Re: LSSU Lakers 2015-16: The 50th season
Lake Superior State is one of four Western Collegiate Hockey Association teams to play the Arizona State Sun Devils during their inaugural Division I season.
The puck drops at 7:37 p.m. ET Friday and 7:07 p.m. on Saturday night at Taffy Abel Arena. The games will be broadcast live on your OFFICIAL home for Laker Hockey, 99.5 YES FM,
www.yesfm.net, with the Voice of the Lakers, Bill Crawford
Friday night, local veterans, and active or retired military personnel will receive free admission to the game. Immediate family members accompanying the personnel will receive a 50-percent discount. Families are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance at the Norris Center Information Desk and provide some kind of proof of service. The Soo BlueLiners would also like to invite all veterans and active military personnel to the BlueLiner Room for free coffee prior to the game.
The Lakers (2-6-2, 0-2-2 WCHA) enter the matchup with the Sun Devils following a pair of 1-1 ties against then No. 14-ranked Bowling Green State. Last weekend's series saw the Lakers earn their first two points in the WCHA standings in an unconventional series split.
Sophomore goaltender Gordon Defiel (1-4-2) appears to have returned to form after a slow start to this season. Defiel made 70 saves on the 72 shots he faced during the series, good for a .972 saves percentage. The Stillwater, Minn., native also produced a 0.92 goals-against average on the weekend. Defiel turned aside all 29 shots he faced during the third and overtime periods of both games.
With the strong performance last weekend, Defiel raised his saves percentage to a respectable .900 clip and lowered his goals-against average to 3.21.
Senior Zach Loesch (1-0--1) scored his first collegiate goal to help secure the 1-1 tie in the series finale. The tally was Loesch's 10th career point in 91 career games. Josh Nenadal (3-0--3), a freshman from Brecksville, Ohio, netted his third goal of the season during the series opener.
Both goals for the Lakers came during the second period of the series. This season the Lakers have 12 second-period goals, more than any team in the WCHA.
The Sun Devils (3-6-0) became the 60th team in collegiate hockey this off-season, rising from club-team to independent Division I status, and are playing a hybrid schedule against NCAA Division I, Division III and junior A opponents. The Sun Devils also play a number of games against American College Hockey Association club teams.
Arizona State enters the matchup coming off of a bye week. The Sun Devils were swept at Wisconsin Oct. 30-31.
Freshmen Jordan Masters (4-5--9) and Joey Raats (1-7--8) lead the Sun Devils' scoring attack and a freshman class that ranks first nationally in overall points. The Lakers lead the WCHA in rookie scoring and rank sixth nationally.
Ryland Pashovitz fills the roll of starting netminder for the Sun Devils with 378:29 minutes in net this season. Pashovitz holds a 2-5-0 record, 3.01 goals-against average and .919 saves percentage on the season.
The Lakers are tied with Minnesota State for third-most power-play attempts (49) in the nation and are converting 12.2 percent of their attempts. The Lakers' penalty kill currently ranks fifth among WCHA teams with a success rate of 84.1 percent.
The Sun Devils power-play comes in at an impressive 24.3 percent, however their penalty kill currently sits at 80.4 percent.
Following the weekend series against ASU, the Lakers play a two-game WCHA series at Bemidji State. The Lakers enter this week tied with Alaska for eighth-place in the WCHA standings. The Beavers sit one point behind the Lakers, and the Nanooks are 10th.
Alumni Association Tailgate
Join the LSSU Alumni Association for a pre-game tailgate at the Lukenda Alumni House on Sat. Nov. 14 at 5:30pm before the Lakers play the Sun Devils at 7:07 pm. Stop by for a game of foosball or cornhole as the Alumni Association grills up burgers & brats. The cost is $5 per person or free if you bring a dish to pass.
Ringy Dingy
