What's new
USCHO Fan Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.

LSSU Lakers 2016-17

Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

Seems to be a lot of good players on this team . The problem seems to be they do not play well together as a team.

I agree as they do seem to have some very good players and yet they seem to struggle every game now. You just cannot keep blaming it all on youth. These guys are all twenty one and over for the most part and have played hockey most of their lives. As Yooper by choice said and I agree . At this point in the season there are no freshmen . It would be a disaster after the great start not to make the playoffs or have to fight for the last spot the rest of the season .
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

The Lakers should've declined to play in the NCAA tournament in 1988 because a young team with 9 freshmen wouldn't be able to compete at that level.

Methinks there are a lot of (as one self-assured chum on here says) Roquettes still floating around on here.

It took Frank Anzalone several years to field a championship team, certainly more than 2 1/2 as under the current head coach, Damon Whitten. Give him time man, he is steering the Good Ship Laker back to prominence.

Ringy Dingy!
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

Hopefully the flu bug that affected the team this weekend will be gone by the time we play UAH.

We definitely need to sweep UAH this weekend especially with the tough trip to Mankato coming up.
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

Another thing that is unfair how much the Good Ship Laker players get the flu more than any other team in college hockey. Must be the cold weather, man.

Here is to a healthy recovery to all the players and a sweep this weekend against Alabama Huntsville.

Ringy Dingy!
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

Hopefully the flu bug that affected the team this weekend will be gone by the time we play UAH.

We definitely need to sweep UAH this weekend especially with the tough trip to Mankato coming up.
If they can sweep UAH this weekend, they could move as high as 5th in the standings. I think with the higher scoring early in the season, they lost some of their defensive focus and the coaches are trying to get that corrected. If they can get that focus back the rest of the way while still opening the offense back up (at least to some extent), there shouldn't be a problem making the playoffs; it will be more a question of positioning for the playoffs. Getting home ice will be tough but if (and that may be a big IF) they can get on a roll it's still possible. We may get a health update on tomorrow's Laker Hockey Show.
 
Last edited:
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

I didn't get to Marquette to watch McKay Friday night. Can he ever skate well and he finishes his checks very well. I guess I just wasn't expecting that out of him.

I only watched over the internet so a little tougher to judge than those at the game.
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

If they can sweep UAH this weekend, they could move as high as 5th in the standings. I think with the higher scoring early in the season, they lost some of their defensive focus and the coaches are trying to get that corrected. If they can get that focus back the rest of the way while still opening the offense back up (at least to some extent), there shouldn't be a problem making the playoffs;

I will lower my expectations this weekend. I'm more looking at two points. Anymore then I will be impressed.
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

If they can sweep UAH this weekend, they could move as high as 5th in the standings. I think with the higher scoring early in the season, they lost some of their defensive focus and the coaches are trying to get that corrected. If they can get that focus back the rest of the way while still opening the offense back up (at least to some extent), there shouldn't be a problem making the playoffs; it will more a question of positioning for the playoffs. Getting home ice will be tough but if (and that may be a big IF) they can get on a roll it's still possible. We may get a health update on tomorrow's Laker Hockey Show.

In addition to the Laker Hockey Show, with the Voice of the Lakers, Bill Crawford and Damon Whitten, tune into the Hockey North Show at 5 pm tonite on Radio Station ESPN 1400 with Randy Russon from http://www.saultthisweek.com http://www.hockeynewsnorth.com as he provides the best coverage of the Good Ship Laker and area hockey.

Ringy Dingy!
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

Doug Weight has been named interim head coach of the Islanders after they fired Jack Capuano.
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

Good for Weight . Maybe he will give something to Anzalone as they are still good friends .
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

Good for Weight . Maybe he will give something to Anzalone as they are still good friends .

Anzalone got Weight to make a big contribution to the Laker hockey program when Frank was at LSSU his second time around. The last I knew Anzalone was still a college scout for Calgary, so a different organization than the Islanders.
 
Anzalone got Weight to make a big contribution to the Laker hockey program when Frank was at LSSU his second time around. The last I knew Anzalone was still a college scout for Calgary, so a different organization than the Islanders.

Frank is still with Calgary.
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

Lake Superior State welcomes Western Collegiate Hockey Association rivals Alabama-Huntsville this weekend for a two-game series inside Taffy Abel Arena. The series marks the second time third and fourth games between the teams this season with LSSU earning a sweep in Huntsville to open conference play in October.

The Lakers (9-12-3, 6-9-3 WCHA) enter the weekend at eighth place in the WCHA standings with 22 points, closely trailing the Chargers (7-15-2, 7-9-2 WCHA) and Ferris State tied for sixth place with 23 points and Alaska in fifth place with 24 points.

