ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst Men's Hockey is headed to the Keystone State to face the Air Force on Feb. 3 and 4, 2023.
Game times are 7:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. MT.
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Previously on the Ice
The Lakers Hosted the Bentley Falcons on Jan. 27 and 28. The Lakers dominated in the first game, claiming the win, 4-3. Paul Maust was given a short-handed penalty shot for the game winning goal. Bentley bounced back in game two to win the game.
The Lakers picked up three AHA points to put them into fourth place.
Analyzing Air Force
The last time the two teams met was earlier this season in Erie. The Lakers swept the series, 5-3 and 4-2.
The Falcons are at the bottom of the AHA with 13 points and a conference record of 4-11-1. Will Gavin solely leads the team in goals, posting ten on the season. Gavin and Luke Rowe share the point leader category, securing 17 each. Brandon Koch is at the helm of assists, with 12 on the campaign.
Playoff Picture
The Lakers are fourth in the AHA with 28 points on the board. A sweep this weekend, pending losses from AIC, would put them in third place, three points ahead of the Yellow Jackets. A sweep is essential this weekend, as Niagara is behind the Lakers by three points.
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.
