Game Notes 

For Starters                                                                                                                                                                                  

• Lake Superior State will travel to Ann Arbor, Mich. this weekend to take on the No. 3 Michigan Wolverines in a two-game non-conference series on Friday, Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 9 at 7:00 p.m. at Yost Ice Arena. 
• Last weekend, the Lakers opened the program's 56th season with a non-conference series against the No. 17 Nebraska Omaha Mavericks in Omaha, Neb. The Lakers opened the season with a thrilling 4-3 come-from-behind overtime victory on Saturday night and the Mavericks responded with a 3-0 win on Sunday evening to split the pair of weekend games at Baxter Arena. 
• The Lakers return to the ice following 19-7-3 overall record during the 2020-21 season and a 9-5-0 WCHA record as the team finished the regular season second in the WCHA standings and earned the Jeff Sauer Trophy as the Lakers won a conference championship for the first time since the 1994-95 season. With the conference championship title, the Lakers received an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament and fell to eventual national champion, UMass, in the opening round of the tournament. 
• In both the USCHO and USA Today/USA Hockey polls this week, the Lakers received votes. Lake Superior State earned 37 votes in the USCHO poll and seven votes in the USA Today/USA Hockey poll. This week's polls mark the 19th straight poll, dating back to Nov. 23, 2020, that the Lakers have received votes in at least one of the two national polls (USCHO and USA Today/USA Hockey). 
• Lakers Head Coach Damon Whitten enters his eighth season behind the bench in Sault Ste. Marie in 2021-22. In May 2021, Whitten agreed to terms on a six-year contract, solidifying the program through the 2027-28 season. The Laker head coach has led the team to a 100-134-27 record, with playoff appearances in all but one season. Whitten recorded his 100th career win as a head coach on Oct. 2 with the Lakers 4-3 victory over No. 17 Omaha.

Last Weekend Recap                                                                                                                                                                               

• In Saturday's season opening game, the Lakers fell behind 2-0 early in the first period to the No. 17 Omaha Mavericks. Brandon Puricelli would net the Lakers first goal of the season, with his centerman, Louis Boudon, recording the lone assist. 
• Later in the first period, the Lakers tied the game at two when freshman Dawson Tritt scored his first collegiate goal in his first game as a Laker. Tritt's goal came at 17:49 of the first period with Puricelli and Harrison Roy tallying the helpers on the Lakers first game-tying goal of the game. Roy's assist marked his first point as a Laker, as the sophomore forward played for the Boston College Eagles last season.
• The Mavericks held a 3-2 lead heading into the third period and the Lakers tied the game with 1:04 left in regulation as LSSU netminder Seth Eisele was pulled in favor of the extra attacker. Roy netted his first goal as a Laker as he followed up on a play created by Dustin Manz and Miroslav Mucha in front of the Omaha net to force overtime. With an assist earlier in the game, Roy recorded his first career multi-point game. 
• At 3:08 of the five-minute three-on-three overtime session, Puricelli capped off a career-night, scoring the game winning goal in overtime to complete the Lakers come-from-behind win. Puricelli collected a pass from defenseman Arvid Henrikson and beat the Omaha goaltender with a backhand shot for the 4-3 win. 
• It marked the first multi-point game of Puricelli's career as well as a career-best three points (2G, 1A) in a single game. Puricelli's first multi-point game of the 2021-22 stands as the fourth of his collegiate career. 
• Eisele backstopped the Lakers to the 4-3 win with a career high 37 saves in win, including 17 in the second period to secure the road win. 
• The win marked the 100th career win for head coach Damon Whitten, who has compiled a 100-134-27 record in his eighth season behind the Laker bench. 
• Including this year's 4-3 overtime win at No. 17 Omaha, the Lakers have gone six straight seasons without a loss in their first game of the season (5-0-1).
• In the second game of the weekend series, the Lakers dropped a 3-0 contest to the Mavericks. Sophomore goaltender Ethan Langenegger got the start in goal for the Lakers, and made a career-best 26 saves in the game.
• Six skaters made their collegiate debut at Omaha during the first weekend of play. Timo Bakos, Cole Craft, Grant Hindman, Josh Nixon, and Dawson Tritt all played their first game as a Laker on Oct. 2 while Brett Roloson made his debut on Oct. 3. Transfers Harrison Roy and Jake Willets both made their Laker debut on Oct. 2 at UNO. 