The series opens Friday at 7:37 p.m. ET and continues Saturday at 7:07 p.m. ET. A live radio broadcast will be available on 99.5 YES FM and online at https//:www.lssuakers.com, and a live video stream of the games will be available for purchase at https//:www.wcha.tv.

During Friday's game, LSSU Student Life will give away free glow sticks and food to the LSSU Laker Legion student section, while supplies last. On Saturday, free food will be available to students in attendance, inside the Laker Legion box with a valid Student ID.

LSSU Athletics also welcomes all participants of this year's Cabin Fever Tournament, hosted by the Soo Michigan Hockey Association (SMHA), to receive half-priced tickets to both games this weekend. All registered players of a team participating in the 2017 Cabin Fever Tournament are eligible to receive a child's ticket for $3 and registered coaches can receive an adult ticket for $6, during both Friday and Saturday's games.
The Series vs. Alabama-Huntsville

Overall: LSSU leads, 8-6-2... In SSM: UAH leads, 5-1-… In Huntsville: LSSU leads, 7-1-0…

Last meeting: Oct. 21-22, 2016, LSSU swept: 6-3 Friday / 5-2 Saturday

Streak: LSSU 2-0-0 | Last 5: UAH leads 3-2-0 | Last 10: LSSU leads 5-4-1

The first meeting between the Lakers and Chargers dates back to Jan. 14-15, 2005, when the teams battled to a 3-3 tie and 5-0 win for UAH in the series finale. In October of 2011, The Lakers earned a nonconference sweep over the Chargers on the road and the following November the teams played to a series split in Sault Ste. Marie.

In 2013-14 both teams joined the WCHA and the visitor has won all but two matchups in the series since, a Lakers loss in Huntsville in 2014 and a tie between the teams in 2015. All-time, the road team is 12-2-2 in the series, in which the Lakers hold an overall 8-6-2 advantage. Inside Taffy Abel Arena, however, the Chargers are 5-1-2 against the Lakers all-time.

The Lakers opened their WCHA schedule this season on the road at Huntsville on Oct. 21-22. LSSU claimed a 6-3 victory in the opener before claiming a sweep with a 5-2 victory on Saturday.

During the last 10 meetings, the Lakers lead the series 5-4-1; however, the Chargers have outscored the Lakers 26-25.
Scouting the Chargers

The Chargers enter the weekend on a four-game losing streak, including last weekend's sweep at the hands of Minnesota State. On the season, UAH ranks eighth among WCHA teams averaging just 2.17 goals per game and is allowing 3.50 goals against, which ties Alaska for the league's worst mark.

The Chargers' special teams have also struggled this season. On the power play, they rank eighth with an 11.2 conversion percentage. The UAH penalty kill also ranks eighth among teams inside the WCHA, killing off just 79.3 percent of opponent's power-play opportunities.

A pair of junior forwards, Josh Kestner and Max McHugh lead the way for the Chargers offensively. Kestner has six goals and 11 assists on the season to lead UAH with 17 points. McHugh leads UAH with eight goals and trails Kestner by a point to rank second on the team with 16 points.

Both Kestner and McHugh turned in two-point games against the Lakers when the teams met in October. Kestner scored a goal and added an assist on Friday and McHugh netted two goals on Saturday.

Jordan Uhelski has been the Chargers' top performer in net this season, posting a 5-6-2 record and 2.63 goals against average. Uhelski's .909 save percentage this season leads UAH netminders and ranks seventh overall among WCHA goaltenders.

Against LSSU in October, Uhelski made 28 saves in a 5-2 loss during the series finale. The night before, the Flint native made six saves in relief of Matt Larose and held the Lakers scoreless during the third period of a 6-3 loss.
Last Time Out Against the Wildcats (Fri.: 1-1, T | Sat.: 1-1, T)

Last weekend the Lakers played to a pair of 1-1 ties with Northern Michigan in their second-consecutive weekend of home-and-home action against their Upper Peninsula rivals. The pair of ties required the Lakers relinquish control of the Cappo Cup rivalry series trophy to the Wildcats after splitting the season series 1-1-2 and the Wildcats holding a 10-9 total goals advantage.

On Friday the Lakers opened the scoring 5:02 into the game with a power-play goal by Max Humitz, assisted by Collin Saccoman and J.T. Henke. The Wildcats tied the game late in the first period and the teams skated through the rest of regulation and the five-on-five overtime scoreless. In the three-on-three overtime, Gage Torrel scored with nine seconds remaining to give the Lakers the extra point towards the WCHA standings.

