Men's Ice Hockey Enters Final Season with Gotkin Behind the Bench

The Mercyhurst men’s ice hockey team begins the 2025-26 season this Friday, Oct. 3 in Ann Arbor as they take on #12 Michigan.

It will mark the 38th and final season with head coach Rick Gotkin, the longest tenured coach in NCAA Hockey history. Joining him at the helm is Tom Peffall, who was named head coach in waiting at the end of the 2024-25 season.

In his storied career, Gotkin has over 1,200 career games under his belt, leading the Lakers to more than 600 wins. He is the only coach in NCAA history to bring teams to the NCAA tournament at all three divisions and has been named the AHA Coach of the Year twice and MAAC Coach of the Year once. 

Last season the Lakers finished 4-27-4 overall and 4-19-3 in the AHA. This season, they look to step into a new threshold, bringing in 12 new Lakers.

Among these additions, there are five transfers. Noah Sedore and Joey Serpa, both previously played in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), come to Mercyhurst after college careers playing in the Atlantic University Sports conference.

Sedore played locally for the Erie Otters from 2019-2022, before spending two years at Prince Edward Island. In his two seasons, he tallied 16 goals and 23 assists. 

Serpa most recently played two years with the Dalhousie Tigers, picking up 12 goals and 16 assists in his career. 

Joining Sedore and Serpa, are John Larkin, Tyler Haskins, and Sal Evola. Larkin played four season at Ohio State, where he was named an Academic All-Big Ten Choice two seasons in a row. Haskins comes from Minnesota State, where he tallies four goals and two assists. He was also named a CCHA All-Academic during his time with the Mavericks. Goaltender Sal Evola looks to make his presence known between the pipes, joining the Lakers after three seasons at Bowling Green.

Seven freshmen also look to make their impact on the ice. Francesco Iasenza comes to Mercyhurst from the QMJHL. Alexander Dimitriadis, Charles Edward Gravel, and Will Schumacher join the Lakers from the BCHL. Lukas Klemm played in the NAHL, and twins Andrew and Jacob LeBlanc spent time in the OHL. Defender Jacob LeBlanc was named the AHA number one recruit for incoming freshman class, with a rating of 4.25 stars. 

The Lakers return points leader Ryan Coughlin (15) back to the ice for the 25-26 campaign. Riley Fitzgerald (7) and Dominik Bartecko (6) also return for the Blue and Green, looking to make an impact offensively. Assist leader Trent Sambrook (11) looks to lead the Lakers on the blue line 

Goaltenders Michael Chambre and Simon Bucheler return to the net for the Lakers, looking to make their impact. 

Sean James, Brendan Lamb, Connor Pelc, Spencer Smith, Matteo Disipio, and Barrett Brooks each return for the Laker forwards.

Tyler Nasca, Kaden Muir, Tyler DesRochers, Caleb Price, and Jaryd Sych also return to the blue line this season.

Gotkin and Peffall look forward to the season ahead, breaking ground into new territory for Mercyhurst men’s ice hockey. Peffall is excited to take on his new role and honor Gotkin for is historical career.

In this transformational year, Peffall and Gotkin look to work together to make it the best experience for the entire team. 

Part of this transformation was adding assistant Coach Karlis Zirnis behind the bench. He has a plethora of experience, coaching for the Latvian National Team, being behind the bench for the Olympics, coaching junior hockey, and experience in Division I.

The Lakers will start their season at #12 Michigan. They will then be back at the MIC for the next four weekends, taking on Union, Holy Cross, UMass Lowell, and Bentley.

In November Mercyhurst will play a slew of conference games. They will finish their series against Bentley Nov. 1 at home. The rest of the month, the Lakers find themselves on the road to RIT, Canisius, and RMU for conference matchups.

In December, the Green and Blue close out 2025  at Holy Cross.

The Lakers will start the new year at North Dakota for a non-conference series. This will be the last non-conference matchup of the season for the Lakers.

Mercyhurst will take on Army at home the second weekend of the year. Following that will be a split home and away series against Niagara.

They will spend the later half of the month at home, taking on RIT and Canisius.

February includes another slate of away games for the Lakers, starting with an away trip to Sacred Heart. They then will take a trip to Colorado to take on Air Force. 

The second half of the month with conclude two split home and away series against Niagara and RMU.