ERIE, Pa. - The Lakers will hit the road and face the Black Knights of Army West Point on Feb. 17 and 18, 2023.
Puck drops at both 7:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
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Previously on the Ice
The Lakers had a homestand against the Canisius Golden Griffins. The team gave it all their might, with Eric Esposito posting three points in Friday's Game. Ultimately, Canisius took both games, 3-4 and 0-2.
Analyzing Army
This is the second time both teams will meet this season. In December of 2022, the Black Knights made the journey to Erie. The teams split the series, with the Lakers posting a 4-3 win.
Army is ranked fourth in the AHA with 33 points and a conference record of 10-10-2. Their overall record is 11-15-4.
Joey Baez leads their team in goals, posting 16 on the campaign. Max Itagaki holds the highest assists (24) and points (26).
Playoff Picture
The Lakers are now in eighth place in the AHA Standings. The team has 29 points and a conference record of 7-12-3. A sweep this weekend would push the Lakers back into fourth place and an opportunity to host the first round.
RIT has already secured a spot in the playoffs and home ice, while Sacred Heart will also be competing for the title.
The top eight teams make it to the playoffs, with the four highest seeds hosting all three rounds. The quarter and semi-final rounds are best of three, with the championship being a single game.
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.
