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LSSU Lakers 2016-17
- Thread starter LSSULaker889294
- Start date
gfmorris
New member
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17
No rating/ranking system has a shot of getting it close to right until what, eight weeks? Besides, USCHO used to let me vote in their poll, so it's clearly forever scarred.
GFM
No rating/ranking system has a shot of getting it close to right until what, eight weeks? Besides, USCHO used to let me vote in their poll, so it's clearly forever scarred.
GFM
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17
Yeah, it's pretty early to start looking at polls. It's nice for the guys on the team to see that they're starting to get some recognition, but if we're still sitting decently in the polls towards the holidays, then it will start having more meaning.
Yeah, it's pretty early to start looking at polls. It's nice for the guys on the team to see that they're starting to get some recognition, but if we're still sitting decently in the polls towards the holidays, then it will start having more meaning.
gfmorris
New member
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17
You just don't want to peak in October like a team I knew last year. Good luck to the Lakers until we see you in the Soo in late January.
GFM
You just don't want to peak in October like a team I knew last year. Good luck to the Lakers until we see you in the Soo in late January.
GFM
LSSULaker889294
Registered User
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17
The Lakers haven't played any really strong opponents at this point which is probably why we aren't in the top 20 in the polls yet. However if we keep the momentum going the next couple of weeks, I'm sure the Lakers will be ranked in the top 20 by then. No doubt Damon has this team improved greatly the past year and is slowly getting on the path of making Laker Hockey great again.
The Lakers haven't played any really strong opponents at this point which is probably why we aren't in the top 20 in the polls yet. However if we keep the momentum going the next couple of weeks, I'm sure the Lakers will be ranked in the top 20 by then. No doubt Damon has this team improved greatly the past year and is slowly getting on the path of making Laker Hockey great again.
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UAFHockeyFan314
Blogger
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17
Without starting an incredible rage war, I'm curious if anyone knows the eligibility status of Brayden Gelsinger. With 7 points in 4 games--leading all of Divison I in points per game among rookies--I naturally got a little curious and looked up his history. He's played 14 games of major juniors including 2 games in postseason. Call me crazy, but that's a pretty clear violation. I'm not just saying that as a sour nancy after our school got slapped around with BS violations, either.
He obviously cleared the NCAA clearing house. Which goes through an even more intensive process as an international student.
Honestly have never seen this before. Mr. Geof Morris clued me in that Mike Salekin at UAH lost a full year + one game of eligibility for playing one game in the WHL...
Has anything been brought up in the media? Nothing seemingly posted anywhere online. Seems very wild to me.
Without starting an incredible rage war, I'm curious if anyone knows the eligibility status of Brayden Gelsinger. With 7 points in 4 games--leading all of Divison I in points per game among rookies--I naturally got a little curious and looked up his history. He's played 14 games of major juniors including 2 games in postseason. Call me crazy, but that's a pretty clear violation. I'm not just saying that as a sour nancy after our school got slapped around with BS violations, either.
He obviously cleared the NCAA clearing house. Which goes through an even more intensive process as an international student.
Honestly have never seen this before. Mr. Geof Morris clued me in that Mike Salekin at UAH lost a full year + one game of eligibility for playing one game in the WHL...
Has anything been brought up in the media? Nothing seemingly posted anywhere online. Seems very wild to me.
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17
I don't know the details, but my understanding is that he and his family did all the leg work and put together a case to present to the NCAA to gain his eligibility. I think the expectations at LSSU were that he would probably have to sit out some or all of this season. The NCAA does seem to have become more lenient the last couple of years. Stephen Bayliss at BGSU sat out the first part of last season; he also had minimal Major Junior experience. It came as a surprise when the NCAA said Gelsinger could play right away. His appeal did go to them so they were in the loop. It has been mentioned in the Soo media. His WHL exposure came right out of Midget hockey and he played several full seasons of Junior A after that so maybe that worked in his favor. I don't know. His family obviously made a good case to the NCAA whatever the specific circumstances were.
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LakerBaker
New member
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17
Lake Superior State welcomes their first Western Collegiate Hockey Association rival to Taffy Abel Arena this weekend as the Alaska Nanooks come to town for a two-game series on Friday at 7:37 p.m. and Saturday at 7:07 p.m.
