ERIE, Pa. -- The Mercyhurst men's hockey team closes out the 2019-20 regular season with a pair of games against Canisius Friday and Saturday at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. Puck drop is slated for 7:05 p.m. both nights.

Tickets are still available and in honor of Fan Apprciation Night on Friday tickets for both games are just $2 until puck drop on Friday. Fans can purchase tickets here or at the Ice Center beginning 90 minutes prior to faceoff. Beer sales will also be taking place on Friday. Saturday is the team's Annual Cancer Awareness Game. Fans can purchase game worn Cancer Awareness Jerseys. The cost of the specialty jersey is $125.

LAKER NOTES
THIS WEEKEND'S SERIES
The Lakers and Griffins will round out the regular season with their first meeting of the year.

Friday will be Fan Appreciation Night at the MIC and Saturday will be the Annual Cancer Awareness game.

Mercyhurst leads the all-time series 44-34-11 with a 26-14-4 advantage at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.

LAST TIME OUT
Mercyhurst earned a tie on Friday and dropped a tough 2-1 decision on Saturday in a two-game conference set with Air Force.

On Friday, Paul Maust scored for the Lakers in the first period and Garrett Metcalf made a season-high 43 saves to hold the Falcons to one goal and earn the draw.

In the Saturday contest, Justin Cmunt scored on the power play to tie the game at one, but Air Force scored with 3:07 to play to take the game 2-1.

LAST TIME THEY MET
The last time these two teams met was Feb. 1 & 2 of 2019. Mercyhurst went 1-0-1 against the Griffins in a home and home series.

Mercyhurst took the series opener on home ice 5-3 before the teams skated to a 1-1 tie in Buffalo.

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.

PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
The Lakers will be the 11 seed in the upcoming Atlanitc Hockey Association postseason tournament.

Mercyhurst awaits the seeding to play out as they will travel to play the six seed next weekend. 

Five teams are still in the running to be the Lakers opponent with, Robert Morris, Air Force, Niagara, Bentley and Holy Cross standing at 5-9 separated by nine 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 Atlantic Hockey Weekly Award Winners
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 23-of-132 opportunities on the year.

The Lakers rank 40th in the NCAA for power play percentage with a conversion rate tof .174.

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.

The Lakers 23 total power play goals ranks 26th 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 25 starts for the Lakers making 773 saves and posting a 3.54 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  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.

SCOUTING THE GRIFFINS
Canisius brings an 8-18-6 overall record and 7-13-6 mark in Atlantic Hockey play into this weekend's two-game set.

Last time out, the Griffins went 0-1-1 in  a pair of games with Robert Morris. The teams played to a 1-1 tie, with the Colonials grabbing the extra point in the shootout in Buffalo. Robert Morris claimed a 4-3 victory in Moon Township, Pa.

Matt Hoover leads the Griffins in scoreing with 28 points on 12 goals and 16 assists.

Nick Hutchison is the team leader in goals with 15 tallies to go with 11 assists for 26 points. Matt Stief paces the team with 20 helpers.

Jacob Barczewski has made 20 starts in net allowing 58 goals for a 2.84 goals against average while posting a .909 save percentage.

The Griffins are currently 10th in the Atlantic Hockey standings.