SEASON PREVIEW: Lake Superior State

by Tom Balog/ LSSU Beat Writer

Head Coach: Jim Roque (7th season)

Home Arena: Taffy Abel Arena

Last Season: 13-17-9 Overall (8-12-8 CCHA, 8th): lost to Notre Dame in a second round CCHA playoff series

Laker returning vets:
Goal: Kevin Kapalka, Niels-Erik Ravn
Defense: Matt Bruneteau, Kyle Haines Andrew Perreault, Kyle Pobur, Zach Sternberg, Zach Trotman
Forward: Dan Barczuk, Colin Campbell, Fred Cassiani, Brian Cooper, Kyle Jean, Kellan Lain, Nick McParland, Domenic Monardo, Ben Power, Dan Radke, Nick Shkreli, Brett Wall

Lakers no more:
Goal: Brian Mahoney-Wilson
Defense: Dillin Stonehouse, Matt Cowie,
Forward: Will Acton, Tyson Hobbins, Chad Nehring , Rick Schofield,

New to the Anchor:
Goal: Kevin Murdock
Defense: T.J. Wees, Kevin Czuczman
Forward: Kelin Ainsworth, Stephen Perfetto, Buddy Robinson, Chris Ciotti, Andrew Dommett

Outlook:

The Lakers will be counting on experience in both the net and blueline and watching for players to step up on the front lines in the 2011-2012 season.

“We're pretty experienced in the back end and a lot of the sophomores now that were freshmen last year played pivotal roles and I expect them to take their games to the next level,“ says LSSU Head Coach Jim Roque. “We have some pretty good leadership with our seniors. But I wouldn't necessarily call us a young team, we have a lot of "middleclassmen" and we need them to step up to replace guys like Will Acton and Rick Schofield from last year.”

Kevin Kapalka should be between the pipes for the majority of the campaign and returns after an impressive 2010-11 season where he racked up CCHA All-Rookie Team goaltender honors.

“Nothing bothers him,” says Roque. “If he gets scored on, he just shakes it off and moves on, it's not going to bother him. He's very calm, and he doesn't get rattled. You won't see him hit his stick or get mad, or flaunt when he makes a great save.”

Kapalka rolled to a 12-12-8 record, .924 save percentage and 2.34 goals-against average in his rookie season "Up North".

Just two of LSSU’s top five point scorers return to the ice in the Sault this season.

Junior forward Domenic Monardo is the Lakers number two scorer from last season with 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points and will be counted on to put the puck in the back of the net.

Junior blueliner Zach Trotman chipped in 6 goals and 20 points and was fourth on the squad last season.

Senior Kyle Haines will also help anchor a solid defensive corp. Haines was a two-time CCHA Defensive Player of the Week and totaled 4 goals and 10 points last season.

The Lakers open the season with a pair of road games against the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers on Sat, Oct 1-2. The series marks just the third meeting between the Lakers and Chargers and the Lakers' first ever trip to Huntsville, AL.

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.

MiCHO staffer's son learns from LSSU

Lake Superior State beat writer Mike Burrill's son, Trevor, participated in the "Have Fun, Play Hockey" clinic at Taffy Abel Arena last Wednesday night.

This was a clinic put on by LSSU, the CCHA and Fox Sports Net, who was there filming for an upcoming show. The clinic was a big success for all and the Laker players showed their usual professionalism and class dealing with the youngsters who aren't enrolled in a hockey program.

Mike noted that Trevor hasn't skated much lately, but players like Pat Aubry, Carter Lee, Brian Mahoney-Wilson (pictured above) and Rich Schofield really helped him out a lot. Even head coach Jim Roque helped him with his skates.

Trevor has already stated that he wants to learn more hockey and Mike said he'll start taking him skating more to get ready for next season.

Lakers and Warriors split

By Tom Balog / Wayne State beat writer

Being an optimist, it was a good weekend for both the Wayne State Warriors and Lake Superior State Lakers at the Coliseum in Detroit.

After getting thumped in South Bend last weekend, the Lakers (2-5-1, 0-2-0 CCHA) rebounded nicely and battled to a 3-2 win on Friday night.

The Warriors (1-6-1, 0-2-0 CHA) finally had some bounces go their way and got their first win of the season with a 2-1 squeaker on Saturday night.

“Any time you play a team outside your conference, those are all big games,” Wayne State coach Bill Wilkinson told USCHO’s Matt Mackinder after Friday’s game. “You want to get that recognition for not only your team, but for your league. I think it’s bigger for us playing them than it is for them to come here and play lowly Wayne State. We want to go out and prove ourselves.”

Friday’s opener was a back and forth game with the Lakers drawing first blood with Steven Kaunisto scoring on a 4-on-3 power play, just 2:06 into the game. Kaunisto shot through a crowd and the puck slipped past Warrior goalie Brett Bothwell for the score.

