ERIE, Pa. -- The Mercyhurst men's hockey team welcomes Army West Point to the Mercyhurst Ice Center for a pair of Atlantic Hockey games Friday and Saturday. Puck drop both nights is slated for 7:05 p.m.

On Friday, the Lakers will have a Bring your Sweetheart to the game promotion with a buy one get one free ticket offer. On Saturday, Mercyhurst will honor the six members of the senior class and fans can take advantage of a family four pack offer with four tickets, four drinks and four hot dogs all for just $40. Beer will be sold at both games against the Black Knights.

LAKER NOTES
THIS WEEKEND'S SERIES
The Lakers and Black Knights will square off for the first time this season after meeting six times in 2018-19.

Mercyhurst leads the all-time series 41-17-7 and holds a 25-5-2 record inside the Mercyhurst Ice Center.

LAST TIME OUT
Mercyhurst dropped a pair of games in an AHA home and home set with Niagara.

On Friday, Mercyhurst couldn't find the back of the net in a 3-0 loss. Netminder Garrett Metcalf made 36 saves while allowing just a pair of goals.

In the Saturday contest, the Lakers trailed 3-0 before James Anderson scored with just under two minutes left in the second. Jonathan Bendorf scored on the power play with 2:01 remaining in the game, but a Purple Eagle empty net goal set the final at 4-2.

LAST TIME THEY MET
The last time the Lakers and Black Knights met was last year in the AHA postseason.

Army opened the series with a 3-2 overtime win and then took the series with a 5-1 victory in game two.

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.

A pair of sophomores lead the Lakers in scoring wtih Steven Ipri and Dalton Hunter each recording 18 points.

"FAMILY"-ARITY
Mercyhurst senior Brendan Riley will see a familiar face on the opposing bench as his father Brian Riley is the head coach of the Black Knights.

This is the seventh season Brian has looked at the Laker bench to see one of his sons as Jack Riley was also a member of the Mercyhurst team.

COLLEGIATE FIRSTS
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.

In the Lakers Saturday afternoon contest with AIC saw another collegiate first as junior captain Quinn Wickers netted his first career goal in his 91st collegiate contest.

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 21-of-123 opportunities on the year.

The Lakers rank 38th in the NCAA for power play percentage with a conversion rate tof .171.

Ten different Mercyhurst players have recorded a power play point and eight different Lakers have power play goals. Dalton Hunter leads the team with five markers on the man advantage after his power play tally vs AIC on Friday. His five extra-man goals ranks tied for 27th.

The Lakers 21 total power play goals ranks 23rd in NCAA Division I.

The Black Knights will challenge the Lakers man advantage as they rank tied for fifth in penalty killing at an .865 percentage.

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 21 starts for the Lakers making 625 saves and posting a 3.72 goals against average and .901 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  six relief appearances this season making 170 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 564.

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.