Non-Conference October                                                                                                                                     

• The Lakers will play eight non-conference games during the 2021-22 season, with all eight contests scheduled for the month of October. This weekend's series against the Wolverines will mark the second non-conference series of the season, following last weekend's match up with the No. 17 Omaha Mavericks. 
• The final two non-conference series for the Lakers will come on home ice during the final two weekends of the month as LSSU hosts a pair of ECAC teams from upstate New York. The Union Dutchmen will take on the Lakers in Sault Ste. Marie on Friday, Oct. 22 and Sat, Oct. 23. The following weekend (Oct. 29-30), Lake Superior will play its final non-conference series of the season as the St. Lawrence Saints visit the Taffy Abel Arena for the weekend series. 

Laker Firsts                                                                                                                                      

• Six skaters made their collegiate debut at Omaha during the first weekend of play. Timo Bakos, Cole Craft, Grant Hindman, Josh Nixon, and Dawson Tritt all played their first game as a Laker on Oct. 2 while Brett Roloson made his debut on Oct. 3. Transfers Harrison Roy and Jake Willets both made their Laker debut on Oct. 2 at UNO. 
• Tritt scored his first collegiate goal in his Laker debut on Oct. 2, marking his first collegiate point as well. 
• Roy tallied his first points as a Laker in his first game as the sophomore forward tallied the game-tying goal with 1:04 left in regulation and an assist against the Omaha Mavericks on Oct. 2. 

Welcome Back                                                                                                                                            

• The Lakers return nine forwards (Louis Boudon, Spencer DenBeste, Jack Jeffers, Dustin Manz, Miroslav Mucha, Benito Posa, Brandon Puricelli, Joshua Wildauer, Tyler Williams), six defensemen (Jacob Bengtsson, Artyom Borshyov, Jeremy Gervais, Arvid Henrikson, Jacob Nordqvist, Mitchell Oliver, ), and two goaltenders (Seth Eisele, Ethan Langenegger) from last season's roster. 
• Lake Superior's skaters will return 43.0% of last season's goal scoring (31 of 86 total goals), and 46.2% of the total points recorded (110 of 238 total points). 
• Four of the Lakers top 10 point scorers from last season are back this season (Boudon, Nordqvist, Puricelli, Mucha) and two of the team's top five goal scorers (Puricelli, Boudon). 
• Last season the Lakers had 11 players record 10 or more points with five of those skaters returning this season (Boudon, Nordqvist, Puricelli, Mucha, Jeffers).
• Seven returners for the Lakers scored at least one game winning goal last season (Bengtsson, Boudon, Jeffers, Mucha, Oliver, Posa, Puricelli).
• The goaltending duo of Eisele and Langenegger combined for a 5-1-0 record last season as Langenegger played in six games for the Lakers while Eisele appeared in four contests. Langenegger posted a .906 save percentage and a 2.27 goals against average during his freshman season while Eisele recorded a .912 save percentage and a 2.18 goals against average for the Lakers. 