LSSU looks to keep their undefeated record in-tact, as well as their NCAA-best six goals per game average, after returning home from Huntsville with six league points and a sweep over the Chargers. The Lakers are looking for their first 6-0-0 start to a season since the 1995-96 campaign, also the last appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
The Series vs. Alaska
Overall: LSSU leads 34-21-6... In the Soo: LSSU leads: 25-9-1
Last meeting: Dec. 4-5, 2015, LSSU won 4-2 / LSSU won 2-0
Streak: LSSU 2-0-0 Last 10: LSSU leads 6-4-0
The Lakers and Nanooks met just once last season as the Lakers made the trek up to Fairbanks and came away with their lone sweep of the season and the team's first sweep in Fairbanks since 1996.
The first meeting between the programs dates back to Oct. 10, 1986 and was played in Sault Ste. Marie. The Nanooks won the first matchup 8-6, but LSSU responded with an 8-1 victory the next night for the series split.
In 1995 the Nanooks joined the Lakers in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and the teams have been conference foes ever since, including when both teams joined the WCHA in 2013-14. During their time in the CCHA the Lakers enjoyed a 27-14-6 advantage over Alaska.
Since both teams joined the WCHA in 2013-14, the series is tiead 4-4-0.
Scouting the Nanooks
The Nanooks (2-4-0, 1-1-0 WCHA) leave Alaska for the first time this season, this weekend for their trip to Taffy Abel Arena. UAF hosted the Lakers' next opponent, Minnesota State, last weekend and pulled off the 4-2 upset on Saturday to secure the series split with the Mavericks.
Senior Brandon Morley leads the Nanooks with five points, all coming by way of assists and has a trio of players with four points each: Zach Frye (2-2--4), Chad Staley (2-2--4), and Justin Woods (1-3--4).
Goaltending has proven to be a question mark for UAF to start the season with sophomore Jesse Jenks and senior Davis Jones each having trouble finding any traction to start the season. Both goaltenders are allowing north of three goal-against per game and are failing to earn save percentages above 89-percent.
Last Week Against the Chargers (Friday: 6-3, W, Saturday: 5-2, W)
LSSU opened the WCHA schedule last weekend with a sweep on the road against Alabama-Huntsvile. The Lakers skated to a 6-3 victory in Friday night's series opener and earned the 5-2 victory in Saturday's series finale.
Sophomore forward Diego Cuglietta turned in a four point weekend, including scoring two goals and notching an assist on Friday. Cuglietta scored a pair of goals, including the game-winning shorthanded tally, just over two minutes apart and added his assist three minutes after his second tally. Saturday saw Cuglietta get his third goal of the series and improve to a WCHA-best +4 rating (tying for fourth nationally) on the weekend.
Freshman defenseman Collin Saccoman tied for the WCHA lead and tied for second among all NCAA blue-liners with three assists – a big reason why he paced the league (and tied for second among defensemen nationally) with a +4 rating. The rookie from Stillwater, Minn. picked up an assist on the game-winning goal both nights for the Lakers and has now assisted on each of the last three game-winning goals for LSSU.
The Lakers used a four-goal second period to help propel them to a 6-3 victory in Friday's series opener. Brayden Gelsinger and Gage Torrel put the Lakers up 2-0 through the first period and Gelsinger notched his second goal of the night mid-way through the second to put the Lakers up 3-1. Cuglietta then scored two goals and assisted on J.T. Henke's third goal of the season to put the Lakers up 6-1 after 40 minutes of play.
On Saturday the Lakers were greeted early with a Chargers goal, just one minute into play. For the first time this season the Lakers trailed for just over seven minutes before Anthony Nellis scored the first of his two goals on the evening.
Freshman Bryan Basilico scored his first collegiate goal to end the first period with LSSU leading 2-1, and Mitch Hults tallied his second goal of the season to put the Lakers ahead 3-1 in the second period. Cuglietta later capped the LSSU scoring with a diving attempt to get his stick on the puck and redirect a centering pass from sophomore Josh Nenadal.
Nenadal logged his first two assists of the season on Saturday night.
Laker Log
The Lakers and No. 1 ranked North Dakota (5-0-0) are now the only teams to have won all of their games this season. The Lakers are also leading the nation with a six goals per-game average.
LSSU is tied with Minnesota State for the nation's lead in goal margin with a +15 total.
Four Lakers: Owen Headrick (1-6--7), Henke (3-4--7), Hults (2-5--7) and Gelsinger (3-4--7) are all tied for eighth nationally with a 1.75 point-per-game average and are tied for the fifth-most points by a WCHA player.
