.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin's David Cirie breaks his stick while shooting the puck during the second period of a game against Lindenwood at the Kohl Center on Jan. 13, 2024.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
University of Wisconsin forward Owen Lindmark celebrates after scoring a goal in the third period against Minnesota at the Kohl Center on February 2, 2024.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin forward Tyson Dike attempts to pass the puck during the second period of a game against Notre Dame at the Kohl Center on February 10, 2024.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin goalie Kyle McClellan stops the puck during the second period of a game against Notre Dame on February 9, 2024 at the Kohl Center.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
University of Wisconsin forward Mathieu de Saint Phalle (left) and forward Simon Tussey celebrate after defeating Michigan at the Kohl Center in Madison on Nov. 4, 2023.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
The Wisconsin student section sings during the third period of a game against Notre Dame on February 9, 2024 at the Kohl Center.
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Wisconsin defenseman Joe Parodiczuk slides into the puck with Minnesota forward Brody Lamb during the third period at Kohl Center on February 3, 2024.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin forward Carson Bantle (right) celebrates with forward David Cirier after scoring in the third period against Notre Dame on February 9, 2024 at the Kohl Center.
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University of Wisconsin forward Mathieu de Saint Phalle celebrates after scoring a goal in the first period against Michigan on Nov. 4, 2023, at the Kohl Center.
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Wisconsin's Daniel Latsch, from left, Kyle McClellan and Anthony Koehler are introduced before the game against the Lindenwood Lions on January 12, 2024 at the Kohl Center.
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Wisconsin forward Quinn Finley prepares for puck drop during the first period against Notre Dame on Feb. 10, 2024, at the Kohl Center.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin's Ben Dexheimer takes to the ice before a game against Lindenwood on Jan. 12, 2024 at the Kohl Center.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
On February 2, 2024, during the first period at Kohl Center, Minnesota defenseman Ryan Chesley, 71, grabbed Wisconsin forward Sawyer Scholl and threw him onto the ice.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin forward William Whitelaw, 8, celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal in an unofficial shootout against Minnesota at the Kohl Center on February 3, 2024.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Notre Dame's Niko Jovanovic pushes Wisconsin forward Quinn Finley onto the ice during the first period at the Kohl Center on February 9, 2024.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
University of Wisconsin forward Simon Tussey skates with the puck during the first period of a game against Notre Dame on February 9, 2024 at the Kohl Center.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
University of Wisconsin forward Christian Fitzgerald celebrates with fans after scoring in the second period against Notre Dame at Kohl Center in Madison on February 9, 2024.
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Penn State defenseman Jimmy Dowd Jr.'s skate touches Wisconsin forward Simon Tussey during the second period at the Kohl Center on Dec. 8, 2023.
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Wisconsin forward Carson Buntle smiles as Notre Dame forward Carter Slaggert, 25, speaks with Buntle during the third period at the Kohl Center on February 9, 2024.
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Wisconsin defenseman Joe Parodiczak (14), forward Tyson Dike (16) and defenseman Ben Dexheimer (4) were hit by forward William after Whitelaw scored in the first period.・Celebrate with Whitelaw (8). February 10, 2024 at the call center.
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Wisconsin forward Carson Bantle shoots the puck during the first period of a game against Notre Dame on February 10, 2024 at the Kohl Center.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Notre Dame defenseman Michael Mastrodomenico punches Wisconsin forward Simon Tussey during the second period at the Kohl Center on February 10, 2024.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin's Jack Hoback passes the puck to Owen Lindmark during a game against Alaska Anchorage on Nov. 24, 2023 at the Kohl Center.
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Wisconsin defenseman Anthony Koehler, 24, forward Mathieu de Saint Phalle, 12, and forwards David Cilliers, 15, and Carson Bantle, 21, were leaning against the boards as referees called Madison's Kohl Center at The Stadium on Feb. 3, 2024, during a review of the play against Minnesota.
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Wisconsin forward Simon Tussey shoots the puck at Michigan State goaltender Trey Augustine during the first period at the Kohl Center in Madison on March 1, 2024.
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Wisconsin forward Owen Mehlenbacher passes the puck during the first period of a game against the Michigan State Spartans on March 1, 2024 at the Kohl Center.
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Wisconsin players yell at Michigan State forward Reid Lebster, who rolled onto the Badgers' bench in the first period, at the Kohl Center on March 1, 2024.
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Michigan State defenseman Patrick Geary punches Wisconsin forward Sawyer Scholl during the first period at the Kohl Center on March 2, 2024.
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Wisconsin goaltender Kyle McClellan blocks a Michigan State shot during the second period at the Kohl Center in Madison on March 2, 2024.
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