Coming Up This Weekend

After claiming three-of-four possible points during a weekend Western Collegiate Hockey Association series against Upper Peninsula rival Northern Michigan, Lake Superior State travels to Ferris State this weekend for their final games of the regular season.

The Lakers (12-19-5, 9-12-5 WCHA) are now 3-1-1 in their last five games and have clinched their second consecutive trip to the WCHA playoffs. With 23 points in league play the Lakers have secured at least the seventh seed with Bemidji State ahead by only two points. If the Lakers can produce two or more points than the Beavers this weekend, the Lakers will claim the sixth seed in the WCHA playoffs.

The Bulldogs (14-13-6, 12-10-4 WCHA) have lost four games in a row after being swept on the road by Bowling Green last weekend. Dating back to their previous WCHA matchup, a Feb. 12-13 matchup with Northern Michigan, the Bulldogs have gone 1-3-0 in WCHA games and lost a Feb. 19 game against Michigan in non-conference play.

While the last five games have been daunting for Bob Daniels and his band of Bulldogs, FSU is coming off of an impressive undefeated (6-0-2) streak in the eight games prior to their Feb. 13 setback against the Wildcats.

Rookie of the Month

LSSU freshman sensation Gage Torrel (8-10--18) captured his second WCHA Rookie of the Month award following a strong showing in February. An integral part of a talented rookie group of Lakers, Torrel led all WCHA freshmen (and tied for 15th nationally) with seven points as the Lakers clinched a playoff berth with a 3-1-1 run to end February.

The freshman from Monticello, Minn. also tied for the league rookie lead with four goals, while pacing freshmen with a mark of 0.88 points-per-game and three power-play points (1-2--3). Torrel tied for fifth in the WCHA overall for scoring and third in goals, while he notched a pair of assists on game-winning goals (Feb. 13 vs. Bemidji State and Feb. 26 vs. Northern Michigan).

Torrel's trophy cabinet is already beginning to fill with this, his second WCHA Rookie of the Month, after previously receiving the award for his outstanding play in December. The product of the Langley Rivermen in the British Columbia Hockey League also has two WCHA Rookie of the Week awards in-tow.

Fresh Faces Leading the Lakers

Along with Torrel, the LSSU freshman class has steered the ship this season. As a unit, the freshmen have combined for 38 goals and 56 assists (for 94 points), while also scoring the game-winning goal in 10 of the Lakers' 12 wins this season.

Diego Cuglietta (5-5--10) leads WCHA rookies with three game-winning goals and also scored the game-tying goal in Saturday's Cappo Cup clinching tie against Northern Michigan.

The other two game-winning goals for the Lakers were scored by sophomore newcomer J.T. Henke in back-to-back games during February. Henke is tied with Torrel for the scoring lead on the Lakers and is tied with NMU's Robbie Payne for 10^th in the WCHA in sophomore scoring.

Following up Torrel and Henke in scoring for the Lakers this season is the freshman tandem of Mitch Hults (7-9--16) and Anthony Nellis (3-11--14). The pair also rank third and fourth in freshman scoring, respectively.

With a pair of assists last weekend, the youngest defenseman in the WCHA and native of Garden River, Ont., Owen Headrick moved into a tie with Alaska Anchorage's Wyatt Ege for the scoring lead among WCHA freshmen defenders.

The Series vs. Ferris State

Overall: LSSU leads 67-52-13 In Big Rapids: LSSU leads 31-29-5

Last meeting (at LSSU): Nov. 27-28, 2015, FSU won 1-0 / LSSU won 3-2

Streak: LSSU 1-0-0

The teams last met Nov. 27-28, 2015 at Taffy Abel Arena with the sides earning a split on the series. The Bulldogs captured a 1-0 victory in the first game to extend a 10-game winning streak over the Lakers. In Game 2 LSSU rallied behind a three-goal third period to edge the Bulldogs 3-2 and snap the losing streak.

The series dates back to Dec. 15-16, 1977 as the teams first met as nonconference opponents. The Lakers swept the first series 8-2, 8-3 between the teams and went on to win the next four meetings.

A series history of lengthy streaks for one side or the other was never more apparent than a streak from the 1988-97 season, in which the Lakers would go 28-2-4 against FSU overall.

During the last decade, however, the Bulldogs have risen to a program of national prominence and have paced the Lakers 15-10-6 overall in the rivalry series, including the 10-game winning streak.

LSSU Alumni Association Tailgate at Ferris State (March 5)

Join Laker Alumni and hockey fans before the Lakers take on the Bulldogs on Saturday, March 5 at Buffalo Wild Wings on Perry St. in Big Rapids. The LSSU Alumni Association provides appetizers and a drawing for some great LSSU door prizes.

Tailgate cost is $5 per person at the door, or free for dues-paying members of the LSSU Alumni Association and children 10 and under.

Buy game tickets at: http://www.startickets.com/events/item/fsu-hockey-vs-lake-superior-state-4 or call 1-800-585-3737.

