Setting the Stage
The Mercyhurst men's ice hockey team opens playoff action on Mar. 9-11 in the Atlantic Hockey Tournament quarterfinals. The Lakers will host Sacred Heart for a best-of-three series with a 7:05 p.m. puck drop on Friday and Saturday with the if-necessary game to come on Sunday.
 
Last Time Out
Mercyhurst finished the regular season on Feb. 23-24 when it swept the Rochester Institute of Technology, winning 4-3 both nights.
 
Bryan Sienerth, Joseph Duszak, Jack Riley and Derek Barach each recorded three points, Zach Todd had two points and Michael Verboom, James Anderson, Joshua Lammon, Quinn Wichers, Patrick Piacentini, Jonathan Charbonneau, Kane Elliot and Nathan Ferriero each tallied one points.
 
Brandon Wildung stopped 62 shots on net for Mercyhurst.
 
Previous Matchup
The Lakers and Pioneers met twice during the regular season on Dec. 1-2. The Lakers won the first game in overtime, 3-2, before falling 5-3 the next night.
 
On Friday, Sacred Heart took an early 2-0 lead with goals from Jason Cotton and Stephen Hladin. Mercyhurst came back with three unanswered goals to win 3-2. Riley and Taylor Best scored during regulation and Les Lancaster scored the game-winning goal with 40 seconds left in overtime. Wildung made 28 saves, including three in overtime.
 
During Saturday's game, Cotton scored twice while Vito Bavaro, Kory Kennedy and Jordan Kaplan scored once for Sacred Heart. Riley scored two goals and Best scored one goal for Mercyhurst. Brett Magnus recorded 25 saves in net for the Pioneers.
 
All-Time Series
Mercyhurst holds a 26-24-5 all-time series advantage over Sacred Heart. The Pioneers have a 5-3-2 margin over the Lakers in the past 10 contests.
 
Scouting Sacred Heart
The Pioneers ended the regular season in 11th in the Atlantic Hockey standings with a 13-20-4, 9-15-4 record.
 
They took on RIT in the first round of the AHA Tournament and won the series in three games. After falling 5-4 in overtime on Friday, SHU won 4-3 in tripled-overtime on Saturday and then shut out the Tigers 2-0 on Sunday.
 
Mike Crocock, Jackson Barliant, Mcllmurray and Johnstone tallied two goals while Tugnutt and Hladin both scored one goal for the Pioneers during their first-round series.
 
Bavaro is leading the Pioneers roster with 30 points and close behind is Marc Johnstone with 29 points. Austin Mcllmurray, Zach Tsekos and Matt Tugnutt each have 24 points.
 
Magnus has earned a 13-14-2 record, 3.22 GAA and .898 save percentage in net. Nathan Perry has recorded a 0-6-2 record, 3.68 GAA and .883 save percentage.
 
Sacred Heart is 56th in the nation on the power play, going 12.9 percent. With 83.0 percent, they are tied for 15th in the nation on the penalty kill.
 
Mercyhurst Record
Mercyhurst clinched the Atlantic Hockey Regular Season Title with a 19-11-4, 16-8-4 record.
 
Laker Leaders
Barach is on top of the Laker roster with 36 points. Riley is leading the Lakers in goals with 16 and is next in points with 31. Sienerth and Todd are close behind with 26 points and Todd leads the roster in assists with 23.
 
Between the Pipes
Wildung has put forth a 18-9-4 record, 2.81 GAA and .918 save percentage. Colin DeAugustine has a 1-2-0 record, 3.04 GAA and .886 save percentage.
 
Special Teams
Mercyhurst is first in Atlantic Hockey and seventh in the nation on the power play with 24.0 percent. They are 21st in the nation on the penalty kill with 82.3 percent.
 
Atlantic Hockey Regular Season Champions
After sitting in ninth place in the AHA standings in December, Mercyhurst has gone 12-2-2 to earn the first-place spot in the AHA standings and, ultimately, the No. 1 seed in the Atlantic Hockey Tournament.
 
100 Point Club
Riley became the 22nd player in Division 1 program history to record 100 points as a Laker. He was welcomed into the 100 Point Club on Feb. 23, when he recorded three points against RIT.
 
AHA Defensive Player of the Week
Duszak was named the AHA Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts against RIT on Feb. 23-24. He recorded two goals and three points during the weekend series, including the game-winning goal on Saturday.
 
Century Mark Watch
Charbonneau is four points shy of hitting 100 points as a Laker.
 
National Poll Votes
Mercyhurst remains on the United States College Hockey Online Poll for the sixth-straight week. For the second consecutive week they are the first team outside of the top 20 on the USCHO.com poll.
 
For the second-straight week the Lakers are on the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll with one vote.
 
#CaptainJack For Hobey Baker
Jack Riley has been nominated for the Hobey Baker Award. Keep your eyes out for the second round of voting, starting on Mar. 14th.
 
Other Atlantic Hockey Action
#8 American International College at #2 Canisius College
#7 Robert Morris at #3 Holy Cross
#5 Air Force at #4 Army West Point
 
Next Up
The AHA Semifinals and Championship games will be played on Mar. 16-17 at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, N.Y. The winner of this series will head to the semifinals game.
 
Stay Connected
Keep up with the team by following our social media:
Twitter: @HurstMensHockey
Facebook: facebook.com/mercyhurstmenshockey
Instagram: @mercyhursthockey
Snapchat: @hurstmhockey