SAULT STE. MARIE -- Lake Superior State travels to East Lansing this week to face the Michigan State Spartans in a Thursday-Friday non-conference hockey series.
The Lakers (1-3-0, 0-0-0 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) and Spartans (1-2-1, 0-0-0 Big Ten) clashed two weeks ago during a 4-1 win for the Spartans in the Ice Breaker Tournament Portland, Maine. That was the first meeting between the two teams since 2012-13.
Thursday's game will mark the home opener for the Spartans, and both games are scheduled for a 7:05 p.m. start. A live video stream of Thursday's game will be available on http://www.msuspartans.com/collegesportslive. Friday's game can be seen on Big Ten Network Plus. Both games will air on Yes-FM 99.5.
The Lakers are trying to continue their momentum following Saturday's 4-0 home win over Northern Michigan. The Spartans are seeking respite inside the friendlier confines of Munn Ice Arena after a road sweep at Denver last weekend.
The Lakers have been propelled by a heralded freshman class this season. During the weekend home-and-home series against NMU, rookies scored all but one goal during the Lakers' 6-3 loss and 4-0 victory.
"The Friday game wasn't a whole lot different (from Saturday) besides the final score," said coach Damon Whitten, recapping the weekend split. "We out-shot them Friday night, got more grade-A chances. It was just one of those games where they put pucks to the net that ended up in the net .
"But I don't think there was a huge gap between the way we played (either night). That first period, getting off the bus, they had a little bit more energy and jump, but I thought we turned that around. I think the third period we out-shot them, 12-4, so we finished strong and that carried over into Saturday."
Freshman Gage Torrel (1-3--4) sparked the Lakers offense in Saturday night's win. Torrel produced three assists in the contest and was a +2 after missing Friday's game due to an injury sustained in practice during the week. Torrel is currently tied for eighth in the nation in points per game. Torrel's four points have come in just three contests, producing a 1.33 ppg average.
Four other freshman contributed multiple points over the weekend, including Mitch Hults (3-0--3), who scored a pair of power-play goals in the series opener. Hults is currently tied for the nation's lead in power-play goals with all three of his tallies coming with the man-advantage.
Diego Cuglietta (0-2--2) produced two assists in the 6-3 loss at NMU, and Josh Nendal (2-0--2) scored a goal in both games, which were his first two games played this season. C.J. Hayes (1-1--2) added the game-winning goal and an assist on Nenadal's goal during the series finale at Taffy Abel Arena.
Perhaps the biggest impact by a freshman during the weekend series came from Nick Kossoff -- the first goaltender in LSSU history to record a shutout in his collegiate debut. Kossoff blanked the 'Cats in the 4-0 victory at home on Saturday night.
The Lakers have given fans a glimpse of their improved scoring potential, already doubling their output compared the first four games last season (10 to 5).
The No. 6 Denver Pioneers (3-1) opened last weekend with a 4-2 victory over the Spartans before capturing a 3-0 victory to secure the sweep.
Albeit a rough trip for the Spartans, senior goaltender Jake Hildebrand continues to post exceptional numbers. Hildebrand holds a .926 saves-percentage and a 2.47 goals-against average while playing in every game this season.
J.T. Stenglein leads the Spartans with two goals and three assists for five points this season. Stenglein scored a goal and notched an assist against the Lakers on Oct. 10.
Spartan Mackenzie MacEachern scored two goals against the Lakers at the Ice Breaker Tournament and also added an assist against Denver. He is tied for the second-most points by a Spartan this season.
The LSSU Alumni Association is hosting a post-game social following Friday night's game and will be providing appetizers and chances to win LSSU door prizes. The event is scheduled to begin around 10 p.m. on Friday night at Tripper's Sports Bar in Lansing. The cost to attend is $5 per person at the door or free for LSSU students, kids under the age of 12 and dues-paying members of the Alumni Association.
For tickets to the games and to sit with fellow Laker fans, call 1-800-GO-STATE and request section G for chair-back seating or section F for bench seating.
For more information regarding the LSSU Alumni Association's Friday night social in Lansing: http://alumni.lssu.edu/lakersmsusocial.php
Spartans in a Thursday-Friday non-conference hockey series.
