SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich.- Lake Superior State, looking to right the ship after last weekend's sweep at the hands of Alaska, looks for valuable conference points in front of its own fans when it plays host to Alabama-Huntsville Friday and Saturday at Taffy Abel Arena. The Lakers are at home for the first time since mid January.

This weekend's series will be part of the fourth annual White Ribbon Campaign. The event raises awareness of the work to end men's violence against women. Friday's game begins at 7:37 pm ET and Saturday's game is slated for 7:07 pm ET. Both games will be broadcast live on 99.5 YES FM and streamed on the AmericaOne video service at wcha.tv.

While at Alaska last weekend the Lakers (7-22-1 overall, 6-16-0 WCHA) skated to a 3-1 final on Friday and a 2-1 decision in the series finale Saturday. After going on a three-game win streak, including a sweep of Bemidji State and a split with then No. 6-ranked Bowling Green, the Lakers have lost three straight games and come in to the matchup 4-5-1 in their last 10 games. The Chargers, after going on their own run during the season's second half, have come back down to a pedestrian 4-6-0 in their last 10.

The weekend proves critical for both teams who have four valuable conference points on the line. LSSU and UAH enter the matchup tied for the eighth spot in the conference standings with 12 points. A sweep could potentially move either team into a tie with Bemidji State and Ferris State, who are both four points ahead and tied for sixth in the standings.

Last weekend the Lakers were led by freshman goaltender Gordon Defiel, who put up 80 saves on the 84 shots he faced against Alaska. While the offense sputtered for the Lakers, Defiel shined in allowing just two goals each night. Defiel posted the league's second-best save-percentage on the weekend (.952) while facing the most shots at 84. His 2.05 goals against average tied for fifth behind four goaltenders from the teams earning weekend sweeps. .

Defiel is tied for fourth in the nation for most games started in net this season. He has the nation's most saves (906) and has faced the most shots (990) by any goaltender. Defiel is currently on pace to break former Laker netminder Jeff Jakaitis' single-season saves record of 1,059. He currently posts a .915 save percentage and a 3.11 goals against average. He also has three shutouts on the year, which is good for a 10th-place tie in the national standings.

Since the two programs first met back in the 2004-05 season, the Lakers hold a 6-3-1 all-time record over the Chargers. However, the Lakers are 1-2-1 in games played in Sault Ste. Marie. The last time the Lakers and Chargers (7-18-3, 6-14-0 WCHA) met, the Lakers earned a 1-0 win during the series opener. Junior Bryce Schmitt scored the game's lone goal midway through the second period. Forcing a split on the weekend, the Chargers bounced back and lit the Lakers up for a season-high five goals in the 5-2 rout. Senior Chris Ciotti had a goal and an assist during the loss while Schmitt added an assist during Ciotti's goal. 

Since sweeping Bemidji State Jan. 16-17, Stephen Perfetto (8-5--13) has 3-2--5 in his last six games. Perfetto now ranks second on the team in points and leads the Lakers in goals. Linemate Garret Clemment (3-3--6) has 1-3--4 in his last six games, while Gus Correale (1-5--6) has three assists in that stretch. Freshman Luke Sandler (3-3--6) also has three points (2-2--4) in the past six games.

UAH points leader Max McHugh ranks fourth in scoring among all WCHA freshmen with 17 points (7-10--17). Freshman Brandon Parker leads the Chargers in assists with 11, which ties for fourth among WCHA rookies. Parker has registered an assist in three of the past four series including a pair of helpers against Alaska Anchorage (Jan. 3).

The UAH rookies lead all of their classes on the roster with 14 goals and 47 points this season.  Following McHugh and Parker are Brennan Saulnier (1-7--8), Richard Buri (3-1--4), Josh Kestner (2-2--4) and Cody Champagne (1-2--3).

Second-year head coach Mike Corbett has already surpassed last year's marks of 2-35-1 overall and 2-25-1 in the league. The Chargers are one of three teams in the NCAA to improve by five wins since the 2013-14 campaign. This is their best record since finishing 12-18-3 in 2009-10.

The Lakers will have their final bye week following the home series with the Chargers before they make their shortest road trip of the season -- the 164-mile jaunt to Upper Peninsula rival Northern Michigan to finish the Cappo Cup series. Following the road series with the Wildcats, the Lakers end with Ferris State at home on March 6-7.

Quick Hits: 

• LSSU Concessions will be selling adult beverages for the first time ever inside Abel Arena during both games of the series. A designated wristband area will be set up on the second level of the arena near the upstairs concession stand. The first beverage is $3.50 and every drink after will be $3 with the same cup. Budweiser, Bud Light, Busch, Busch Light, and Labatt Blue will be among the beverages available.
• LSSU's Big Seven will be giving away 1,200 white t-shirts before Friday evening's game and 400 prior to Saturday night's game in support of the White Ribbon Campaign's whiteout. Fans are encouraged to wear white during all LSSU events this weekend.
• Friday evening @HockeyLSSU, Laker Hockey's official Twitter account, will be holding a tweet-in-your-seat promotion geared toward student couples. The student couple with the best picture will be invited to enjoy Saturday's game from the Alumni Loft with up to 10 friends. Pizza and drinks will be provided during the game by the Whitten family.
• @HockeyLSSU will also give away $5-off coupons courtesy of Buffalo Wild Wings via tweet-in-your-seat promotions.
• LSSU Softball and the LSSU Alumni Association are sponsoring their annual Endless Pasta Prior from 5-7 p.m. Saturday in the Arbuckle Student Activity Center. Tickets are $8 and include all-you-can-eat pasta, meatballs, breadsticks and dessert.
• 90.1 WLSO, the student-run radio station, will be giving away a limited number of white megaphones and white ribbons prior to the game.

The White Ribbon Campaign:

The White Ribbon Campaign started in the Toronto area in the early 1990's when a group of men decided that they wanted to support the women in their lives that had experienced some sort of violence. They banded together and with one voice and mission they formed the White Ribbon Campaign.

Although the ribbon started as a symbol of men's opposition to violence against women, in many schools and communities both males and females wear the ribbon. For men, it is a personal pledge and for women it's a show of support that men and boys have a role and responsibility in ending violence against women.

Photo courtesy of Lisa Drapluk