Ticket prices are: $12 Adults, $10 Seniors, $7 children

Laker Log

• Last weekend the Lakers earned the program's first Cappo Cup series victory over rivals Northern Michigan since the 2012-13 season with a 2-1-1 advantage over the Wildcats this season.
• Sophomore goaltender Gordon Defiel helped backstop a strong defensive effort by the Lakers last weekend, allowing only three goals to the visiting 'Cats.
• Defiel turned aside 54-of-57 shots on the weekend to improve his season saves percentage to .921 and now sports a lower 2.48 goals-against average to-boot.
• On a weekend the Lakers dedicated to honoring their six seniors, the freshman class delivered the majority of the offensive fire power.
• The freshman class scored 4-of-5 Lakers goals on the weekend and also combined for six assists, including both goals and all four assists on Saturday.
• Senior forward and assistant captain Bryce Schmitt (2-2--4) opened the scoring on Friday with an assist coming from fellow senior and team captain Austin McKay (1-3--4). Another senior and assistant captain, Eric Drapluk (0-1--1) added his first point of the season with an assist on the empty-net goal on Friday.
• Torrel finished the week with a power-play goal and a pair of assists on the weekend, including the game-winning helper on Friday.
• Torrel's three points on the weekend moved him into second place in overall scoring among WCHA rookies.
• Freshman Diego Cuglietta (5-5--10), who scored the game-tying goal on Saturday, leads WCHA rookies with three game-winning goals. Torrel and another LSSU freshman, C.J. Hayes (3-4--7), are tied for second on the team with two each.
• Headrick (4-7--11) joined Torrel in assisting Jake Hand's (2-6--8) game-winning goal on Friday. Headrick added assists in both games to move into a tie with Alaska Anchorage's Wyatt Ege for the WCHA lead in overall freshman defenseman scoring.
• Headrick leads WCHA freshmen blue liners with a .100 goals per shots on goal percentage.
• The three-point weekend gives the Lakers a 3-1-1 record in their last five games.
• Last time LSSU faced Ferris State came on Nov. 27-28. The teams split the series in the Soo, with Ferris taking a 1-0 victory in the first game and the Lakers rallying behind a three-goal third period in the second game to victory.
• Headrick scored the game-winning goal against the Bulldogs on Nov. 28.
• The Lakers can move to as high as sixth in the WCHA standings with Bemidji State two points ahead and taking on Minnesota State this weekend.
• LSSU will remain in seventh unless they collect two points or more than the Beavers  this weekend.
• 10-of-12 game-winning goals for the Lakers have been scored by freshmen this season. The other two game-winning goals were scored by Henke, who is in his first season with the program. The LSSU freshman class ranks second among WCHA teams with 10 game-winning goals behind only Minnesota State's seniors with 12.
• The LSSU freshman class (38-56--94) ranks second behind the NMU juniors (39-62--101) for the most points combined by a class in the WCHA.
• LSSU is second behind Alabama-Huntsville for the most blocked shots by a team in the WCHA with 462 this season. The Lakers rank 15^th nationally as a team for blocked shots. Sophomore defenseman Kyle Chatham (1-5--6) ranks tied for second with Graeme McCormack of Bemidji State with 69 blocks. Chatham and McCormack are tied for 14^th nationally in blocked shots.
• The Lakers are third nationally for the most penalties committed with 193. The Lakers have served the most penalty minutes (530) among all Division I teams. Sacred Heart is second with 528 penalty minutes.

Scouting the Bulldogs

• The Bulldogs have lost four straight but were undefeated (6-0-2) in their eight games prior to the losing streak.
• Gerald Mayhew leads the Bulldogs with 10 goals and has a team-high 19 assists. The junior forward is tied for third in WCHA overall scoring.
• Corey Mackin ranks second on the team in scoring and has turned in an exceptional rookie campaign. Mackin leads all WCHA  freshmen in scoring with 9-14--23.
• Mackin has been named WCHA Rookie of the Month once this season and has garnered three player of the week awards from the WCHA.
• In net, the Bulldogs have rode freshman Darren Smith (11-8-5 overall) to success this season. Smith has a .922 saves percentage to go along with a 2.29 goals-against average.
• Smith has been tagged with each of their last four losses and allowed 17 goals in that span.
• The freshman netminder also played every game of their eight-game unbeaten streak, allowing just 11 goals during that stretch and picking up his second shutout of the season.
• FSU is tied with Bowling Green for second in overall scoring with 2.67 goals per game but are seventh, behind the Lakers in sixth, in goals against with 2.73 goals allowed per game.

Special Teams Taking Shape

Following a strong special teams showing in February, the Lakers now boast the WCHA's sixth ranked power play unit, converting attempts at a 14.6 percent clip. The penalty killing unit improved to 85.8 percent overall on the season following a league-best 92.9 percent kill-rate during February.

The Lakers will not know they're quarterfinals destination until the conclusion of this weekend. Their three possible opponents include Minnesota State, Michigan Tech, and Bowling Green.

While they can't move up higher than sixth, the Lakers also will not drop further back than seventh.

Follow the Lakers

Be sure to follow Laker Hockey on Twitter (@HockeyLSSU) and on Instagram (lssuhockey) for the latest news and coverage of the team! You can also subscribe to the Laker Hockey YouTube channel for weekly videos!

Laker Hockey Show

Every week Bill Crawford along with head coach Damon Whitten, the assistant coaches and players take a look at the Laker Hockey program.  The program includes a review of past games, a look ahead to future action and more information and insight on the team and players. The show is live from the Antler's restaurant on East Portage Ave. every Monday night starting at 6 p.m. and can be heard on WKNW ESPN Radio 1400. Catch up on missed shows via the podcasts available at http://lakers.sovcomm.net/.

WCHA Final Five

Tickets for the 2016 WCHA semifinals on March 18 and finals on March 19 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids are $69. LSSU has seats in Section 102, Rows D through S. The first round of the WCHA Playoffs will be March 11-13 at the sites of the top four seeds. For Laker hockey ticket information, call 906-635-2602.

Laker Club

The LSSU Laker Club is the principle fundraising initiative for athletics at Lake Superior State University. With the help of a strong and active membership, the club will work to increase fan support at all LSSU athletic events. Membership also supports athletes in the classroom through Laker Club funded scholarships. LSSU athletes are high achievers inside and outside of the classroom.