SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State (LSSU) hockey program (15-18-1, 11-12-1 CCHA) is set to open the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) Mason Cup Playoffs with a best-of-three series at St. Thomas (14-18-2, 12-11-1 CCHA).

• LSSU finished the regular season with a record of 15-18-1 with a mark of 11-12-1 in conference play, including a weekend split against the Tommies just after Thanksgiving. The Lakers ended the regular season by avenging a pair of January losses with a 4-1 rout of Ferris State on March 1.
• The Tommies split a pair of games at Michigan Tech to close out the regular season, but they suffered a 6-0 loss at the hands of the Huskies in their most recent outing. 
• The Lakers hold a 5-4-0 lead in the all time series, but these two programs have been an even 4-4 against one another since the Tommies made the jump to NCAA DI with the fifth Laker win being traced all the way back to an NAIA semifinal game in 1974 en route to the Lakers' second NAIA National Championship just over 50 years ago to the date (March 2, 1974). 
• In the only two games between these two programs this season, the Tommies came away with a 4-2 win in the Friday game with Liam Malmquist scoring the opening goal 17 seconds into the game. In game 2, the Lakers were the ones to set the tone early with Ross Roloson (Woodbury, Minn.) scoring in the opening minute and Branden Piku (Harrison Twp., Mich.) doubling up the score at the 2:49 mark. Carter Batchelder (Savage, Minn.) then made it a 3-0 game midway through the first, and Ethan Langenegger (Kamloops, B.C.) proved steady between the pipes to split the series with a 3-1 victory to close out the weekend.
• Laker newcomers played a pivotal role in the last two meetings between these two teams as all five Laker goals during the series at St. Thomas were scored by first-year players (John Herrington (Hudson's Hope, B.C.), Batchelder x2, R. Roloson, & Piku). 
• Piku was named the CCHA Rookie of the Week after scoring twice in the Lakers' last time on the ice in a 4-1 victory over Ferris State, including the game winner, and Connor Milburn (Kamloops, B.C.) had a career-best three-point performance in his first game back after missing the previous two series. 
• Special teams continues to be an emphasis for the Lakers going into the postseason with the top penalty kill unit in the league at 84.4% which ranks eighth in the nation. They also boast the top power play unit in the CCHA with a 24.5% success rate. 
• The Lakers finished the regular season with the top offense in the CCHA, scoring 3.06 goals per game, but defense has often proven to be more crucial throughout the season as LSSU is 11-1-1 in games where they allow 2 goals or fewer, but they stand at 0-14-0 after allowing a fourth goal (4-3-0 when allowing exactly 3).
• Senior Jared Westcott (Imperial, Mo.) is currently leading the team in goal scoring with 17 and points with 34.
• Ten different Lakers have recorded at least ten points so far this season, led by Westcott's 34. C. Milburn (30), Dawson Tritt (Spokane, Wash.) (23),  Timo Bakos (Augsburg, Germany) (22), Harrison Roy (Lakeville, Mass.) (22), Herrington (19),  Batchelder (15), Evan Bushy (Thief River Falls, Minn.) (15), R. Roloson (14), and Nate Schweitzer (Champlin, Minn.) (12) have also reached double-digit scoring.