Lake Superior State Season Preview

By Bob Miller/Lake Superior State Beat Writer

LAKE SUPERIOR STATE LAKERS

Head Coach: Jim Roque (6th season)

Home Arena: Taffy Abel Arena

Last Season: 15-18-5 Overall, 10-15-3 CCHA: lost to Michigan in a first round CCHA playoff series

Laker returning vets:
Goal: Brian Mahoney-Wilson
Defense: Dillin Stonehouse, Zach Trotman, Kyle Pobur, Matt Cowie, Kyle Haines
Forward: Nick McParland, Ben Power, Fred Cassiana, Brett Wall, Chad Nehring, Brian Cooper, Will Acton, Rick Schofield, Dan Barczuk, Domenic Monardo, Tyson Hobbins

Lakers no more:
F Zac MacVoy, D Simon Gysbers, D Steven Kaunisto, F John Scrymgeour, F Pat Aubrey, F Brad Cooper, G Pat Inglis, G Mitch Edmondson

Newcomers sporting LSSU colors:
D Andrew Perreault, D Zach Sternberg, F Kyle Jean, F Colin Campbell, F Dan Radke, F Kellan Lain, F Nick Shkreli, D Matt Bruneteau, G Kevin Kapalka, G Niels-Erik Ravn

Outlook: The Lakers will be counting on experience in net and the return of their three leading scorers to forge improvements in 2010-2011.

Brian Mahoney-Wilson will continue to be the LSSU rock in goal after he claimed the job full-time last season, posting a 2.80 goals against average and stopping 91 per cent of opponent's shots.

Three seniors will lead the offensive charge.

Rick Schofield's 15 goals and 28 points led the team in both those categories. Will Acton chipped in 10 goals and 24 points for the Laker cause. Chad Nehring added 12 goals as the only other Laker with a double digit goal total last season.

Left wing Colin Campbell, who skated with Vaughan of the Ontario Junior Hockey League last season, is the best bet to supplement the Lakers' offense. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound native of Pickering, Ont., notched 32 goals and 76 points last season prepping for his role on the LSSU front line.

The Lakers open with an exhibition against Western Ontario on Oct. 2, before making their annual appearance in the Superior Cup, facing Minnesota-Duluth and arch-rival Michigan Tech on Oct. 8-9