SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. -- Lake Superior State University Hockey fans anxiously awaiting for an early glimpse of the 2017-18 LSSU men's ice hockey team will get their opportunity on Saturday, Sept. 30, when the Lakers will hold their annual Blue and Gold Intrasquad Game at LSSU's Taffy Abel Arena in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
The intrasquad game, which is scheduled to get underway at 3:07 p.m. (EDT), will consist of two 25-minute periods followed by a three-on-three overtime and then a shootout.
A donation entry fee is required for admittance with all proceeds going to LSSU Hockey's student cheering section, the Laker Legion. The donation funds collected to be used for an away game fans bus for the LSSU students.
Following the intrasquad contest, a "Skate With the Lakers" will be held for fans to participate in along with an autograph session by the 2017-18 Laker men's ice hockey student-athletes.
"We're looking forward to taking the ice for the 2017-18 season and the Blue-Gold intrasquad scrimmage is a great opportunity for the players to demonstrate the strides they have made this off season," said LSSU head coach Damon Whitten, who begins his fourth year at the Lakers' helm this upcoming 2017-18 season. "There is a real sense of excitement around the program and it's going to be great being back in Taffy Abel to kick off the season.
"We're also looking forward to partnering with the Laker Legion for this scrimmage. Our fans had a tremendous impact last season and we cannot wait to see how Laker Legion grows in its second year," added Whitten.
The Lakers, who posted an 11-18-7 record overall with an 8-13-7 mark in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) for the 2016-17 campaign, welcome back 18 letterwinners from last season's team. LSSU returns seven of its top nine points leaders from a season ago, including two of its top three point getters in senior forward J.T. Henke (10-20=30) and junior forward Diego Cuglietta (12-13=25).
Now is the time to purchase your 2017-18 LSSU Hockey Season tickets. Fans can conveniently buy or renew their season tickets at the Student Activity Center Help Desk, located in the Norris Center on the LSSU campus from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. (EDT) Monday through Friday and on Saturday's from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased by calling 906-635-2602 or ordering online at www.lssulakers.com/tickets. As a reminder, LSSU hockey season ticket holders have until Sunday, Oct. 1 to retain their seats for the upcoming 2017-18 season before there tickets will be released to other ticket holders.
2017-18 LSSU Laker Hockey Ticket Prices
Season Tickets:
Adults - $197.00
Youth (age 17-and-under) - $92.00
The Snowbird Package (First 13 Games):
Adults - $112.00
Single-Game Tickets
Adults - $13
Senior Citizens (60+) - $10
Youth (age 17-and-under) - $7
Group Tickets (10 or more Tickets):
Adults - $10
Senior Citizens (60+) - $8
Youth (age 17-and-under) - $5
Lake Superior State will host Laurentian University (Ontario) Sunday, Oct. 1, in an 3:07 p.m. (EDT) exhibition game at Taffy Abel Arena before officially dropping the puck for the 2017-18 season the following weekend, Oct. 6-7, with a non-league home-and-home series versus Northern Michigan. LSSU takes on NMU Friday, Oct. 6, in the Lakers' season home opener at 7:07 p.m. (EDT) in Sault Ste. Marie and then travels to Marquette, Mich. Saturday, Oct. 7, for the weekend series finale with a 7 p.m. (EDT) puck drop scheduled at the Berry Events Center. Lake Superior State begins its WCHA action Oct. 13-14 hosting 2016-17 WCHA Champion Michigan Tech in a pair of 7:07 p.m. (EDT) contests as part of its annual Great Lake State Weekend celebration.
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