Torrel (3-3--6), Cuglietta (3-2--5) and Nellis (3-2--5) are also averaging over a point-per-game for the Lakers.
Henke, Gelsinger and Hults have each registered a point in every game thus far for the Lakers and they all have a pair of multi-point games.
Torrel leads the team with three multi-point games, while Nellis and Headrick each have two multi-point games. All three have earned a point in three-of-the-four games for the Lakers.
Saccoman and fellow freshman Luke Morgan have each logged four assists through their first four collegiate games.
In net, junior goaltender Gordon Defiel has fared well enough to rank third in save percentage among WCHA goaltenders with a .913 clip. His 2.25 goals-against average also ranks third among league goaltenders and he remains one-of-the-two undefeated goaltenders left in the league.
Exceptional Special Teams
Special teams continue to prove vital to the Lakers' success this season. The Lakers' power play is converting at a 28-percent clip, good for fourth nationally. On the penalty kill the Lakers rank seventh nationally at 92-percent.
Poll Position
With the 4-0-0 start the Lakers the Lakers earned 44 votes in the USCHO.com Division I Men's poll on Monday. Following the team's 2-0-0 start, the Lakers received six votes in last week's poll.
The Lakers were last ranked in the national top-20 poll on Jan. 6, 2014, coming in at No. 19. The following poll on January 13, 2014, is the last time the Lakers received votes in the national polls.
An early release of the PairWise Rankings has the Lakers ranked third nationally behind North Dakota and Minnesota State. The PairWise Ranking is a system which attempts to mimic the method used by the NCAA Selection Committee to determine participants for the NCAA Division I men's hockey tournament. The PWR compares all teams by these criteria: record against common opponents, head-to-head competition, and the RPI.
Read more: http://www.uscho.com/rankings/pairwise-rankings/d-i-men/#ixzz4O7Y9ReMq
Pink In The Rink
This weekend marks Lake Superior State's final two appearances in their 1970s throwback jerseys, which go on the auction block Saturday during the ninth annual Pink in the Rink. Through eight years, LSSU's Pink in the Rink has generated more than $145,000 for local health and wellness organizations.
Proceeds are primarily raised through t-shirt/sweatshirt sales, the jersey auction, a silent auction and the raffle basket drawing. Most raffle baskets are valued at several hundred dollars, and everyone has a chance to win. The "Finding Dory" Halloween costume party for kids begins at 6 p.m. Saturday in Cooper Gymnasium. Admission to the "Finding Dory" party is free.
The official 2016 Pink in the Rink shirts are for sale at Barnes and Noble at LSSU beginning Wednesday. To find out more, go to the Pink in the Rink LSSU on facebook or www.lssulakers.com.
Lake Superior State welcomes their first Western Collegiate Hockey Association rival to Taffy Abel Arena this weekend as the Alaska Nanooks come to town for a two-game series on Friday at 7:37 p.m. and Saturday at 7:07 p.m.
LSSU looks to keep their undefeated record in-tact, as well as their NCAA-best six goals per game average, after returning home from Huntsville with six league points and a sweep over the Chargers. The Lakers are looking for their first 6-0-0 start to a season since the 1995-96 campaign, also the last appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
The Series vs. Alaska
Overall: LSSU leads 34-21-6... In the Soo: LSSU leads: 25-9-1
Last meeting: Dec. 4-5, 2015, LSSU won 4-2 / LSSU won 2-0
Streak: LSSU 2-0-0 Last 10: LSSU leads 6-4-0
The Lakers and Nanooks met just once last season as the Lakers made the trek up to Fairbanks and came away with their lone sweep of the season and the team's first sweep in Fairbanks since 1996.
The first meeting between the programs dates back to Oct. 10, 1986 and was played in Sault Ste. Marie. The Nanooks won the first matchup 8-6, but LSSU responded with an 8-1 victory the next night for the series split.
In 1995 the Nanooks joined the Lakers in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and the teams have been conference foes ever since, including when both teams joined the WCHA in 2013-14. During their time in the CCHA the Lakers enjoyed a 27-14-6 advantage over Alaska.
Since both teams joined the WCHA in 2013-14, the series is tiead 4-4-0.
Scouting the Nanooks
The Nanooks (2-4-0, 1-1-0 WCHA) leave Alaska for the first time this season, this weekend for their trip to Taffy Abel Arena. UAF hosted the Lakers' next opponent, Minnesota State, last weekend and pulled off the 4-2 upset on Saturday to secure the series split with the Mavericks.
