SAULT STE. MARIE – Lake Superior State will play host to Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State in 2012-13 -- the final year in which the Lakers and Central Collegiate Hockey Association representatives from the Big Ten will members of the same conference.

In 2013-14, LSSU will be one of five CCHA schools moving to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while U-M, MSU and OSU will compete in the Big Ten. The 2012-13 season is the CCHA’s 42nd and final season.

“It’s exciting that those schools are all here in the last year of the CCHA,” LSSU coach Jim Roque said. “I don’t think this will be the last time we play those schools. We’ve been talking to Michigan State, Michigan and Notre Dame (which is heading to Hockey East), and they’re willing to play us in non-conference games after this year. That will be good, although we won’t see them as often.”

LSSU plays host to Michigan State Oct. 26-27 during Great Lake State Weekend and meets Ohio State during Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 23-24. Michigan takes on LSSU in Taffy Abel Arena Jan. 18-19.

Lake Superior State opens the 2012-13 season with an exhibition game against Ryerson on Saturday, Oct. 6, then plays Michigan Tech in a home-and-home series the following week. The Lakers and Huskies meet in Sault Ste. Marie on Thursday, Oct. 11, and travel to Houghton on Saturday, Oct. 13.

The fifth annual Pink in the Rink will be Nov. 9-10 when the Lakers face Ferris State. LSSU also scheduled home series against Alabama-Huntsville, Northern Michigan, Union, Alaska and Miami.

“We have a really good schedule this year,” noted Roque, who returns 75 percent of the scoring from last year’s 18-17-5 squad. “Union and Ferris State were both in the Frozen Four last year. And having the Big Ten schools here is especially good for home fans. We go to Alaska early (Nov. 2-3), which is great, and we’re in the U.P. most of February.”

Laker hockey season tickets go on sale Monday, July 2. Ticket packages for the 2012-13 season are $216 (adult) and $98 (children/students) for 20 regular-season home games and a CCHA Playoff home series. Special packages are available for Thursday/Friday Only, Saturday Only, Snowbirds and Groups. Family Four-Packs are newly available for $30 and include two adult and two children’s tickets (a $6 savings). Single-game tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children/students.

Season ticket holders have until Aug. 31, 2012, to reclaim their seats. Should the Lakers not host a CCHA Playoff series in March, the deadline for playoff ticket refunds is May 15, 2013.

Thursday and Friday home games will begin at 7:35 p.m., and Saturday home games will start at 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 6, Ryerson (Exhibition), TBA

Thursday, Oct. 11, Michigan Tech, 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 13, at Michigan Tech, 7:07 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 19, at Bemidji State, 7:37 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 20, at Bemidji State, 7:07 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 26, Michigan State (GLSW), 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 27, Michigan State (GLSW), 7:05 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 2, at Alaska, 11:05 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 3, at Alaska, 11:05 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 9, Ferris State (Pink in the Rink), 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 10, Ferris State (Pink in the Rink), 7:05 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 16, Alabama-Huntsville, 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 17, Alabama-Huntsville, 7:05 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 23, Ohio State, 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 24, Ohio State, 7:05 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 30, at Notre Dame, 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 1, at Notre Dame, 7:05 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 7, at Miami, 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 8, at Miami, 7:05 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 14, Northern Michigan, 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 15, Northern Michigan, 7:35 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 4, Union, 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 5, Union, 7:05 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 11, at Western Michigan, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 12, at Western Michigan, 7:05 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 18, Michigan, 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 19, Michigan, 7:05 p.m.

TBA, at Ohio State, TBA

TBA, at Ohio State, TBA

Friday, Feb. 1, at Bowling Green State, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 2, at Bowling Green State, 7:05 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 15, Alaska, 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 16, Alaska, 7:05 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 22, Miami, 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 23, Miami, 7:05 p.m.

Friday, March 1, at Northern Michigan, 7:35 p.m.

Saturday, March 2, at Northern Michigan, 7:35 p.m.