WALTHAM, Mass. -- The Mercyhurst men's hockey team will begin Atlantic Hockey play this weekend with a two game set at Bentley University Friday and Saturday.
The Lakers look to bounce back after dropping two games to No. 15 Ohio State last weekend at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. The Falcons are coming off a weekend split defeating Army and falling to St. Lawrence.
Mercyhurst offense is scoring 2.5 goals per game while the Falcons come in scoring 1.8. The Laker defense has allowed 3.8 goals per game and Bentley averages 2.38 goals against per game.
Dalton Hunter has led the offensive effort for the Lakers scoring nine points on three goals and six helpers.
Steven Ipri has added seven points on two goals and five helpers.
James Anderson has chipped in three goals and three assists for six points.
Puck drop for Friday and Saturday is slated for 7:05 p.m. at the Bentley Arena.
Laker Notes
THIS WEEK'S GAMES
The Lakers are coming off a pair of games against No. 15 Ohio State while Bently topped AHA opponent Army before falling to visiting St. Lawrence on Saturday.
The Lakers hold a 38-18-7 advantage in the all-time series and a 7-3-0 mark in the last 10 played between the two teams.
This is the first road contest for the Lakers since their season opening trip to Arizona State.
LAST TIME OUT
Mercyhurst dropped a pair of games to No. 15 Ohio State at the Mercyhurst Ice Center last weekend.
Dalton Hunter led the charge against the Buckeyes with a goal and two assists.
Garrett Metcalf made his fifth start while
Stefano Cantali saw his first action between the pipes with a start on Saturday.
ATLANTIC HOCKEY OPENER
Mercyhurst opens Atlantic Hockey play this weekend.
The Lakers are 1-3-1 in AHA openers over the last five years and 5-4-1 in the opening conference series over the last five years.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Mercyhurst has just eight upperclassmen and has a roster with 11 freshman and eight sophomores.
Freshman
Ashton Stockie produced for the Lakers against Arizona State recording a pair of assists and winning 12 draws to earn the first Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Week honors.
Gueorgui Feduolov has a pair of goals on the season with one tally in each of the Lakers two series.
The sophomore class has made its mark with 21 points through six games led by nine from
Dalton Hunter.
PENALTY KILL
The Lakers have killed 12-of-29 opponent power plays.
On the season, Mercyhurst is killing penalties at a .724 clip.
Mercyhurst went 5-for-5 on the penalty kill on Saturday against the Buckeyes.
MAN ADVANTAGE
On the other side of the special teams coin, the Lakers are in the top-20 nationally in power play percentage. Their .214 (6-28) conversion rate currently ranks 17th.
Eight different Mercyhurst players have recorded a power play points and four different power play goal scorers.
Dalton Hunter leads the way with four points on the man advantage.
EXPERIENCE IN NET
Despite the youth up and down the roster, Mercyhurst brings back a wealth of experience between the pipes. The Lakers bring back a junior and a pair of seniors between the pipes.
Redshirt senior
Garrett Metcalf has made five starts for the Lakers making 149 saves and posting a 3.84 goals against average.
Mercyhurst also brings back junior
Stefano Cantali who made 17 starts and 21 appearances in 2018-19. Cantali posted a team best 3.12 goals against average and .905 save percentage. Cantali has made one start making 40 saves against Ohio State.
Senior
Colin DeAugustine made nine appearances last year with an .891 save percentage.
BEHIND THE BENCH
Head coach
Rick Gotkin enters his 32nd year behind the bench for the Lakers. He is fresh off a contract extension prior to the season.
Gotkin is the longest-tenured coach in Division I and currently ranks second among active coaches in wins with 561.
He ranks in the top 20 in career wins and has guided the Lakers to six NCAA appearances.
FRIENDSHIP FOUR
The Lakers have been selected to compete in the 2020 Friendship Four in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Mercyhurst is one of three Atlantic Hockey Schools to compete in the 2020 version of the Friendship Four. It is the first time that Atlantic Hockey members will compete in Belfast. Army and Sacred Heart will also be in Northern Ireland. Quinnipiac will round out the field.
