ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst Men's Hockey team is back at home to face AIC on Jan. 20 and 21, 2023. The puck will drop at 7:05 p.m. and 4:05 p.m.
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Make sure to follow @HurstMensHockey for content leading up to the games as well as in-game updates.
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Previously on the Ice
The Lakers ventured up to RIT to face the Tigers. Game one ended in a six-round shootout with Tommy Bannister netting the winning goal. The team fell in game two, but Tyler Harmon stopped 29 shots on net.
Analyzing AIC
The last time the two teams met was in 2022 in the AHA Semi-Final game. The Lakers fell in a heartbreaking loss 4-5.
The Yellow Jackets sit third in the AHA with a conference record of 9-5-2 (12-9-5 overall). Blake Bennett leads the team in goals posting 15 on the season, while Jordan Biro leads the team in assists (16) and points (25).
Playoff Picture
The Lakers sit at fourth in the Atlantic Hockey Association with a record of 5-6-3 and have 21 points on the board. Ahead of the team is AIC in third with 29 points, Sacred Heart in second with 31, and RIT at the helm with 40 points.
Preseason Poll
The Lakers were picked to finish seventh in the Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA) Coaches' Preseason Poll.
MU received 37 points while AIC was at the helm with 88 points.
Preseason Recognition
Junior, Carson Briere, received votes to be on the Preseason All-Atlantic Hockey Team.
2022-23 Captains
Rylee St. Onge and Joseph Maziarz will wear the "C" on their sweaters this season. Alternate Captains, Marko Reifenberger, Owen Norton, and Cade Townend will represent the Lakers as well.
A Look at the Roster
29 players represent the Lakers in the 2022-23 season. They are broken down into five graduate students, seven seniors, seven juniors, four sophomores, and six freshmen.
The team has athletes from both the United States and Canada.
35 Years with Coach Gotkin
Head Coach Rick Gotkin is on his 35th campaign with the Lakers. Since coming to Erie in 1988, Gotkin has spent more than three decades instilling a winning tradition in the men's hockey program. Gotkin, the only coach in NCAA history to take a team to the NCAA Tournament at all three levels, has guided the Lakers to over 500 wins, six NCAA tournament appearances, and five league championships. Overall, he has accumulated a 564-448-95 record. His teams have averaged 18 wins a season and have made the postseason in 31 of the 33 years he has been at Mercyhurst.
2021-22 Season
MU finished the 2021-22 season with a 16-19-4 record. The team made it to the AHA Semifinals where they fell to AIC with a close score of 4-5.
