Brendan Smith – Former NHL Defenseman with the Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils and Dallas Stars – “I was fortunate to play under Coach Oz (Osiecki) for three years. In that span Coach Oz (Osiecki) helped me grow from a young college player into a NHL professional hockey player. The areas I learned most from Coach Oz (Osiecki) were attention to defensive details, defensive situational awareness and skill development (skating, agility, small area movements, pivots, puck skills and shooting”

Jake McCabe – Toronto Maple Leafs – “With an extensive career as both a player and a coach at multiple levels, Coach Oz (Osiecki) has the ability to understand the game and relate to defensemen of all ages. Coach Oz’s (Osiecki’s) attention to small defensive details will really help your game grow to the highest level.”

Ryan McDonagh – Tampa Bay Lightning – “Coach Osiecki was my defense coach at the University of Wisconsin for three years. He was one of the top reasons why I committed to Wisconsin in the first place. I knew that his playing experiences combined with his coaching techniques were key for helping me continue to develop as a defenseman. Coach Oz (Osiecki) has the ability to understand the game and give you the necessary on ice drills as well as share with you his knowledge through video that will drastically improve your game. Coach Oz (Osiecki) really helped me refine my defensive game – making the right reads, on angling, using my skating for gaps and to jump up in the play. Coach Oz (Osiecki) also educated me on the skills necessary to become a professional defenseman as well as giving me the confidence to play the game at the highest level for a long period of time.”

Justin Schultz – Former NHL Defenseman with the Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Seattle Kraken – “Coach Oz (Osiecki) has been one of the most valuable assets to my hockey career. As a young kid coming to the University of Wisconsin, he helped me finetune my game not only at the College level but also for the NHL level. Oz’s knowledge and passion for the game of hockey is second to none.”

John Ramage – Former NHL Defenseman with the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets – “Coach Oz (Osiecki) set me up with the foundation to defend at an elite level. Through his knowledge, attention to detail and grit I would not be the defenseman I am today. Coach Oz had a lot to do with the level and longevity of my overall game.”

Jake Gardiner – Former NHL Defenseman with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes – Played 678 games in NHL – “Coach Oz (Osiecki) taught and helped me develop the fine details about the game which  allowed me to play at the NHL level for as long as I did. He was a firm believer in repetition of the skills that I had and was able to add his knowledge to my base which helped me develop my game to the highest level.”

Ty Emberson – Edmonton Oilers – My three years working with Coach Oz (Osiecki) taught me great management of the game. There are times to make plays and there are times to live to fight another day or punt pucks rather than force a puck play. Also working with Coach Oz three to four days a week gave me the ability and confidence to make puck plays given the opportunity.

Don Granato – NHL Coach – Mark Osiecki is an exceptional hockey mind whose expertise in developing defensemen is unmatched. As his teammate for six years and coaching colleague on two teams, I’ve witnessed Mark’s passion, competitiveness, and commitment to the game firsthand. His deep understanding of how hockey, particularly the defenseman position, has evolved over the past few decades keeps him at the forefront, allowing him to tailor innovative, individualized development plans that address a player’s current strengths and future potential. Mark’s ability to recognize each player’s unique capabilities and prepare them for upcoming opportunities is unparalleled. With a distinguished NHL playing career and extensive coaching experience, he has guided numerous defensemen to success at the college, junior, and NHL levels, making him an outstanding choice for players aiming to reach their highest potential.

Matt Greene – Current LA Kings Development Coach and Former NHL player with Edmonton Oilers and LA Kings – Stanley Cup Champion.

“I played for Coach Osiecki in Green Bay with the Gamblers of the USHL. Coach Oz was the first coach I played for who prioritized defensive skill drills everyday in practice focusing on the fundamentals of angling, stick position and shot blocking. I had never been coached on the importance of positioning and with a coach who allocated the time in practice to develop these skills daily. More importantly Coach Oz taught our defensive core about the intangibles to play championship hockey. This mentality helped me reach my goals as a player and apply these skills at the college and NHL levels.”

Tony Granato – Former NHL Player and Former NHL, Olympic and NCAA Coach. Played and was Head Coach a total of 1,068 NHL Games

“What Coach Oz does as well as any coach that I have worked with is he teaches situational hockey to his players to understand and read the game. The player gains the understanding on what plays are available to be made with the puck or how to read the play to defend without the puck.”