Senior Brandon Morley leads the Nanooks with five points, all coming by way of assists and has a trio of players with four points each: Zach Frye (2-2--4), Chad Staley (2-2--4), and Justin Woods (1-3--4).
Goaltending has proven to be a question mark for UAF to start the season with sophomore Jesse Jenks and senior Davis Jones each having trouble finding any traction to start the season. Both goaltenders are allowing north of three goal-against per game and are failing to earn save percentages above 89-percent.
Last Week Against the Chargers (Friday: 6-3, W, Saturday: 5-2, W)
LSSU opened the WCHA schedule last weekend with a sweep on the road against Alabama-Huntsvile. The Lakers skated to a 6-3 victory in Friday night's series opener and earned the 5-2 victory in Saturday's series finale.
Sophomore forward Diego Cuglietta turned in a four point weekend, including scoring two goals and notching an assist on Friday. Cuglietta scored a pair of goals, including the game-winning shorthanded tally, just over two minutes apart and added his assist three minutes after his second tally. Saturday saw Cuglietta get his third goal of the series and improve to a WCHA-best +4 rating (tying for fourth nationally) on the weekend.
Freshman defenseman Collin Saccoman tied for the WCHA lead and tied for second among all NCAA blue-liners with three assists – a big reason why he paced the league (and tied for second among defensemen nationally) with a +4 rating. The rookie from Stillwater, Minn. picked up an assist on the game-winning goal both nights for the Lakers and has now assisted on each of the last three game-winning goals for LSSU.
The Lakers used a four-goal second period to help propel them to a 6-3 victory in Friday's series opener. Brayden Gelsinger and Gage Torrel put the Lakers up 2-0 through the first period and Gelsinger notched his second goal of the night mid-way through the second to put the Lakers up 3-1. Cuglietta then scored two goals and assisted on J.T. Henke's third goal of the season to put the Lakers up 6-1 after 40 minutes of play.
On Saturday the Lakers were greeted early with a Chargers goal, just one minute into play. For the first time this season the Lakers trailed for just over seven minutes before Anthony Nellis scored the first of his two goals on the evening.
Freshman Bryan Basilico scored his first collegiate goal to end the first period with LSSU leading 2-1, and Mitch Hults tallied his second goal of the season to put the Lakers ahead 3-1 in the second period. Cuglietta later capped the LSSU scoring with a diving attempt to get his stick on the puck and redirect a centering pass from sophomore Josh Nenadal.
Nenadal logged his first two assists of the season on Saturday night.
Laker Log
The Lakers and No. 1 ranked North Dakota (5-0-0) are now the only teams to have won all of their games this season. The Lakers are also leading the nation with a six goals per-game average.
LSSU is tied with Minnesota State for the nation's lead in goal margin with a +15 total.
Four Lakers: Owen Headrick (1-6--7), Henke (3-4--7), Hults (2-5--7) and Gelsinger (3-4--7) are all tied for eighth nationally with a 1.75 point-per-game average and are tied for the fifth-most points by a WCHA player.
Torrel (3-3--6), Cuglietta (3-2--5) and Nellis (3-2--5) are also averaging over a point-per-game for the Lakers.
Henke, Gelsinger and Hults have each registered a point in every game thus far for the Lakers and they all have a pair of multi-point games.
Torrel leads the team with three multi-point games, while Nellis and Headrick each have two multi-point games. All three have earned a point in three-of-the-four games for the Lakers.
Saccoman and fellow freshman Luke Morgan have each logged four assists through their first four collegiate games.
In net, junior goaltender Gordon Defiel has fared well enough to rank third in save percentage among WCHA goaltenders with a .913 clip. His 2.25 goals-against average also ranks third among league goaltenders and he remains one-of-the-two undefeated goaltenders left in the league.
Exceptional Special Teams
Special teams continue to prove vital to the Lakers' success this season. The Lakers' power play is converting at a 28-percent clip, good for fourth nationally. On the penalty kill the Lakers rank seventh nationally at 92-percent.
Poll Position
With the 4-0-0 start the Lakers the Lakers earned 44 votes in the USCHO.com Division I Men's poll on Monday. Following the team's 2-0-0 start, the Lakers received six votes in last week's poll.
