SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State (LSSU) hockey program (7-7-0, 4-4 CCHA) are set to host the Minnesota State Mavericks (5-6-1, 3-3-0 CCHA) for a two game series in Taffy Abel Arena. 

• The Lakers are set to take on the two-time defending CCHA champion, Minnesota State Mavericks, who came away with a pair of victories over the Lakers in their most recent meetings in the opening round of the 2023 Mason Cup Playoffs.
• The Mavericks will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak with all three losses taking place in Mankato, Minn.
• LSSU is coming off of a series split at league-leading St. Thomas, but the Lakers have played better at home, boasting a 4-2 record inside Taffy Abel Arena compared to their 3-5 mark on the road. 
• The Lakers will be seeking their first victory over Minnesota State since Ethan Langenegger (Kamloops, B.C.) made 22 saves in a 1-0 shutout in Taffy Abel Arena with a goal from Louis Boudon at the 9:20 mark of the opening period being the difference.
• In a two-game regular season series last season, Minnesota State was able to come away with the win on both nights, but the Lakers gave them all they could handle, staying at least within one goal for all but eight seconds of the entire series due to an empty-netter.
• LSSU currently sits in fifth in the volatile CCHA standings with the Mavericks one spot behind by a difference of two league points. 
• Jared Westcott (Imperial, Mo.) enters the series coming off of his second-consecutive CCHA Forward of the Month award after producing 14 points in November, including an overtime game-winner to help sweep Bemidji State to open league play. 
• This series will see the top two goal-scorers in the CCHA face off in Westcott (12) and Minnesota State's Sam Morton (10).
• The trio of Westcott, Connor Milburn (Kamloops, B.C.), and Ross Roloson (Woodburn, Minn.) enter the series tied for third in the CCHA in +/- at +7, but Morton enters as one of only two ranked above them at +8.
• The Mavericks' first year player Evan Murr has also had a strong start to his career, ranking second on his team with 10 points, including a game-winner in overtime against Ferris State.
• Langenegger enters the series averaging the most saves per game at 29.38 while ranking third in save percentage (.907).
• Carter Batchelder (Savage, Minn.) enters the weekend on a three-game goal streak after scoring in each of the Lakers' games at St. Thomas.
• All five Laker goals during the prior series at St. Thomas were scored by first-year players (John Herrington (Hudson's Hope, B.C.), Batchelder x2, R. Roloson, & Branden Piku (Harrison Twp., Mich.)).