WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Mercyhurst University men's hockey team will return to action this Friday and Saturday nights, December 5 and 6, when it travels to Army to take on the Black Knights in a two-game Atlantic Hockey Conference series. Faceoffs from Tate Rink are scheduled for 7:05 p.m. both nights.



Mercyhurst (5-4-2, 3-2-2 AHA) and Army (4-10-2, 4-8-2 AHA) have already met earlier this season with the Lakers earn a two-game sweep over the Black Knights at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. Mercyhurst got 39 saves from senior goaltender Jimmy Sarjeant in a 2-0 victory over the Black Knights on November 7 and then outscored Army, 7-5, the following night to complete the sweep.

The Lakers improved to 33-9-4 lifetime against Army in the all-time series, but, traditionally have struggled at Tate Rink. Mercyhurst is just 9-8-2 overall in West Point, but did earn a two-game sweep at Army last season - its first since winning a weekend set on February 13 and 14, 2004.

The Lakers have played just one game in nearly a month with their last game coming against Canisius in Buffalo, New York on November 22. Prior to the 3-3 overtime tie against the Golden Griffins, Mercyhurst played a two-game series at Bentley on November 14 and 15. The initial game against Canisius was postponed due to heavy snow in Buffalo causing the shutdown of I-90 between Buffalo and Erie. That game, which was scheduled to be played at the Mercyhurst Ice Center, has been rescheduled for Tuesday, January 13.

Mercyhurst has played the fewest games in the league (seven conference, 11 overall) and finds itself tied for eighth in the conference with eight points. Army, meanwhile, is two points ahead of the Lakers, but has already played 14 conference games.

In its most recent game, Mercyhurst played Canisius to a 3-3 overtime tie, getting two goals from senior Daniel Bahntge, a goal from sophomore Kyle Dutra, and 35 saves from freshman Brandon Wildung, who was making his first collegiate start.

Freshman Jonathan Charbonneau leads the Lakers in scoring with three goals and seven assists for 10 points in 11 games this season. Senior Chris Bodo is right behind with a team-leading six goals to go along with three helpers for nine points. Senior Zac Frischmon also has nine points on two goals and seven assists.

Sarjeant has seen the most time in goal but has missed the last two-and-a-half games with an injury and has not played since midway through the opening game of the Bentley series on November 14. He is 4-3-0 with a 3.17 goals against average and a .911 save percentage. Sophomore Spencer Bacon is 1-1-1 with a 3.53 goals against average and a .904 save percentage while Wildung has only played in the 3-3 tie at Canisius the last time out.

Army enters having played last weekend in a two-game series at Bentley where it earned a split. The Falcons won the first game by a 3-2 final before the Black Knights responded with a 2-1 victory last Saturday.

Freshman Tyler Pham leads Army in scoring with six goals and eight assists for 14 points. He posted two goals and two assists in the 7-5 loss at Mercyhurst on November 8. His point total doubles the next leading scorer for Army, senior Maurice Alvarez, who has four goals and three assists for seven points.

Sophomore Parker Gahagen is 4-5-1 with a 2.97 goals against average and a .913 save percentage between the pipes for Army. Freshman Cole Bruns is 0-5-1 with a 3.14 goals against average and an .896 save percentage.