ERIE, Pa. -- The Mercyhurst men's hockey team looks to get back on track during a home and home series with Robert Morris Friday and Saturday in Atlantic Hockey action.

The Friday contest at the Mercyhurst Ice Center is set for 7:05 p.m. The Saturday matchup at the Colonial Arena is also slated for 7:05 p.m.

The Lakers are coming off a pair of losses to Niagra last weekend while the Colonials earned one point in the league standings with a loss and a tie against Air Force.

Steven Ipri leads Mercyhurst in scoring with 14 points on a team-leading six goals as well as eight assists. Dalton Hunter adds 12 points including a team-best nine helpers. The Lakers average 2.25 goals per game. 

Garrett Metcalf has made eight starts in net and has a 3.63 goals against and .897 save percentage to lead the Lakers.

Nick Prkusic leads the Colonials with 12 points on five goals and seven assists. Robert Morris averages 2.46 goals per contest.

Justin Kapelmaster has made 12 starts for Robert Morris in net boasting a .950 save percentage and a 1.82 goals against average.

Laker Notes

THIS WEEK'S GAMES
The Lakers bring a 4-8 overall mark and are 2-4 in Atlantic Hockey play after a pair of losses to Niagara.

The Friday contest with Robert Morris (7-5-1, 7-2-1 AHA) will be played at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. Saturday's contest with the Colonials will be played at Colonial Arena. 

Robert Morris holds a slim 14-12-8 advantage in the all-time series. Both teams hold an advantage on road ice with the Colonials sporting a 6-4-5 mark at the MIC and the Lakers leaing 7-5-3 in Pittsburgh.

LAST TIME OUT
The Lakers dropped a pair of Atlantic Hockey games to Niagara University.

The Lakers fell 3-1 in the Saturday contest with freshman Khristian Acosta scored his first collegiate goal.

On Friday that Lakers were dropped a 5-0 decision. 

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.

Three Laker freshman have recorded their first collegiate goal in the past three games with Dante Spagnuolo, Carver Watson and Khristian Acosta each finding the back of the net. 

A pair of sophomores lead the Lakers in scoring in forwards Steven Ipri and Dalton Hunter.

Ipri has a team-high 14 points on six goals and eight assists. Ipri's 1.3 points per game ties him for 31st in the country.

Hunter has 12 points and a team-leading nine assists he currently ranks tied for 64th with 1.2 points per game.

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 second on the team in points with 12 and leads the team with nine assists.

Hunter has recorded a point in eight of the Lakers 12 games.

MAN ADVANTAGE 
Mercyhust has used the power-play to their advantage cashing in on 12-of-56 opportunities on the year.

The Lakers rank 19th in the NCAA for power play percentage with a conversion rate tof .214.

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

The Lakers face a tough test with Robert Morris ranking 11th in the NCAA in penalty kill.

CARDIAC KIDS
The Lakers have had a flare for the dramatic this season with all of their victories coming by one goal in the final minute of regulation or in overtime. 

The Lakers started the season with a 3-2 win at Arizona State scoring the game-winner with 19 seconds to play.

Mercyhurst has scored three overtime game winners against St. Lawrence, Bentley and AIC.

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  starts for the Lakers making 243 saves and posting a 3.63 goals against average.

Mercyhurst also brings back junior Stefano Cantali. Cantali has made the four starts for the Lakers making 93 saves and posting a .845 save percentage. 

Senior Colin DeAugustine  has made two appearances this season making 43 saves in relief.

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.

Black Friday Special!
From now until Monday, December 2nd at 11:59 PM, tickets for ALL remaining home games are just $3! Take advantage of this exclusive offer NOW and purchase your tickets here!