2010 Sheraton / TD Bank Catamount Cup
Hosted by the University of Vermont

Mercyhurst vs. No. 12 Minnesota Duluth
Saturday, Jan. 2 - 4:00 p.m.
Gutterson Fieldhouse - Burlington, Vt.
Internet: www.b2livetv.com
Live Stats: www.uvm.edu/athletics

Mercyhurst vs. Vermont / Alabama - Huntsville
Sunday, Jan. 3 - TBD
Gutterson Fieldhouse - Burlington, Vt.
Internet: www.b2livetv.com
Live Stats: www.uvm.edu/athletics

Full 2010 Catamount Cup Game Notes

Top Story - The Mercyhurst College men's hockey team kicks off the second half of the season this weekend at the 2010 Sheraton / TD Bank Catamount Cup, hosted by the University of Vermont on Saturday, Jan. 2 and Sunday, Jan. 3. This year's tournament brings together teams from four different conferences, including the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA), College Hockey America (CHA) and Hockey East Association (HEA).

All four teams will be in action on Saturday, Jan. 2, as Mercyhurst takes on 12th-ranked Minnesota Duluth in the lid-lifting game at 4:05 p.m., while host-institution Vermont tangles with Alabama – Huntsville in the nightcap at 7:05 p.m. The consolation game is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 3, at 4:00 p.m., followed by the championship game at 7:05 p.m. All four games will be played at the Gutterson Fieldhouse.

Entering the tournament, Mercyhurst brings a 9-9-2 record to the table after going 7-0-1 in its last eight games. The Lakers have not lost since Nov. 14 and boast the second-longest unbeaten streak in the country. Mercyhurst has clicked on all cylinders during that stretch, averaging 4.1 goals per game and outscoring opponents 33-9. Defensively, junior Ryan Zapolski has limited teams to a goal or less on four occasions and shut out two opponents. His efforts earned him AHA Goaltender of the Week twice.

Following this weekend, the Lakers return to AHA play with a two-game series against Sacred Heart on Friday, Jan. 8 and Saturday, Jan. 9 at 7:05 p.m. at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.

Did You Know? - Mercyhurst will face Minnesota Duluth and possibly Vermont for the first time in program history this weekend. The Lakers have faced 95 opponents at three different levels over the past 22 seasons. Alabama – Huntsville is the only familiar foe that the Lakers could possibly encounter this weekend as both teams played each other at the Division II level and once as members of Division I.

Happy Holidays - The Lakers seem to like tournaments around the holidays. Last season, Mercyhurst entered Rensselaer Holiday Hockey Tournament on a three-game unbeaten streak and defeated host RPI, 4-1, before stunning then-No. 7 Princeton, 6-4, for the title. It was their first win over a ranked opponent since defeating then-No. 9 Princeton, 3-2, in 2003.

Puck Protection - Junior Ryan Zapolski turned aside 85 shots as the Lakers went 1-0-1 against Air Force to close out the first half of the season. The Erie, Pa., native made a career-high 49 saves in a 3-3 tie, surpassing his previous mark of 46 last set against then-No. 7 Princeton (W, 6-4) in 2008. It was his sixth 40-plus save game of his career and third against Air Force. The next night he made 36 saves, including 21 in the third period, to preserve a 3-1 victory.

Just What I Needed - Junior Mike Gurtler's short-handed hat trick might have helped the Lakers kick start their winning ways. Gurtler became the seventh player in NCAA history to score three short-handed goals in a single game on Nov. 20 against Holy Cross - the first win of the team's current unbeaten streak.

No First-Year Jitters Here - Freshman Grant Blakey scored two goals in the Lakers' 5-0 victory over UConn to become the first MC freshman to score twice in same game. Phil Ginand was the last to do it when he lit the lamp twice Feb. 14, 2009 in a 7-4 victory over UConn. Blakey currently leads all AHA rookies with 12 points through 16 league games.

First One Is Always The Toughest - Sophomore Kevin Noble finally tickled the twine. The Sparwood, B.C. product scored his first collegiate goal against Connecticut on Saturday, Dec. 5, marking his first goal in 53 career games at Mercyhurst.

Non-Conference Woes - Despite a 9-5-2 mark in conference play, Mercyhurst is 0-4 this season against competition outside of Atlantic Hockey. The Lakers opened the season 0-4 with losses to Alaska Anchorage, Alaska Fairbanks and two to Western Michigan. Last season the Lakers went 2-6 against non-conference foes.

Giant Killer - Over the past two seasons, Mercyhurst has accumulated a 2-0-1 mark against teams ranked in the top-20. Last season the Lakers defeated then-No. 7 Princeton to claim the RPI Holiday Hockey Tournament trophy, before tying and defeating then-No. 19 Air Force. Minnesota Duluth will be the first of three ranked opponents the Lakers have remaining on their schedule this season, with Denver and Colorado College waiting in February.

Against the WCHA - The Lakers are 0-1 this season against teams from the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Mercyhurst opened the season with a loss to Alaska Anchorage, 6-4, in the opening game of the 2009 Kendall Hockey Classic.

Against Hockey East - If the Lakers play Vermont, it will be the first meeting against a Hockey East institution since the 2007-08 season when Mercyhurst was swept by Maine, 4-2 and 4-1.

Against the CHA - Should Mercyhurst play Alabama - Huntsville, it would mark the first time since the 2004-05 season that the Lakers have faced a team from College Hockey America. That season, head coach Rick Gotkin guided his squad to a 1-0-1 mark against Robert Morris in a home-and-home series.

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).

Almost There - In his 22nd season at Mercyhurst, head coach Rick Gotkin is just seven wins away from cracking 400 for his career, standing at 393-261-50 entering into this weekend.

Look Ma! We're On TV! - For the second-straight season, the Mercyhurst College men's hockey team and Army will face off on national television. Mercyhurst's game scheduled for Friday, Feb. 19 at the Mercyhurst Ice Center has been chosen as one of two Atlantic Hockey contests that will be broadcast live on CBS College Sports. Connecticut will take on reigning AHA Champion Air Force at the Cadet Arena on Friday, Jan. 8 in the first broadcast. To accommodate television, game times will be switched from 7:05 p.m. to 8:05 p.m. This will be the third time that Mercyhurst and Army have appeared on CBS College Sports, the channel formerly known as CSTV. The Black Knights spoiled Mercyhurst's return to the national spotlight last season, scoring with less than two minutes to play to win 4-3.