TC West goaltender commits to LSSU

Edmondson will be No. 3 goalie

BY JAMES COOK
Traverse City Record-Eagle

Lake Superior State hockey coach Jim Roque was in town scouting the Traverse City North Stars and left with a different star.

While talking with TC West hockey coach Anthony Palumbo during his visit, Roque mentioned that he was looking for a third goaltender.

"I said, 'Hey, I think I've got that kid,' " Palumbo said to his former teammate at Lake Superior.

This week, Titans goaltender Mitch Edmondson committed to play at LSSU next season as a preferred walk-on. He will be the team's third-string netminder, behind All-CCHA goalie Jeff Jakaitis and an incoming freshman on scholarship. Jakaitis was an iron man for the Lakers last season, starting 35 of 36 games and logging 2,071 minutes between the pipes with a 2.23 goals against average.

"He's going to have to work hard to earn any playing time," Palumbo said. "I think he can fill that position nicely. He fits in well up there. It's all about having great character and work ethic — and he's got both."

Roque has never seen Edmondson play, but went on the recommendations of Palumbo, TC Central coach Chris Givens and Sault Ste. Marie prep coaches Al Dunbar and Doug Laprade, who saw Edmondson shut out No. 4-ranked Birmingham Brother Rice 3-0.

"The stars perfectly aligned for this to happen," Palumbo said.

It also means Edmondson won't have to go through junior hockey to play in college. He had considered trying out for the North Stars or going to Western Michigan University without playing hockey.

"I'm very thankful and fortunate to not have to go through that," Edmondson said.

Because of that, it's a good bet that he'll be the youngest player on the Laker squad.

Edmondson had a 9-2-1 record with a 1.34 goals against average and .945 save percentage last season for the 20-4-1 Titans. He was 4-0-1 in Big North Conference play, with a 1.16 GAA and .934 save percentage.

He will become just the second TC West player to go straight from preps to the NCAA, joining Justin White, who played in nine games for Notre Dame as a freshman last year.

Edmondson plans to major in business.