SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- The Mercyhurst men's hockey team travels to Springfield, Mass. for an Atlantic Hockey series with American International College Friday and Saturday.

Friday's contest is slated for 7:05 p.m. while Saturday with be a matinee beginning at 1:05 p.m. 

LAKER NOTES

THIS WEEKEND'S SERIES
The Lakers and Yellow Jackets will square off in their second two-game set of the season after the teams split a pair of games in Erie in November.

The Lakers dropped a 12-0 decision in the opener before rallying for a 4-3 overtime win in the finale.

Mercyhurst leads the all-time series 47-9-2. 

LAST TIME OUT
Mercyhurst dropped a pair of games to visiting Bentley last weekend at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.

On Friday, Mercyhurst dropped a 4-3 decision with six of the seven combined goals coming in an eight minute span of the second period. Justin Cmunt tallied his first collegiate goal for the Lakers.

Mercyhurst fell 7-4 in the series finale. Paul Maust netted a pair of goals to lead the Mercyhurst effort.

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

The Yellow Jackets had everything go their way in a 12-0 victory in the serie opener. They went 3-for-4 on power play opportunities and Zackarias Skog made 18 saves to earn the shutout.

The Lakers bounced back in the finale earning a 4-3 overtime victory. Steven Ipri notched his second overtime winner of the season, his second of the contest. Carver Watson and Dante Spagnuolo each tallied their first collegiate goals as well.

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.

Nine freshman have scored their first collegiate goal this season. Justin Cmunt became the latest to add his name to the list with his first period tally Friday night against Bentley.

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 40th in the NCAA for power play percentage with a conversion rate tof .168.

Nine different Mercyhurst players have recorded a power play point and seven different Lakers have power play goals. Dalton Hunter and James Anderson lead the team with four markers each on the man advantage.

The Lakers 16 total power play goals ranks 25th 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.

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 17 starts for the Lakers making 492 saves and posting a 3.62 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 two start and  seven 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.