COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The Mercyhurst men's hockey team travels to Air Force for the First Round of the Atlantic Hockey Association Playoffs.

The Lakers and Falcons will play a best of three series for the right to advance to the AHA Quarterfinals. The first game is Friday, March 6 and the second on Saturday March 7. An if necessary game is set for March 7. All games will start at 7:05 p.m. MST.

LAKER NOTES
AHA FIRST ROUND MATCHUP
The Lakers and Falcons will square off for the second time in three weeks at Cadet Ice Arena in the First Round of the Atlantic Hockey Playoffs.

Mercyhurst is the 11 seed with a 5-27-2 overall mark and 3-23-2 record in Atlantic Hockey play. Air Force brings in a 10-18-6 overall record and 10-12-6 mark in AHA play.

LAST TIME OUT
The Lakers dropped a pair of games to visiting Canisius in the regular season's final series.

The Lakers dropped a 3-2 decision on Friday night with James Anderson scoring both goals. 

In the series finale, Gueorgi Feduolov led the Laker attack with eight shots.

LAST TIME THEY MET
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.

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.

Sophomore Dalton Hunter paces the team with 20 points. 

PLAYOFF HISTORY
The Lakers are 3-2 in their opening playoff series over the last five seasons.

Last season the Lakers hosted Army in the AHA First Round and dropped a pair of games to the Black Knights.

The Falcons and Lakers have met three times in the AHA postseason. Air Force has come out on top in all three of those games including a pair of Championship Games.

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 24-of-133 opportunities on the year for a conversion rate of .180.

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.

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 26 starts for the Lakers making 810 saves and posting a 3.52 goals against average and .907 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 three starts and  six relief appearances this season making 206 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.