ERIE, Pa. -- The Mercyhurst men's hockey team will host Atlantic Hockey opponent Bentley in a pair of games at the Mercyhurst Ice Center Friday and Saturday.

Fans can join the Lakers and Because You Care on Pucks and Paws Night at Mercyhurst on Friday Jan. 24! Fans can bring their furry animals for a night of fun while watching Erie's only Division I college hockey team. Proceeds of this game will benefit Because You Care. Puck drop is slated for 7:05 p.m. Tickets for dogs are $10, and tickets can be purchased online while people tickets can be purchased online here on the day of the game at the Mercyhurst Ice Center, 90 minutes to puck drop.

Saturday's is set or a 4:05 p.m. and will feature a family friendly post-game skate. Fans will need to bring their own skates and helmets. No rentals will be available.

LAKER NOTES  
THIS WEEKEND'S SERIES
The Lakers and Falcons will square off in their second two-game set of the season after the teams split a pair of games in Waltham, Mass. in November.

The Lakers won a 4-3 overtime contest in the series opener while Bentley posted a 6-3 victory in the finale.

Mercyhurst leads the all-time series 40-19-8. They hold a 15-6-5 advantage at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.

LAST TIME OUT
Mercyhurst got back in the win column splitting a home-and-home series with Robert Morris on Friday and Saturday.

The Lakersgot a pair of collegiate firsts as Paul Maust and Jonathan Bendorf each scored and Garrett Metcalf made 36 saves in a 2-1 victory at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.

Mercyhurst dropped a 5-1 decision on Saturday at Colonial Arena. Steven Ipri netted his team-leading 10th goal.

LAST TIME THEY MET
The season series is knotted 1-1 after a split in November in Waltham.

The Lakers trailed 3-2, but tied the game on the power play with the net empty on an Owen Norton tally with 50 seconds remaining to force overtime. James Anderson was the overtime hero scoring a 5-on-3 goal just 30 seconds into the extra frame to give the Lakers the win.

In the 6-3 loss to the Falcons, Steven Ipri led the offense with a goal and an assist, but scored four times on nine power play opportunities to earn the league split.

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

The Lakers have claimed a pair of AHA Rookie of the Week honors in Ashton Stockie and Khristian Acosta.

Eight freshman have scored their first collegiate goal this season. Paul Maust and Jonathan Bendorf became the latest to add their names to that list with goals against Robert Morris on Friday night.

A pair of sophomores lead the Lakers in scoring in forwards Steven Ipri (18) and Dalton Hunter (16).

HONOR ROLL
Mercyhurst players have been well represented on the Atlantic Hockey awards lists.
Ashton Stockie Rookie of the Week (Oct. 8)
Khristian Acosta Rookie of the Week (Dec. 3)
Dalton Hunter Player of the Month (October)

MAN ADVANTAGE 
Mercyhust has used the power-play to their advantage cashing in on 16-of-99 opportunities on the year.

The Lakers rank 43rd in the NCAA for power play percentage with a conversion rate tof .162.

Eight different Mercyhurst players have recorded a power play point and six different Lakers have power play goals. Dalton Hunter leads the team with four markers with the man advantage.

The Lakers 16 total power play goals ranks 24th in NCAA Division I.

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.

Bentley has seen the Lakers comeback streak as the Lakers tied the Nov. 29 series opener with under a minute to play before winning the game in overtime.

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 16 starts for the Lakers making 470 saves and posting a 3.56 goals against average and .906 save percentage.

Mercyhurst also brings back junior Stefano Cantali. Cantali has made the five starts for the Lakers making 120 saves and posting a .839 save percentage. 

Senior Colin DeAugustine  has made one start and  six relief appearances this season making 139 saves.

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 563.

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.