The Lakers (1-3-0, 0-0-0 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) and Spartans (1-2-1, 0-0-0 Big Ten)
clashed two weeks ago during a 4-1 win for the Spartans in the Ice Breaker Tournament Portland,
Maine. That was the first meeting between the two teams since 2012-13.
Thursday's game will mark the home opener for the Spartans, and both games are scheduled for a 7:05
p.m. start. A live video stream of Thursday's game will be available on
http://www.msuspartans.com/collegesportslive. Friday's game can be seen on Big Ten Network Plus.
Both games will air on Yes-FM 99.5.
The Lakers are trying to continue their momentum following Saturday's 4-0 home win over Northern
Michigan. The Spartans are seeking respite inside the friendlier confines of Munn Ice Arena after a road
sweep at Denver last weekend.
The Lakers have been propelled by a heralded freshman class this season. During the weekend home-
and-home series against NMU, rookies scored all but one goal during the Lakers' 6-3 loss and 4-0 victory.
"The Friday game wasn't a whole lot different (from Saturday) besides the final score," said coach
Damon Whitten, recapping the weekend split. "We out-shot them Friday night, got more grade-A
chances. It was just one of those games where they put pucks to the net that ended up in the net .
"But I don't think there was a huge gap between the way we played (either night). That first period,
getting off the bus, they had a little bit more energy and jump, but I thought we turned that around. I
think the third period we out-shot them, 12-4, so we finished strong and that carried over into
Saturday."
Freshman Gage Torrel (1-3--4) sparked the Lakers offense in Saturday night's win. Torrel produced three
assists in the contest and was a +2 after missing Friday's game due to an injury sustained in practice
during the week. Torrel is currently tied for eighth in the nation in points per game. Torrel's four points
have come in just three contests, producing a 1.33 ppg average.
Four other freshman contributed multiple points over the weekend, including Mitch Hults (3-0--3), who
scored a pair of power-play goals in the series opener. Hults is currently tied for the nation's lead in
power-play goals with all three of his tallies coming with the man-advantage.
Diego Cuglietta (0-2--2) produced two assists in the 6-3 loss at NMU, and Josh Nendal (2-0--2) scored a
goal in both games, which were his first two games played this season. C.J. Hayes (1-1--2) added the
game-winning goal and an assist on Nenadal's goal during the series finale at Taffy Abel Arena.
Perhaps the biggest impact by a freshman during the weekend series came from Nick Kossoff -- the first
goaltender in LSSU history to record a shutout in his collegiate debut. Kossoff blanked the 'Cats in the 4-
0 victory at home on Saturday night.
The Lakers have given fans a glimpse of their improved scoring potential, already doubling their output
compared the first four games last season (10 to 5).
The No. 6 Denver Pioneers (3-1) opened last weekend with a 4-2 victory over the Spartans before
capturing a 3-0 victory to secure the sweep.
Albeit a rough trip for the Spartans, senior goaltender Jake Hildebrand continues to post exceptional
numbers. Hildebrand holds a .926 saves-percentage and a 2.47 goals-against average while playing in
every game this season.
J.T. Stenglein leads the Spartans with two goals and three assists for five points this season. Stenglein
scored a goal and notched an assist against the Lakers on Oct. 10.
Spartan Mackenzie MacEachern scored two goals against the Lakers at the Ice Breaker Tournament and
also added an assist against Denver. He is tied for the second-most points by a Spartan this season.
The LSSU Alumni Association is hosting a post-game social following Friday night's game and will be
providing appetizers and chances to win LSSU door prizes. The event is scheduled to begin around 10
p.m. on Friday night at Tripper's Sports Bar in Lansing. The cost to attend is $5 per person at the door or
free for LSSU students, kids under the age of 12 and dues-paying members of the Alumni Association.
For tickets to the games and to sit with fellow Laker fans, call 1-800-GO-STATE and request section G for
chair-back seating or section F for bench seating.
For more information regarding the LSSU Alumni Association's Friday night social in Lansing:
http://alumni.lssu.edu/lakersmsusocial.php