SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State athletic department would like to congratulate Men's Hockey Assistant Coach Mike York, who will have his jersey retired by the Iserlohn Roosters of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). 

During a celebration for Iserlohn's 25th anniversary of becoming a team in the DEL, a video from York appeared on the event screen with a special message for the fans. York's #78 Iserlohn Roosters jersey will be raised to the rafters of the Seilersee ice rink at the start of the 2020-21 season.  

York originally joined Iserlohn during the 2004-05 National Hockey League Lockout and posted 62 points (16G, 46A) in 52 games played. York went on to play eight more seasons in the NHL, American Hockey League and Finnish Elite League before returning to the Roosters for the 2011-12 season. 

York spent the final five seasons of his professional hockey career in Iserlohn, as he officially announced his retirement in Sept. 2016. A fan favorite with the fans of the Roosters, York finished his tenure with the team among the franchise's all-time point leaders. As of Sept. 2019, the left winger ranks sixth in games played (287), third in points (278), third in goals (93) and third in assists (185). 

Following his retirement, the Roosters organization made an announcement that York's #78 jersey number would be taken out of circulation and would be retired at a later date.

York was drafted by the New York Rangers in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft and played his first three seasons of professional hockey with the team. York's 50 point rookie season earned him a spot on the 1999-2000 NHL All-Rookie team. He would go on to play 10 seasons in the NHL, where he posted 332 points (127 G, 195 A) in 579 career games.  

Additional honors and achievements York received during his career include winning a silver medal with Team USA in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah and being named to the NHL All-Star Game in 2002. 

York's professional hockey career began after an exceptional college career at Michigan State from 1995-99. He led the Spartans in scoring from 1996-1999 and was a Hobey Baker Memorial Award Finalist twice. York was a NCAA All-American in 1998 and 1999, and was named the CCHA Player of the Year in 1999. 

York joined the Lakers staff at the start of the 2017-18 season as an assistant coach, and had spent the previous season as a student assistant coach at Michigan State University while he completed his degree. 

The men's hockey team opens its season with a non-conference series against Merrimack College at Taffy Abel Arena on Saturday, Oct. 5 and Sunday, Oct. 6. 

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