Lake Superior State Lakers Preview

By Tom Balog/Lake Superior Beat Writer

LAKE SUPERIOR STATE LAKERS

Head coach: Jim Roque (fifth season)

Home arena: Taffy Abel Arena (3,373)

Last season: 11-20-8 overall, 7-15-6 CCHA (T-10th), lost in CCHA first round to Western Michigan

Returning for the Lakers:
Goaltenders: Mitch Edmondson, Pat Inglis, Brian Mahoney-Wilson
Forwards: Will Acton, Pat Aubry, Dan Barczuk, Fred Cassiani, Brad Cooper, Zac MacVoy, Chad Nehring, Nathan Perkovich, Rick Schofield, John Scrymgeour, Brett Wall
Defensemen: Matt Cowie, Simon Gysbers, Kyle Haines, Tyson Hobbins, Steven Kaunisto, Kyle Pobur, Dillin Stonehouse

No longer sporting the Anchor:
Forwards: Troy Schwab, Josh Sim, Carter Lee
Defensemen: Steven Oleksy

New to the Sault:
Forwards: Eric Kraft, Nick McParland, Brian Cooper, Ben Power, Domenic Monardo
Defensemen: Zach Trotman

Outlook: The Lakers will need to use their depth on defense and in goal as they sail into another challenging non-conference and CCHA schedule.

LSSU will return seven out of eight defenseman including seniors Simon Gysbers and Co-captain Steven Kaunisto. Gysbers was ranked 11th and Kaunisto 12th in the CCHA in blueline points in ’08-’09 and will give Roque a steadying presence in back.

"All of our defensemen are mobile," Roque said. "They skate a lot better than people give us credit for. I see the experience in the room with having older guys back. Leadership is excellent this year, and the captains will do a good job pushing the guys."

Seniors Pat Inglis and Mitch Edmondson along with junior Brian Mahoney-Wilson will give the Lakers a solid trio between the pipes.

The Lakers lost 26 percent of their goal scoring from last season including, Troy Schwab and Josh Sim who combined for 22 goals and 60 points. Junior Zac MacVoy returns as the leading goal scorer (14) and along with Nathan Perkovich, Fred Cassiani, and Co-captain Rick Scholfield will be looked upon to provide scoring and leadership to five incoming freshman.

The Lakers' hit the ice for the first time on Oct. 9 at Minnesota-Duluth and then on Oct. 11, they will skate into Houghton to battle Michigan Tech during their third appearance in the Superior Cup.

Following the Superior Cup, LSSU is home for three straight series at Taffy Abel against Canisius on Oct. 16-17, the CCHA opener against Ohio State on Oct. 23-24, and then Michigan on Oct. 30-31.