On Saturday, Humitz scored another power-play goal, again assisted by Henke and Saccoman, late in the second period to tie the game at 1-1. The game remained tied throughout and went to a shootout, which the Wildcats won in the first round.

Gordon Defiel backstopped both games, saving 60-of-62 shots faced to finish with a .968 save percentage on the weekend, the nation's second-best mark among goaltenders to appear in both games for their teams last weekend.

With both of the Lakers' goals last weekend, Humitz tied for the league-lead in total goals and led the WCHA in power-play goals for the weekend.
Laker Log

With two assists on the weekend, following a five-point weekend Jan. 6-7, Henke now leads the Lakers in scoring with seven goals and 16 assists for 23 points.
Mitch Hults previously led the Lakers in scoring but has been held scoreless in four straight games against NMU.
With a pair of power-play goals on the weekend, Humitz leads the Lakers in goals (11) and power-play tallies (6).
Among WCHA freshmen, Humitz is tied for first with Minnesota State's Marc Michaelis in total goals, has the most power-play goals (4), and ranks tied for fourth in points (14).
Freshman defenseman Collin Saccoman continues to lead the nation with 71 blocked shots on the season and is averaging a nation's best 2.96 blocked shots per game.
Between Henke in third and Hults (6-16--22) tied for fourth, the Lakers have two forwards in the top-five of league scoring.
Diego Cuglietta is tied for sixth in total goals with 10 and ranks tied for 12th among WCHA players with 17 points.
Following a 6-1-0 start to the season and averaging 5.0 goals per game, the Lakers have since been held to two or fewer goals in nine of their last 17 games.
In their last 17 games, the Lakers are 3-11-3 and have been outscored 57-35.
During that stretch, 57 goals (3.35 GAA) allowed is the league's worst mark, while 35 goals-for (2.06 goals per game) ranks fifth. LSSU has also allowed a league-high six shorthanded goals during that stretch and the second-most power-play goals against.
The Lakers currently rank third in the WCHA with a 2.92 goals per game average.
Defensively, the Lakers have allowed 3.04 goals-against per game this season.
The Lakers rank sixth in the WCHA at 14.3 percent on the power play and rank fifth in penalty kill at 84.4 percent.
With a combined 35 goals and 62 assists for 97 total points, the Lakers' sophomore is tied with Notre Dame's junior class for the third-most combined points by a single class.
Among freshmen classes, the Lakers freshman class is tied for 10th nationally with 24-33--57.
As a group, the Lakers' forwards lead the WCHA and rank tied for 12th nationally in combined points (150). Their 64 combined goals rank tied for 11th nationally.
At home this season, the Lakers are 6-3-1 overall.
When the Lakers score first, they are 5-2-1 this season.

Looking Ahead (at Minnesota State Jan. 27-28)

The Lakers mark their first two-game road series of the second half next weekend when they travel to Mankato, Minnesota to face Minnesota State. The Mavericks enter this weekend 14-8-2 overall and 10-6-2 in WCHA play, tying Bowling Green for third place in the conference standings.

MSU travels to Copper Country this weekend to face second-place Michigan Tech.

The Lakers and Mavericks met earlier this season, Nov. 4-5, inside Taffy Abel Arena. The Lakers claimed their first-ever home victory, 5-1 over the Mavericks and just their second win against the Mavericks all-time on Friday (Nov. 4). The Mavericks earned a split with a 2-1 victory on Saturday (Sat. 5).
LSSU Alumni Association Gathering (Mankato Jan. 28)

The LSSU Alumni Association invites all Lakers fans to join alumni and fellow fans at Rounders Sports Bar for a pre-game tailgate before the Lakers play at Minnesota State on Saturday, Jan. 28 (7:07 p.m. CT). The Alumni provides free appetizers and a drawing for Laker door prizes. Anna (Kerr) Hotz '03 is hosting this Laker gathering. There is no charge; Donations will be accepted.

Tickets for the game can be purchased from Ticketmaster. Ask to be seated in Section 200 with other Laker fans. Contact the Alumni Office with questions or to RSVP, 906.635.6219 or email alumnirelations@lssu.edu.

http://www.saultthisweek.com http://www.hockeynewsnorth.com http://blogs.canoe.com/randyrusson/ http://www.lssulakers.com

Ringy Dingy!
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

Chris Dilks ‏@ChrisDilks 2m2 minutes ago
Lake Superior State sophomore D Owen Headrick has signed with Erie in the OHL. 2-13-15 in 24 games for the Lakers. Good offensive D.
 
Back
Top