"Fresh" Faces                                                                                                                           

• The Lakers welcome an freshman class of composed of nine student-athletes, including six forwards (Timo Bakos, Cole Craft, Josh Nixon, Brett Roloson, Dawson Tritt, Jordan Venegoni), two defensemen (Grant Hindman, Sebastian Miedema), and one goaltender (Easton Hesse). 
• Bakos played for Starbulls Rosenheim in the German Oberliga league during the 2020-21 season, posting four assists in 27 games. The German born forward spend the 2019-20 season playing for Sioux Falls in the USHL and totaled 15 points (7G, 8A) in 41 games. 
• Craft spent the 2020-21 season playing for the Lincoln Stars in the USHL, and posted 14 points (9G, 5A) in 47 games. Prior to the USHL, played two seasons in the CCHL and totaled 111 points (42G, 69A) in 115 games played. 
• Nixon totaled 23 points (9G, 14A) during the 2020-21 season, playing with the Maryland Black Bears of the NAHL.
• Roloson played for the Minot Minotauros of the NAHL during the 2020-21 seaason and posted 22 points (7G, 15A) in 36 games. 
• Tritt spent the 2020-21 season with the Lone Star Brahams of the NAHL, and posted 14 points (8G, 6A) in 32 games played. 
• Venegoni played for the Amarillo Bulls of the NAHL last season, and posted 26 points (8G, 18A) in 44 games for the Bulls. In 2019-20, Venegoni led the Bulls in goals with 27 and was named  Offensive Forward of the Year for Amarillo.
• Hindman recorded 10 points (5G, 5A) during the 2020-21 season with the USHL's Youngstown Phantoms. The Michigan-born defenseman participated in USA Hockey's U16 and U17 Select Camps. 
• Miedema played four seasons of junior hockey (2016-20) split between Swedish junior leagues (J18 Elite, J18 Allsvenskan, J20 SuperElite) and the USHL. Miedema last competed during the 2019-20 season with Sioux Falls where he recorded three points (1G, 2A) in 18 games. 
• Hesse played three seasons of junior hockey for the Bonnyville Pontiacs of the AJHL. During the 2020-21 season, Hesse was named the team's MVP as he posted a 6-3-1 record with a 2.11 goals against average and a .931 save percentage. Hesse's save percentage was the best among all AJHL goaltenders in 2020-21.

Portal Pickups                                                                                      

• Jake Willets (Ferris State), Harrison Roy (Boston College), and Logan Jenuwine (Arizona State) will each put on the Laker jersey for the first time this season.
• Willets, a junior defenseman, has posted 28 points (5G, 23A) in 52 career games while at Ferris State. As a freshman, Willets led the Bulldogs in poinnts (22) and assists (19), and was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team.
• Roy, a sophomore forward, played in 23 games for the BC Eagles as a freshman during the 2020-21 season. Roy finished his first collegiate seaason with three points (2G, 1A).
• Jenuwine, a junior forward, will make his Laker debut this season. During the 2019-20 season, Jenuwine played in 10 games for Arizona State and recorded four points (3G, 1A). 

Lakers vs. Michigan                  

• The Lakers and the No. 3 Michigan Wolverines will meet for a two-game non-conference series, marking the third time in the last four seasons that the two teams have faced off.
• In the all-time series between the two teams, the Wolverines hold the advantage over the Lakers with a 49-68-8 record. The most recent meeting between the two teams was on Oct. 19, 2019 with Michigan posting a 4-3 win at Yost Ice Arena. 
• The Lakers are looking to snap a three-game losing streak to the Wolverines, as the last LSSU win over Michigan came on Nov. 2, 2018 in a 5-2 win. 
• Jacob Nordqvist leads the Lakers with three points (1G, 2A) in four career games against Michigan. Junior forward Louis Boudon is the only other Laker to post a point against the Wolverines (1G). 

Scouting the Wolverines                                                                             

• No. 3 Michigan is led by Mel Pearson, who enters his fifth season as the head coach of the Wolverines in 2021-22. 
• Prior to Michigan, Pearson was the head coach at Michigan Tech from 2011-17 where Damon Whitten served as his assistant coach from 2011-14.
• The Wolverines return to the ice following an overall record of 15-10-1 during the 2020-21 season. Michigan opened the 2021-22 season last weekend with a 7-1 win over Bowling Green in an exhibition game. 
• Michigan boasts a roster with an impressive seven first-round draft picks, including the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Owen Power. In addition, Matty Beniers was selected second overall, Luke Hughes was picked fourth overall, and Kent Johnson was chosen fifth overall in the 2021 draft. 
• Sophomore Thomas Bordeleau led the Wolverines in points (30) last season with eight goals and 22 assists in 24 games played. Michigan also returns three skaters who recorded 20 or more points last season in Kent Johnson (9G, 18A), Matty Beniers (10G, 14A), and Brendan Brisson (10G, 11A). As a freshman defenseman, Power recorded three goals and 13 assists in 26 games. 
• Sophomore goaltender Erik Portillo appeared in five games as a freshman, posting a 4-1 record with a 1.67 goals against average and a .936 save percentage. 