Bryan Olds responded for Wayne State, scoring his first collegiate goal about 10 minutes later. Olds stole the puck in the WSU zone, motored down the ice on a 3-on-2 break and ripped a shot from the top of the left circle off the post and in.

After a scoreless second period, the Lakers converted twice in the third period to take a 3-1 lead.

Troy Schwab gave the Lakers back the lead with a wrister at 4:32. His shot hit Bothwell in the arm, fluttered just over his back and barely rolled over the line for his first of the season.

Leading scorer Nathan Perkovich nabbed the game winner at 10:03 with a slam dunk from just in front of Bothwell.

Tylor Michel added an extra-attacker goal for the Warriors at 19:50 to close out the evening's scoring.

Bothwell ended the evening with 17 saves and on the other end, Pat Inglis stopped 20 of 22 shots.

Lakers head coach Jim Roque also mentioned in the USCHO recap, that his goalie was the key to the win.

“Pat’s been struggling lately and he’s one of the guys we’re leaning on to get going, He made some big saves in the third period (including one of his head) and really showed the intensity we need out of him.”

After a dismal 0-5 effort in game one, the Warriors powerplay came out strong in the series finale with two extra strength goals.

Jon Grabarek opened the scoring at 16:56 of the first period, marking the first time the Green and Gold have scored first in a game all season.

Grabarek took a cross ice pass from defenseman Jeff Caister and one-timed it past a diving Brian Mahoney-Wilson for his second marker of the season.

Jared Katz put the Warriors up by two at 17:06 of the second period. Brock Meadows started the action with a blast from the blueline that missed wide of the net. Tyler Ruel grabbed the rebound and hustled to Katz who poked it in for his first of the season.

The Lakers mounted a furious third period comeback attempt in which they out shot the home team by a 12-1 margin.

Perkovich notched his second goal of the weekend with a powerplay marker at 2:33 of the third. After a Josh Sim shot, Perkovich snatched up the loose puck and rammed it in for his seventh goal of the year.

That was as close as the Lakers would get though as Warriors freshman netminder Kyle Funkehauser slammed the door for the rest of the game to earn his first collegiate win.

Funkenhauser finished the night 24 saves and Mahoney-Wilson stopped 15 on the other end.

The Warriors will try to keep the winning streak alive as they host the Bemidji State Beavers back at the Coliseum next weekend.

The Lakers will head back to the Sault and prepare for two games against the high flying and second-ranked Michigan Wolverines.

Lakers dominate to salvage 3-3 tie

by Mike Burrill / LSSU beat writer

Lake Superior State head coach Jim Roque got a good look at his young hockey team Saturday at Taffy Abel Arena, as the Lakers overcame a two-goal deficit to salvage a 3-3 tie with visiting Western Ontario in exhibition play.

In the second period, sophomore Pat Aubry found the net on a set up by freshman defenseman Dillin Stonehouse to cut Western Ontario’s lead to one while the teams were skating with four men apiece.

Still trailing by two into the third period, the Lakers wasted little time going on the offensive. Sophomore Nathan Perkovich scored this third goal in as many games to make it 3-2. Team captain Troy Schwab earned the only assist on Perkovich’s goal 54 seconds into the period.

Also staying red hot was the line consisting of Dan Eaves, Nik Sellers and Chad Nehring. Nehring scored his first goal as a Laker tying the game at three with just over three minutes remaining. Eaves and Sellers drew the assists.

The Lakers out-shot the Mustangs 43-24 in the game, including 14-4 in the final stanza.

In net, freshman Brian Mahony-Wilson got the start, giving up all three goals and making 10 saves. Pat Inglis took over halfway through the game, making 11 saves and shutting out the Mustangs in his period-and-a-half of work.

Having 3,140 loyal Lakers fans in attendance for an exhibition game is a good sign for the program. Despite it being Great Lake State weekend, exhibition games rarely draw large crowds. Attendance is expected to be high next weekend when the Lakers host seventh-ranked Clarkson.

Lake Superior State ’07-08 Preview

by Mike Burrill/Lake Superior State Beat Writer

Despite losing two of the programs premiere players last season, Lake Superior State players, coaches, and fans are very optimistic about this season’s Laker squad.

According to head coach Jim Roque, season ticket sales have already doubled from last year.

The Lakers (21-19-3, 11-14-3 CCHA last year) are in one of the toughest clusters in the CCHA this season, matching up against defending national champion Michigan State, Michigan and archrival Northern Michigan.

“Our goal is just to improve on last year,” said Roque, entering his third season as head coach with the Lakers. “I think if we can just continue to build every year to get better and better and better, I think good things will happen.”

The aforementioned key losses to the program are goaltender Jeff Jakaitis and defenseman Derek A. Smith, who gave up his senior season to sign with the Ottawa Senators.

