Mercyhurst (7-10-2, 5-4-2 AHA) vs. Army (5-12-1, 4-7-1 AHA)
Friday, Jan. 9, 2009 / 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009 / 7:05 p.m.
Tate Arena / West Point, N.Y.
Saturday's Game Live on CBS College Sports

Top Story - The Mercyhurst College men's hockey team kicks off the new year with a two-game series against Atlantic Hockey rival Army on Friday, Jan. 9 and Saturday, Jan. 10 at the Tate Arena in West Point, N.Y. The Lakers, who enter the series with an overall record of 7-10-2 and a mark of 5-4-2 in AHA action, look to sweep the season series against the Black Knights after prevailing by the scores of 6-3 and 6-2 at the Mercyhurst Ice Center earlier in November. Army, on the other hand, is flying high after a stunning upset victory over then-No. 2 Miami (Ohio) and will look to improve on a 4-11-1 mark during the first half of the season. Under the direction of head coach Rick Gotkin, Mercyhurst holds a 19-7-0 edge in the all-time series and is currently on a five-game winning streak against the Black Knights, but is just 6-6-0 at West Point with the team's last visit ending in a 2-1 setback.

Look Ma, We're on TV! – Saturday's game against Army will be nationally-televised on CBS College Sports as the network's game of the week. The Lakers will make their second appearance on national television after taking on Army two seasons ago for a College Sports Television (CSTV) Game of the Week match-up. DirecTV subscribers can tune to channel 613 while DishNetwork customers can access the game via channel 152.  Locally, TimeWarner Cable will carry the game on the designated CBS College Sports channel.

Quick Stat of the Night – Senior Matt Pierce tied team-leader sophomore Steve Cameron with 11 goals after lighting the lamp eight times during the month of December. The Pakenham, Ontario product became the first Laker in the Division I era to score back-to-back hat-tricks when he accomplished the feat in a sweep of American International on Dec. 12 and Dec. 13.

And the Award Goes to… - Senior Matt Pierce and freshman Phil Ginand recently picked up two of Atlantic Hockey's most prestigious honors as Pierce was named AHA Player of the Month and Ginand was recognized as AHA Rookie of the Month. Pierce rolled through the month of December with eights goals and three assists while Ginand tacked in four power-play goals and a helper. Both players were recognized at the beginning of the month as player and rookie of the week for their play in the series against American International.

Home Grown Talent – Sophomore Ryan Zapolski didn't have to look far when he was choosing a college. Zapolski is the only Erie, Pa. native on the Lakers' roster and has been one of the key players in the team's turnaround. Through 11 games this season, he has accumulated a 5-1-2 record with a 2.57 goals against average and a .929 save percentage, which ranks third in the conference only behind Andrew Volkening of Air Force (.939) and Andrew Loewen of Canisius (.932).

U-Turn – After starting out the season 1-8-1, the Lakers righted the ship with a 6-2-1 run through the months of November and December. Mercyhurst started the rally with a tie against Bentley and two wins over Army at home before defeating host Rensselaer and then-No. 7 Princeton to claim the RPI Hockey Holiday Tournament trophy in Troy, N.Y. Two weeks later, Mercyhurst bested American International in a two-game series on the road, outscoring the Yellow Jackets by a combined total of 17-4. Most recently, though, RIT pinned two setbacks on the Lakers while Canisius fended off a late two-goal comeback in a 2-2 draw to close out 2008.

Army Notes – Army enters the series with a record of 5-12-1 while possessing a mark of 4-7-1 in conference play. However, the Black Knights are 1-1 in 2009 after splitting their two games at the Ledyard Bank Classic in Hanover, N.H. this past week. After falling to Ohio State, 6-1, in the opening game, Army rebounded in the third place game with a 3-2 stunner over then-No. 2 Miami (Ohio). Cody Omilusik (9 g, 8 a) improved on his team-leading goal total with back-to-back markers against the Red Hawks in the second period while Eric Sefchik (5 g, 7 a) sealed the win with the team's second short-handed score with less than three minutes to play. The victory marked several milestones for the team, as it was the highest-ranked opponent they defeated since downing No. 20 Air Force on Jan. 25 and Jan. 27, 2008 as well as the first time they defeated a team from the Central Collegiate Hockey Association in nearly 11 years.

Maine Event - After transferring from the University of Maine in 2007, senior Matt Lundin didn't waste any time in making a mark in the Mercyhurst record books. Lundin set a Mercyhurst Division I record last season with 946 saves, surpassing Gary Bowles' 887 made during the 1990 campaign.

Crystal Ball Predictions – Expectations are running high in the Laker locker room with a majority of the AHA coaches picking the team to finish second in the preseason coaches' poll. Mercyhurst earned one first place vote and 70 points to finish behind defending champion Air Force, who was chosen as the top team with seven first place votes and 79 points.  RIT was tabbed third with the final two first place votes and 68 points followed by Sacred Heart in fourth with 55 points and Army in fifth with 40. Holy Cross (38 points), Canisius (34), Connecticut (29), Bentley (26) and American International (11) rounded out the final five places.

Just Win, Baby – Head Coach Rick Gotkin is the all-time leader in both tenure and coaching wins at Mercyhurst. He is the only coach in NCAA hockey history to take the same program to the NCAA Division III, II, and Division I playoffs. His teams have been to the postseason in 1991 (III), 1993 and 1995 (II), and 2001, 2003, and 2005 (I).

Mercyhurst Men's Hockey Milestones

May 2, 1988: Rick Gotkin hired as head coach. Takes over in second year of program's existence.

March 7, 1991: Mercyhurst wins its first-ever NCAA (D-III) playoff game by defeating Elmira College 5-4 in Elmira, NY.

December 8, 1991: Mercyhurst opens its new Ice Center before a standing-room-only crowd against RIT.

October, 1992: Mercyhurst moves to Division II non-scholarship.

March 19/20, 2003: Mercyhurst plays at Bemidji State for the NCAA Division II title.

December 13, 1994: Mercyhurst climbs to #1 in NCAA Division II, the highest ranking ever for the program.

March 5, 1995: Mercyhurst hosts the ECAC West Playoffs for the first
time and defeats RIT for the championship.

March 17, 1995: Mercyhurst hosts the NCAA Division II Championships for
the first time - against Bemidji State.

October 29, 1999: Mercyhurst moves to Division I and joins the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Hockey League.

March 2001: Mercyhurst wins the first of three straight MAAC regular season championships.

March 24, 2001: Mercyhurst, the MAAC's first representative in the NCAA Division I Tournament, puts a scare into Michigan before bowing 4-3 at the West Regional. Rick Gotkin becomes the first coach in NCAA history to take the same program to the playoffs at all three levels and becomes a finalist for Coach of the Year.

June 30, 2003: Mercyhurst joins the Division I Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA).