Complete USCHO.com Division I Men's Hockey Poll

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Mercyhurst men's hockey team, fresh off a weekend sweep of Sacred Heart to move into sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Hockey Association standings, received a vote according to the latest USCHO.com Division I men's hockey poll, released on Monday afternoon.

Mercyhurst received one vote in the poll, putting them in a tie for 28th in the national rankings with conference-rival Air Force, and WCHA member St. Cloud State.

The last time Mercyhurst received votes in the national poll was October 11, 2010, after the Lakers beat Michigan in a shootout in last season's regular season opener. The last time the Lakers received votes this late in a season was on January 23, 2006, when they received three votes in the poll.

The Lakers (12-8-2 overall, 9-2-2 AHA) have won four consecutive games and have gone 6-1-1 since losing a pair of games at Wisconsin on November 25 and 26.

Mercyhurst swept Sacred Heart this past weekend, winning by scores of 9-1 and 3-1. The Lakers scored a season-high nine goals on Friday night, thanks to a six-goal second period. The six goals in the second tied Mercyhurst's largest offensive output for an entire game this season. During the period, the Lakers scored four power play goals in a five-minute major penalty, all within the span of 1:54. Freshman Daniel Bahntge scored his first-ever hat trick as part of a four-point night in the win.

On Saturday, senior Max Strang stopped 39-of-40 shots en route to a 3-1 victory. It was the sixth time this season that Strang has stopped at least 39 shots and the seventh time this season that he has allowed one goal or fewer in a game. Strang stopped 51-of-52 shots over the weekend (.981 save percentage), lowering his conference goals against average to 1.87 (third in AHA) and upping his conference save percentage to .950 (second in AHA). He leads the conference in saves against AHA opponents (460) and his tied for the nation's lead in overall saves with 686.

Head coach Rick Gotkin's squad has 10 players in double figures in scoring this season, led by Bahntge's 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists). Following Bahntge are freshman Nardo Nagtzaam (18), senior Derek Elliott and freshman Chris Bodo (15 each), junior Grant Blakey (14), junior Paul Chiasson and freshman Tyler Shiplo (13 each), sophomore Nick Jones and freshman Ryan Misiak (12 each), and senior Kevin Noble (10).

Mercyhurst will return to the road next weekend for a pair of contests against American International. The Lakers will try to avenge last season's sweep by the Yellow Jackets at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. Last season, AIC beat Mercyhurst 5-2 and 3-0 in Erie. Faceoffs on Friday and Saturday, January 13 and 14 are scheduled for 7:05 p.m.