Jan. 19, 2007

Stats

Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst celebrated the return of senior Scott Champagne and junior Ben Cottreau and snapped a ten-game winless streak in the process Friday night by turning back Atlantic Hockey rival Bentley 7-4 at the Ice Center. The Lakers, who hadn't won since an 8-3 decision at American International December 2, improved to 5-16-5 overall and to 5-12-3 in the conference. The Falcons dropped to 9-12-1 and 8-9-0 respectively.

The program got other good news Frday when former defenseman Jamie Hunt was recalled by the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. Hunt could be in uniform tomorrow when the Caps collide with Florida on home ice. Hunt left Mercyhurst after his junior year to sign a two-year deal with Washington.

The Lakers scored four early or late-period goals to derail the Falcons. Senior captain Kyle Gourgon scored his eighth of the season, and first of two, at 2:50 of the first for a quick start. Freshman winger Chris Risi scored at 19:45 of the opening period for a 2-1 lead at intermission. Rookie forward Nick Vandenbeld cashed his fourth of the year at 1:10 of the second for a 3-1 margin and junior forward Ryan Toomey collected his seventh of the season, just eleven seconds into the third, for a 6-3 advantage.

Along the way sophomore Chris Trafford scored twice, once each in the second and third. The goals were his seventh and eighth of the year.

Senior goalie Jordan Wakefield benefited from the offensive explosion to pick up his second win of the year. Wakefield made 25 saves. Bentley senior Ray Jean allowed all seven markers as his record slipped to 8-12-1.

The Lakers owned leads of 2-1 after twenty minutes and 5-3 after forty. Cottreau and Champagne divided six assists evenly as their line, thanks to Trafford's pair of lamplighters, produced eight points. The trio of Gourgon (2g, 1a), Toomey (1,1) and freshman Cody Collins (0,1) had a six-point game. The Lakers, saddled recently with a seven-game power play drought, scored four times in seven tries against Bentley. The four equaled their one-season high set in the 8-3 success at AIC.

Sophomore defenseman Casey Russell had two of the four Bentley scores. The Falcons outshot Mercyhurst 29-27 and finished 2 of 4 with the man advantage.

The two teams will conclude the weekend series Saturday night at 7.