Erie Pa. - The Mercyhurst Men's Ice Hockey Team has launched their 2023-24 schedule. 

Head Coach Rick Gotkin will lead the team in his 36th season as a Laker and also the longest tenured coach in college hockey. 

Like last season, the Lakers will open up at home for Homecoming with Ohio State on Oct. 7 at 7:00 p.m.

The team will then host the reformed Robert Morris team on Oct. 14 at 4:00 p.m.

For the first roadtrip of the year, the Lakers are going to South Bend, Ind. to face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Dates are Oct. 26 and 27, with times to be announced. 

The team will stay on the road to face CCHA member Bowling Green State on Nov. 3 and 4. 

Nov. 10 and 11, the Lakers will have their first Atlantic Hockey series against RIT in Rochester, NY. They will come back home to face Air Force Nov. 18 and 19. 

A home-and-home will be on the horizon with the Lakers facing NCHC member Miami (OH). The first game is Nov. 24 in Oxford, Oh., and the second Nov. 26 at 4:00 p.m. in Erie, Pa.

With another home-and-home on the schedule, the team will host Canisius on the 1st to open up December and go to Buffalo on 2nd.

Army will visit the Lakers on Dec. 8 and 9 to continue AHA play. Game times are 7:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

2023 will be closed out on Dec. 30 with a road trip to Columbus, Oh. to face Ohio State in the second-part of their series. 

The team will continue on the road to face Sacred Heart in a series and play one game at Canisius. 

Coming off their road trip, the Lakers will play on home ice against the Purple Eagles of Niagara on Jan. 13 at 7:00 p.m.

Two more AHA series will be played against Bentley on their ice Jan. 19-20 and host Holy Cross on Jan. 26-27.

The team will again play in a home-and-home on Feb. 2-3 against Robert Morris. The first game will be played in Erie, Pa. at 7:00 p.m. and game two in Moon Township, Pa. also at 7:00 p.m.

The final full-series at home will be against RIT on Feb. 9-10 at 7:00 p.m. The Lakers will have their final-full road series at AIC Feb. 16-17. 

A familiar home-and-home against Niagara will wrap-up the regular season for the Lakers. The team will play in Niagara Falls, NY, on Feb. 23 and in Erie, Pa. the 24th. 

Season tickets for home contests can be found HERE.

Six-game packages can be purchased HERE.