The Lakers were last ranked in the national top-20 poll on Jan. 6, 2014, coming in at No. 19. The following poll on January 13, 2014, is the last time the Lakers received votes in the national polls.
An early release of the PairWise Rankings has the Lakers ranked third nationally behind North Dakota and Minnesota State. The PairWise Ranking is a system which attempts to mimic the method used by the NCAA Selection Committee to determine participants for the NCAA Division I men's hockey tournament. The PWR compares all teams by these criteria: record against common opponents, head-to-head competition, and the RPI.
Read more: http://www.uscho.com/rankings/pairwise-rankings/d-i-men/#ixzz4O7Y9ReMq
Pink In The Rink
This weekend marks Lake Superior State's final two appearances in their 1970s throwback jerseys, which go on the auction block Saturday during the ninth annual Pink in the Rink. Through eight years, LSSU's Pink in the Rink has generated more than $145,000 for local health and wellness organizations.
Proceeds are primarily raised through t-shirt/sweatshirt sales, the jersey auction, a silent auction and the raffle basket drawing. Most raffle baskets are valued at several hundred dollars, and everyone has a chance to win. The "Finding Dory" Halloween costume party for kids begins at 6 p.m. Saturday in Cooper Gymnasium. Admission to the "Finding Dory" party is free.
The official 2016 Pink in the Rink shirts are for sale at Barnes and Noble at LSSU beginning Wednesday. To find out more, go to the Pink in the Rink LSSU on facebook or www.lssulakers.com.
John J. MacInnes
Coach Emeritus
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17
Let's remember that three of their 4 series so far have been against the current #2, #9, and #11 teams in the USCHO poll - and all on the road. Tech vs LSSU in a couple weeks will be a humdinger.
Let's remember that three of their 4 series so far have been against the current #2, #9, and #11 teams in the USCHO poll - and all on the road. Tech vs LSSU in a couple weeks will be a humdinger.
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17
Power rankings are the key to getting into the nationals and there Lake State is ranked third and MI. Tech ranked 40th. It is a long season and you need to keep winning or this early success will become just a memory .
Power rankings are the key to getting into the nationals and there Lake State is ranked third and MI. Tech ranked 40th. It is a long season and you need to keep winning or this early success will become just a memory .
rustedblades
New member
Way to early in the season to put any value in the PairWise Rankings
lakersparty
New member
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17
*******http://i.imgur.com/2GoTaBz.jpg********
LSSU is auctioning off the vintage Soo Lakers jerseys on Saturday. I prefer the anchor on the crest, but these are still pretty cool. Wouldn't mind picking one up.
*******http://i.imgur.com/2GoTaBz.jpg********
LSSU is auctioning off the vintage Soo Lakers jerseys on Saturday. I prefer the anchor on the crest, but these are still pretty cool. Wouldn't mind picking one up.
UAFHockeyFan314
Blogger
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17
Thanks to you and Bill both for addressing. I haven't seen anything in the paper or anything, which is why I posted here. Seems like an interesting precedent the NCAA is setting here.
Thanks to you and Bill both for addressing. I haven't seen anything in the paper or anything, which is why I posted here. Seems like an interesting precedent the NCAA is setting here.
purpleinnebraska
Well-known member
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17
I hope they're setting a precedent. The complete ban, or long-term suspensions for a few games in the Canadian leagues has always been ridiculously harsh. Too much of this has been about protecting "our" leagues (And obviously, the Canadians do it, too, with things like their idiotic AHL rule) and not about what's fair for the kids. I think the NCAA has acted sensibly with Gelsinger.
I hope they're setting a precedent. The complete ban, or long-term suspensions for a few games in the Canadian leagues has always been ridiculously harsh. Too much of this has been about protecting "our" leagues (And obviously, the Canadians do it, too, with things like their idiotic AHL rule) and not about what's fair for the kids. I think the NCAA has acted sensibly with Gelsinger.
LakerBaker
New member
Thanks, man. Methinks Damon Whitten is way ahead of the curve and setting quite the precedent with a CHL player being able to play college hockey in the states.
LakerBaker
New member
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17
Another great article on the good ship Laker, and how third year head coach Damon Whitten is leading them back to prominence, after floundering for almost 10 years under the previous coach.
http://www.uscho.com/2016/10/26/depth-proving-to-be-key-component-of-rejuvenated-lake-superior-state-offense/
Hockey coaches want their teams to score.