Jakaitis was one of the best netminders to ever don the anchor and set multiple records in his four-year collegiate career. He will spend the 2007-08 season with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL.

Smith had a breakthrough year with the Lakers last season, tying for the team lead in points on 10 goals and 20 assists. He also led the team in shots with 131.

Key returnees for the Lakers include juniors Troy Schwab and Josh Sim and sophomore Nathan Perkovich.

Schwab was also tied for the team lead in points, led the team with 24 assists and was third on the team in power-play points with 12. He was named an assistant captain last season and is a good bet to wear the ‘C’ this year.

Sim also had a great sophomore year for Lake State. He tied for the team lead in goals with 15 and led the team in shot percentage.

Perkovich was pleasant surprise as a freshman for the Lakers. He tied Sim for the team lead in goals with 15, led the team in power-play and game-winning goals with nine and four, respectively. His size and speed also helped the Lakers on special teams.

The Lakers will have a young defensive core and will rely heavily on sophomores Simon Gysbers and Steve Kaunisto. Gysbers scored 12 points last season and was second on the Lakers with a +5 rating. Kaunisto, a Sault Ste. Marie native, scored eight points and only took 18 minutes in penalties.

Taking over the reigns of the goaltending department will be sophomore Pat Inglis. Inglis played in 11 games last season, going 5-3-0 with a 2.89 goals-against average. Inglis has good size at over six foot and moves well for a big guy. He will be challenged by freshman and San Jose Sharks draft pick Brian Mahoney-Wilson.

“We've been blessed at Lake State with great goaltending for a lot of years and I expect that to continue,” added Roque.

Incoming players Zac MacVoy, Carter Lee, and Rick Schofield will help out LSSU as well.

MacVoy, a former member of the U.S. National Team Development Program, played with CCHA rival Michigan in 2005-06 scoring a goal and adding three assists in 20 games. He spent last season in the United States Hockey League with the Omaha Lancers and Ohio Junior Blue Jackets scoring 25 points total.

Lee has some D-I experience as well, playing for Northeastern of Hockey East for two seasons. Also drafted by the Sharks, he’s noted for having good speed and a laser-like shot.

Schofield comes to Lake State from Pickering, Ontario. He played last season for his hometown Panthers of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League, scoring 36 goals and 34 assists for 70 points, good for 14th in the league. He was named the South Division’s Most Improved player and was the MVP of the OPJHL All-Star Game.

The Lakers were picked to finish seventh in this years Coach’s Poll and ninth in the Media Poll. Last season they were picked 10th in both polls, but surprised everyone by making it to Joe Louis Arena for the CCHA finals after an eighth-place finish during the regular season.

“We have one senior on scholarship so we're a little young,” Roque noted. “I'm just hoping for some leadership to emerge over the first three weeks and the next couple of months to really solidify our team. I thought a key reason why we had some success at the end last year was our leadership."

A repeat performance in the playoffs is something Laker fans will look forward to.

LSSU adds two more to freshman class

The Lake Superior State Lakers have added goaltender Brian Mahoney-Wilson and defenseman Matt Cowie to its list of 2007 spring recruits.

Cowie, a Nepean, Ont., native, is a 5-foot-10, 180-pound defenseman who totaled 12 goals and 30 assists in 45 games with the Nepean Raiders of the Central Junior A Hockey League. He is regarded as one of the most-distinguished captains in the Raiders' history after helping Nepean reach the CJHL finals five straight seasons.

"We recruited him last summer, but he had trouble getting through the NCAA Clearinghouse," said LSSU coach Jim Roque, who finds that Canadian prospects often lack the core classes necessary to get through the Clearinghouse. "We are really glad to get him. He's like a Troy Schwab on defense. He's a really good skater and competitive kid."

Mahoney-Wilson, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound goaltender from West Roxbury, Mass., is a 2004 ninth-round draft pick of the San Jose Sharks. He was drafted after totaling six shutouts and a 1.16 goals-against average at Boston's Catholic Memorial High School. He suffered an injury in 2005 and missed half of the 2005-06 season, and bounced around three leagues - the British Columbia Hockey League, United States Hockey League and Eastern Junior Hockey League. He was picked up last season by the Newmarket (Ont.) Hurricanes and finished 10-10-2-2 with a 3.23 goals-against average and .905 save percentage.

"He's a lot like Jeff Jakaitis was," Roque said. "He played behind some really good goaltenders and just needed a chance. But he played all this year in Newmarket. He's an athletic goaltender."

Mahoney-Wilson's father, Randy, and two uncles played for Providence College. His uncle, Ron Wilson, is the current coach of the Sharks. His grandfather, Johnny Wilson, is a former player and coach for the Detroit Red Wings whose name was engraved on the Stanley Cup in 1950.

LSSU's freshman class for the fall of 2007 will be comprised of five forwards, two defensemen and a goaltender.