ERIE, Pa. -- The Mercyhurst men's ice hockey team hosts defending Atlantic Hockey Association champions American International Friday and Saturday at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.

Friday's game is set to start at 7:05 p.m. while Saturday puck drop is at 4:05 p.m.

From now until Friday, fans can enter promo code Hurst26 for $5 tickets for both games! Fees not included. Offer not valid for other promotions.

On Saturday, fans can purchase Family Pack Tickets, which include 4 tickets AND 4 hot dogs! Each ticket is $11 (plus fees), and fans who purchase the Family Pack can pick up their food vouchers on Saturday at the Ice Center ticket office, starting 90 minutes prior to puck-drop. After Saturday's game, ALL fans can meet the players for pictures and autographs! Free team posters will be provided to all fans in attendance.

Both the Lakers and Yellow Jackets are coming off bye weeks after earning conference splits on Nov. 1 & 2. Mercyhurst averages 2.8 goals per game while AIC notches 2.0 goals per contest. The Lakers have allowed 4.0 goals per game while the Yellow Jackets have held opponents to 2.3.

A pair of sophomores have led the offense for the Lakers with Steven Ipri and Dalton Hunter each recording 11 points through eight games. James Anderson leads Mercyhurst in goals with five and having three of those on the power play. Garrett Metcalf has made five starts in net and leads the team with a .892 save percentage and a 3.84 goals against. Steffano Cantali has made the last three starts in net and now has a .878 save percentage and a 4.12 goals against average.

The Laker man adavantage currently ranks ninth in college hockey with a .262 conversion rate. Six different Mercyhurst players have scored a power play goal.

Patrick Demel leads the Yellow Jacket offense with four points on four assists.  Jared PIke is the team leader with three goals. Zackarias Skog has made all six starts in net posting a .915 save percentage and a 2.21 goals against average.

LAKER NOTES
THIS WEEK'S GAMES
The Lakers split  a weekend series with Bentley in their last contests and are coming off a bye week.

Mercyhurst has had the better of the all-time series with a 46-8-2 mark against AIC all-time. Int eh last 10 games the Lakers are 6-3-1 against the Yellow Jackets.

This is the first conference game inside the Mercyhurst Ice Center in the 2019-20 campaign.

LAST TIME OUT
Mercyhurst used four power play goals to over come a 3-1 deficit and win 4-3 in overtime two Fridays ago. The Lakers dropped the game on Saturday to the Falcons 6-3 while taking 10 penalties. 

Steffano Cantali made both starts at Bentley going 1-1 on the weekend. 

Stephen Ipri scored four points of the Lakers on two goals and two assists. 

Joseph Maziarz scored his first collegiate goal on Friday.

YOUTH MOVEMENT
Mercyhurst has just eight upperclassmen and has a roster with 11 freshman and eight sophomores. 

Joseph Maziarz scored his first collegiate goal against Bentley and is leading all freshman with four points.

Gueorgui Feduolov has a pair of goals on the season while Ashton Stockie has a pair of assists. 

POINT HUNTER
Sophomore Dalton Hunter leads the Lakers with 11 points over the first seven games.

Hunter had points in each of the Lakers first seven games before his streak was snapped on Saturday at Bentley.

Hunter has recorded four multi-point games including a two point night against Bentley with a pair of assists.

AHA PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Dalton Hunter was selected as the Atlantic Hockey Player of the Month recording nine points in six games in October.

Hunter posted three goals and six assists and had three multi-point games.

Hunter is currently tied for the team lead in points with 11 and leads the team with eight assists.

MAN ADVANTAGE 
Mercyhust has used the power-play to their advantage cashing in on 11-of-42 opportunities on the year.

The Lakers rank tied for ninth in the NCAA for power play percentage with a conversion rate tof .262.

Eight different Mercyhurst players have recorded a power play points and six different Lakers have power play goals. James Anderson has netted three power play tallies.

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. Cantali has made the last three starts for the Lakers making 79 saves and posting a .878 save percentage. 

Senior Colin DeAugustine made his first apperance of the season making 22 saves in relief on Saturday night against Bentley.

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 562.

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.

The opening night matchups have been announced and Mercyhurst will take on ECAC opponent Quinnipac on the opening night. Time and game order is still to be determined.