Nov 01, 2023
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State (LSSU) hockey program (3-3-0, 0-0-0 CCHA) is set to open Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) play this weekend when they take on the Bemidji State (BSU) Beavers (3-3--0, 2-0-0 CCHA) for a two-game series inside Taffy Abel Arena.
Series Preview
- The Beavers narrowly lead the all time series between the two programs by a single game entering the weekend (38-39-6).
- Last season, three of the four matchups between these two programs came down to the final seconds with a game-tying or game winning goal scored in the final 30 seconds of regulation in all three. In the most recent game between these two teams, Laker captain Harrison Roy (Lakeville, Mass.) scored the game winning goal
- Bemidji State enters the weekend at the top of the CCHA standings after a weekend sweep of St. Thomas while the Lakers are coming off of a weekend sweep in upstate New York with victories over Clarkson and St. Lawrence.
- LSSU enters the weekend as the highest ranked team in the CCHA in the pairwise rankings at No. 32 with the exception of division I newcomer Augustana who will not become full league members until the 2025-26 season.
- LSSU and Bemidji State met four times in the NAIA national championship game from 1968-1974 with the Lakers winning the 1964 NAIA title by a margin of 4-1.
- LSSU's Jared Westcott (Imperial, Mo.) and BSU's Lleyton Roed rank as two of the top-three goal scorers in the CCHA so far this season with Westcott coming off of the first Laker hat trick since the 2021-22 season and Roed scoring both Beaver goals in a 2-0 shutout over St. Thomas.
- Laker goaltender Ethan Langenegger (Kamloops, B.C.) enters the weekend ranked eighth in the nation in saves (193) while having played less games than five of seven players ranked ahead of him.
- Langenegger's 32.17 saves per game rank second in the CCHA, two spots ahead of BSU's Mattias Sholl.
- Westcott enters the weekend as the reigning CCHA Forward of the Week while Bemidji State boasts the reigning CCHA Rookie of the Week in Eric Pohlkamp.
- Westcott was also named the CCHA Forward of the Month for the month of October after tallying eight points (5G, 3A) with a +/- rating of +5, and BSU's Kyle Looft received CCHA Defenseman of the Month honors with five points and 15 blocked shots.
- Westcott is currently leading the Lakers in scoring with eight points on five goals and three assists after recording the first Laker hat trick since Dec. 2021 in a 5-2 win over Clarkson.
- Sophomore Connor Milburn (Kamloops, B.C.) is currently riding a five-game point streak (4G,2A) entering the weekend.