COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The Mercyhurst men's hockey team travels to Colorado Springs for a two-game Atlantic Hockey series with Air Force Friday and Saturday.

LAKER NOTES

THIS WEEKEND'S SERIES
The Lakers and Falcons will square off for the first time this season.

Air Force leads the all-time series 21-14-4 and hold a 10-9-1 advantage at home.

LAST TIME OUT
Mercyhurst dropped a pair of games visiting Army.

On Friday, Mercyhurst cdropped the opener 5-1 with Jonny Lazarus scoring for the Lakers.

In the Saturday contest, the Lakers dropped a 4-1 decision with Carver Watson scoring his second goal of the season.

LAST TIME THEY MET
The last time these two squads met was in a two game series at the Mercyhurst Ice Center Feb. 21 & 22 of 2019.

The teams tied 3-3 in the opener before the Falcons scored a 4-2 decision on Saturday.

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. Dalton Hunter paces the team with 19 points. Steven Ipri ranks second with 18 points.

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 22-of-128 opportunities on the year.

The Lakers rank 40th in the NCAA for power play percentage with a conversion rate tof .172..

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 22 total power play goals ranks 27th 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 23 starts for the Lakers making 690 saves and posting a 3.75 goals against average and .900 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 ill also be in Northern Ireland. Quinnipiac will round out the field.