This seems like a statement as obvious as “I want a million dollars” or “I want some chocolate cake.”
Of course coaches want their teams to score more goals.
But sometimes, when a team isn’t scoring — or is playing a certain defensive style — the outside perception is that coaches would just as soon not score any goals and leave it up to the defense.
Take, for example, Lake Superior State. For each of the past two seasons the Lakers have averaged under two goals per game — 1.80 and 1.58 in 2015-16 and 2014-15, respectively. In each instance, those numbers were good enough for second-to-last nationally.
It perhaps wasn’t a coincidence that the Lakers have struggled since then.
Obviously, that isn’t the goal.
“Our lack of offense wasn’t by design,” LSSU coach Damon Whitten said. “We didn’t come in here to build a team that is low scoring and try to win 1-0, 2-1. We were trying to build a team that could be high-end offensively, with the goal being top 10 offensively and defensively.”
Early in the season, those plans seem to be coming to fruition. The Lakers are currently 4-0-0 after sweeping both Michigan State and Alabama-Huntsville and currently lead the country with a six goals-per-game average.
And although Whitten knows it’s still early, it’s a big step for a team that has struggled to put the puck in the back of the net in recent seasons.
“I can’t tell you that I thought (the offense) would come this early on and I know it’s not sustainable to score at that level all season, but we have better depth,” Whitten said of this year’s Lakers. “We have better speed and better skill throughout our lineup. Right now, pucks are going in.”
With just one senior (Gus Correale) and one junior (JT Henke, one of four players with seven points) in the forward rotation, the young Lakers have, so far, lit the lamp 24 times this season. The scorelines thus far have read: 6-1, 7-3, 6-3 and 5-2.
Last season, the Lakers never scored more than four goals in any single game.
Five different players (Henke, sophomores Gage Torrel, Diego Cuglietta and Anthony Nelis and freshman Brayden Gelsinger) have three goals already, while Owen Headrick has a goal and six assists. Aside from Henke and Correale, all of LSSU’s forwards are either sophomores or freshmen.
“We’re very young,” Whitten said. “That sophomore class played huge minutes for us last year as freshmen and that was one of the challenges for us last year. We were relying on young kids to generate offense for us, and that made it tough, but it’s paying dividends now.”
The Lakers already have an outstanding goaltender (Gordon Defiel) who is only a junior, as well as a solid (and slightly more experienced) defensive core.
It’s just four games into their season, and a lot can happen between now and March, but the Lakers seem to have found a better balance offense and defense. Considering it’s the LSSU program’s 50th anniversary of existence, it’s at least a first step in the proper direction back to the more halcyon days of the early 1990s.
“I don’t think anybody thought we’d go from being one of the worst offensive teams in the country to leading the NCAA early on here, but it gives us confidence,” Whitten said. “I think we’ve shown an ability that we can create and we can score, and that’s going to give us a chance.
“We feel good about where we’re at and where we’re moving the program forward.”
Ringy Dingy!
Another great article on the good ship Laker, and how third year head coach Damon Whitten is leading them back to prominence, after floundering for almost 10 years under the previous coach.
http://www.uscho.com/2016/10/26/depth-proving-to-be-key-component-of-rejuvenated-lake-superior-state-offense/
Hockey coaches want their teams to score.
This seems like a statement as obvious as “I want a million dollars” or “I want some chocolate cake.”
Of course coaches want their teams to score more goals.
But sometimes, when a team isn’t scoring — or is playing a certain defensive style — the outside perception is that coaches would just as soon not score any goals and leave it up to the defense.
Take, for example, Lake Superior State. For each of the past two seasons the Lakers have averaged under two goals per game — 1.80 and 1.58 in 2015-16 and 2014-15, respectively. In each instance, those numbers were good enough for second-to-last nationally.
It perhaps wasn’t a coincidence that the Lakers have struggled since then.
Obviously, that isn’t the goal.
“Our lack of offense wasn’t by design,” LSSU coach Damon Whitten said. “We didn’t come in here to build a team that is low scoring and try to win 1-0, 2-1. We were trying to build a team that could be high-end offensively, with the goal being top 10 offensively and defensively.”
Early in the season, those plans seem to be coming to fruition. The Lakers are currently 4-0-0 after sweeping both Michigan State and Alabama-Huntsville and currently lead the country with a six goals-per-game average.
And although Whitten knows it’s still early, it’s a big step for a team that has struggled to put the puck in the back of the net in recent seasons.
