Oct 26, 2023
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State (LSSU) hockey program (1-3-0) is set to travel to Upstate New York for a split weekend that sees them facing the Clarkson Golden Knights (2-3-0) on Friday before taking on the St. Lawrence Saints (1-3-0) the following day.
Clarkson Preview
- The all-time series between the Lakers and Golden Knights is currently tied at 7-7-0 entering the weekend after both teams split last season's series in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. with Clarkson earning a 4-3 overtime victory in game one before the Lakers bounced back the following day with a 5-1 performance for what was their first official win of the 2022-23 season.
- Four of the fourteen total games between the two programs have taken place during the postseason with those contests also being split evenly at 2-2.
- Clarkson currently holds a 2-3-0 overall record so far this season after coming off of a 4-1 loss to Merrimack in which the team committed seven penalties.
- Clarkson goaltender Austin Roden has had his moments so far this season, making 29 saves in a loss to Penn State, but senior Ethan Langenegger (Kamloops, B.C.) has proven to be reliable for LSSU, ranking sixth in the nation in total saves with 144 after only playing four games.
- Clarkson defenseman Dustyn McFaul is currently tied for seventh in the nation in blocks with 13.
St. Lawrence Preview
- The Lakers are set to face the St. Lawrence Saints for the first time since Oct. 2021 in the Soo with both teams tying at 2-2 in game one before LSSU earned a dominant 7-1 victory the following day.
- The Lakers lead the all-time series between the two programs 11-6-4 which includes an NCAA national championship victory for the Lakers in 1988 that saw newly inducted LSSU Athletic Hall of Famer Mark Vermette score arguably the most iconic goal in program history with the overtime game-winner.
- The Saints currently sit at a 1-3-0 overall record entering the weekend, and they will face the Michigan Tech Huskies prior to Saturday's matchup with the Lakers.
- Both teams boast sophomores that have gotten off to strong starts this season Saints' forward Felikss Gavars and Laker forward Connor Milburn (Kamloops, B.C.) each having notched three goals in their first four games to start the year.
- Josh Boyer has also been leading the Saints in faceoff percentage, entering the weekend ranked 30th in the nation with 55.1%.
Point Producers
- The Lakers return their leading goal-scorer from a year ago in co-captain Harrison Roy (Lakeville, Mass.) (12), and his seven power play goals last season ranked second in the CCHA.
- Assistant captain Dawson Tritt (Spokane, Wash.) posted nine goals and eight assists for 17 points last season, and he is the top returning point-producer from a year ago.
- Eight different Lakers notched their first points of the season on opening weekend against Michigan State.
- Milburn is currently leading the Lakers in goal-scoring with three, entering the weekend on a career-high three-game goal streak.
2023-24 Laker Firsts
- John Herrington (Hudson's Hope, B.C.) made his collegiate debut on the Lakers top line against Michigan State.
- Sasha Teleguine (North Attleborough, Mass.), Reagan Milburn (Kamloops, B.C.), Ross Roloson (Woodbury, Minn.), Carter Batchelder (Savage, Minn.), Nate Schweitzer (Champlin, Minn.), Cam Kungle (Red Deer, Alb.), Jack Blanchett (Monroe, Mich.), and Evan Bushy (Thief River Falls, Minn.) also made their debuts for the Lakers on opening weekend against MSU.
- Batchelder and R. Milburn earned their first career assists on opening weekend at No. 9 MSU.
- Herrington scored the first goal of his career to bring the Lakers back within one against No. 9 MSU.
- Branden Piku (Harrison Twp., Mich.), Luke Levandowski (Rosemount, Minn.), and William Hakansson (Oskarshamn, Sweden) made their collegiate debuts against Alaska Anchorage.
- Batchelder and R. Roloson scored the first goals of their careers against Alaska Anchorage.
- Kungle notched the first point of his career with an assist against UAA.
- Schweitzer notched his first point in a Laker Uniform with an assist against UAA
- C. Milburn is currently riding a career-high three-game goal streak.
The 2023-24 Season So Far
- The Lakers opened up the 2023-24 campaign with a pair of losses at No. 9 Michigan State, but they were able to keep fighting, showing flashes of what has the potential to be a bright future.
- LSSU came away with a split in their home-opening series against Alaska Anchorage, dominating the first game of the series 5-1 with five different goal-scorers before falling 3-2 the following day.
- The Lakers battled the Simon Fraser Red Leafs in an exhibition, and they were able to score three-unanswered goals in the third period for a 6-4 victory.