In the Polls                                                                         

• In both the USCHO and USA Today/USA Hockey polls this week, the Lakers received votes. Lake Superior State earned 37 votes in the USCHO poll and seven votes in the USA Today/USA Hockey poll. 
• The 2021-22 week one poll marks the 19th straight poll, dating back to Nov. 23, 2020, that the Lakers have received votes in at least one of the two national polls (USCHO and USA Today/USA Hockey). 
• Last season, the Lakers were nationally ranked on nine occasions and peaked at the No. 13 spot in both polls on March 22. 
• In the CCHA Preseason Coaches Poll,  Lake Superior State was picked to finish in the sixth spot, receiving 45 total points. 

Strong Starts                                                              

• In his tenure at LSSU, Whitten has led the Lakers to a 5-2-1 record in season openers and a 5-1-1 record in home openers at the Taffy Abel Arena. Including this year's 4-3 overtime win at No. 17 Omaha, the Lakers have gone six straight seasons without a loss in their first game of the season (5-0-1).
• Senior defenseman Jacob Nordqvist has netted the game winning goal for the Lakers in two of the three home openers he has played in (10/15/19 vs Merrimack, 11/2/18 vs Michigan). 

Balanced Attack                                                       

• Lake Superior's skaters will return 43.0% of last season's goal scoring (31 of 86 total goals), and 46.2% of the total points recorded (110 of 238 total points). • Four of the Lakers top 10 point scorers from last season are back this season (Boudon, Nordqvist, Puricelli, Mucha) and two of the team's top five goal scorers (Puricelli, Boudon).
• Last season the Lakers had 11 players record 10 or more points with five of those skaters returning this season (Boudon, Nordqvist, Puricelli, Mucha, Jeffers).
• The Lakers 19 game winning goals during the 2021-22 season were scored by 11
• different players - with seven of those players returning to the lineup this year.
• Jeffers, who spent two seasons at Alabama Huntsville, leads all active Lakers in career collegiate goals with 15 in his three seasons of play. The senior forward posted nine points in his first season as a Laker (2G, 7A) and has totaled 35 points (15G, 20A) in his NCAA career.      • Mucha enters his senior season coming off career highs in goals (5), assists (9), and points (14) last season. The Laker assistant captain spent time with the Slovakian national team during the offseason.
• Puricelli posted eight goals and seven assists in his first season with the Lakers as he finished the 2020-21 campaign tied for third on the team in goals and tied for fifth in points. The forward had an especially strong second half for the Lakers as he registered a career- best four game goal streak from March 12 - 20 (4G) and a career-best five game point streak from March 6 - 20 (4G, 3A).
• In the first game of the season, Puricelli tallied a career-best three points in the Lakers 4-3 overtime win over No. 17 Omaha. The junior forward scored the Lakers first goal of the season and assisted on the team's second goal of the game to tie the score at two. Puricelli completed the night with the game winner in overtime, marking his second career game winning goal and his first collegiate overtime win to propel the Lakers to a victory. 
• Harrison Roy, a transfer from Boston College, will be another key offensive contributor for the Lakers this season. In his Laker debut on Oct. 2 at Omaha, Roy posted his first career multi-point game with a goal and an assist. The Lakeville, Mass. native scored the game tying goal with 1:04 left in regulation to force overtime. 

Anchored Down                               

• Heading into the 2020-21 season, the Lakers return a strong back end presence as the  team's defensemen combine for 336 career collegiate games played while adding 19 goals, and 83 assists for a total of 104 points.
• Seniors Jacob Nordqvist and Mitchell Oliver bring the most experience to the back end for the Lakers, while juniors Arvid Henrikson and Jake Willets will also be relied on for the Lakers. Sophomores Jacob Bengtsson, Artyom Borshyov, and Jeremy Gervais round out the returning defensemen for the Lakers. 
• Nordqvist, who finished his junior season with 15 points (3G, 12A) in 29 games, leads all Lakers in career games played with 104. The Swedish defenseman ranks second among all active Lakers in career points with 46 (8G, 38A) and leads all active Laker defensemen in career points.
• Oliver played in 25 games for the Lakers during the 2020-21 season and set new career highs in goals (3), points (10), power play goals (2) and game winning goals (1). 
• The defenseman scored his first career goal, which proved to be the game winning goal, in the Lakers 4-1 win over the NMU Wildcats on Jan. 8. Oliver added an assist in the same game to record his first multi-point game of the season and the second of his career. 
• Oliver finished his junior season with a double digit point total for the first time in his career while also ranking fourth on the team in blocked shots (28). 
• Willets brings 52 games of previous collegiate experience to the Laker roster as he has been a mainstay on Ferris State's defense for the last two seasons. The junior defender has scored five goals in his career, with four coming while on the power play. 
• As a freshman during the 2019-20 season,  Willets led the Bulldogs in poinnts (22) and assists (19), and was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team.
• Junior defenseman Arvid Henrikson has appeared in 68 career games for the Lakers, including all 29 during the 2020-21 season. Last season, Henrikson ranked second on the team, and first among defenseman in blocked shots (31). This season, Henrikson has posted one assist.
• Bengtsson, Borshyov, and Gervais each enter their second season for the Lakers.  The trio combined for 57 games played during the 2020-21 season. 

Between the Pipes                                                                                                                             

• The Lakers return the goaltending duo of junior Seth Eisele and sophomore Ethan Langenegger, who combined for a 5-1-0 record last season for the Lakers. During the team's opening weekend at No. 17 Omaha, Eisele and Langenegger each started a game in goal for the Lakers, combining for a .913 save percentage and a 2.92 goals against average. 
• Eisele started in net in the team's season opener at No. 17 Omaha on Oct. 2, and posted his fourth career win as he made a career-high 37 saves in the victory. 
• Langenegger got the start for the Lakers in the second game of the seres against Omaha, and stopped a career-high 26 shots in a 3-0 loss. The sophomore goalie allowed two goals in the effort, finishing the night with a 2.02 goals against average and a .929 save percentage. 
• Eisele appeared in four games for the Lakers, posting a .912 save percentage and a 2.18 goals against average for the Lakers. The netminder totaled a 3-0-0 record during the 2020-21 season, which included his first career playoff win on March 16 as he stopped 16 shots against Alabama Huntsville to lead the Lakers to the two-game sweep over the Chargers in the WCHA Quarterfinals. 
• Langenegger played in six games for the Lakers, registering a 2-1-0 record as a freshman. The Laker goalie finished the season with a .906 save percentage and a 2.27 goals against average. 
• Langenegger earned his first collegiate win on Dec. 6, 2020 in a 3-2 win over the UAH Chargers and made his first career start on Feb. 7 against Northern Michigan. 

Other Information                                                                                          

• Every week Bill Crawford and Matt Pocket along with Head Coach Damon Whitten, the assistant coaches and players take a look at the Laker Hockey program.  A review of past games, a look ahead to future action and more information and insight on the team and players.  The show airs live every Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. on ESPN 1400. 
• All Laker home and away conference games during the 2021-22 CCHA season will be available to watch live on FloHockey, the CCHA's streaming partner. For more information or to sign up for a subscription, visit https:/www.flohockey.tv. 
• Bill Crawford and Matt Pocket will be calling the Laker games this season. The radio call will be available to listen to on 99.5 Yes FM, the official radio station of Laker hockey. The broadcast stream can also be accessed at www.yesfm.net
• Laker tickets are available to purchase at lssulakers.com. Season ticket packages, a 10-game Laker Gold flex plan, and single game tickets are on sale now! For more information on tickets, visit lssulakers.com or call (906) 635-2601.