“I can’t tell you that I thought (the offense) would come this early on and I know it’s not sustainable to score at that level all season, but we have better depth,” Whitten said of this year’s Lakers. “We have better speed and better skill throughout our lineup. Right now, pucks are going in.”
With just one senior (Gus Correale) and one junior (JT Henke, one of four players with seven points) in the forward rotation, the young Lakers have, so far, lit the lamp 24 times this season. The scorelines thus far have read: 6-1, 7-3, 6-3 and 5-2.
Last season, the Lakers never scored more than four goals in any single game.
Five different players (Henke, sophomores Gage Torrel, Diego Cuglietta and Anthony Nelis and freshman Brayden Gelsinger) have three goals already, while Owen Headrick has a goal and six assists. Aside from Henke and Correale, all of LSSU’s forwards are either sophomores or freshmen.
“We’re very young,” Whitten said. “That sophomore class played huge minutes for us last year as freshmen and that was one of the challenges for us last year. We were relying on young kids to generate offense for us, and that made it tough, but it’s paying dividends now.”
The Lakers already have an outstanding goaltender (Gordon Defiel) who is only a junior, as well as a solid (and slightly more experienced) defensive core.
It’s just four games into their season, and a lot can happen between now and March, but the Lakers seem to have found a better balance offense and defense. Considering it’s the LSSU program’s 50th anniversary of existence, it’s at least a first step in the proper direction back to the more halcyon days of the early 1990s.
“I don’t think anybody thought we’d go from being one of the worst offensive teams in the country to leading the NCAA early on here, but it gives us confidence,” Whitten said. “I think we’ve shown an ability that we can create and we can score, and that’s going to give us a chance.
“We feel good about where we’re at and where we’re moving the program forward.”
Ringy Dingy!
LakerBaker
New member
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17
Apparel for the 2016 Pink in the Rink is available for purchase at Barnes & Noble at LSSU.
Long-sleeve and short-sleeve t-shirts, hockey lace hoodies, regular hoodies and crew-neck sweatshirts, and women’s raglan t-shirts are for sale at Barnes & Noble while supplies last. Apparel will also be sold at Taffy Abel Arena during the hockey series.
Lake Superior State (4-0-0 overall, 2-0-0 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) plays host to Alaska at 7:37 p.m. Friday and 7:07 p.m. Saturday. The ninth annual Pink in the Rink is officially Saturday, but the Lakers will wear their 1970s throwback jerseys throughout the weekend. The jerseys, which include a Pink in the Rink patch, will be auctioned off during Saturday’s game.
A highlight of this year’s Pink in the Rink is the “Finding Dory” Halloween Party sponsored by War Memorial Hospital from 6-8 p.m. in Cooper Gymnasium. Admission to the Halloween party is free and includes games, face painting, trick or treating for kids and a costume contest. Fans can purchase tickets to win one of several high-dollar themed raffle baskets or bid on jerseys and silent auction items. Free soda refills are available with a purchase of an official Pink in the Rink cup. Special Pink in the Rink cupcakes will be sold.
Through eight years, more than $145,000 has been raised and donated back to local health and wellness organizations. Last year, $10,000 was donated to the WMH newly-opened Cancer Care Center. The remaining funds went to Community Health Access Coalition, Breastfeeding Education and Support Team, Pregnancy and Infant Loss, Diane Peppler Shelter, Girls on the Run and Hospice of the EUP.
To follow Pink in the Rink and make a donation, email pinkintherink@yahoo.com or go to Pink in the Rink LSSU on facebook and twitter.
Ringy Dingy!
Apparel for the 2016 Pink in the Rink is available for purchase at Barnes & Noble at LSSU.
Long-sleeve and short-sleeve t-shirts, hockey lace hoodies, regular hoodies and crew-neck sweatshirts, and women’s raglan t-shirts are for sale at Barnes & Noble while supplies last. Apparel will also be sold at Taffy Abel Arena during the hockey series.
Lake Superior State (4-0-0 overall, 2-0-0 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) plays host to Alaska at 7:37 p.m. Friday and 7:07 p.m. Saturday. The ninth annual Pink in the Rink is officially Saturday, but the Lakers will wear their 1970s throwback jerseys throughout the weekend. The jerseys, which include a Pink in the Rink patch, will be auctioned off during Saturday’s game.
A highlight of this year’s Pink in the Rink is the “Finding Dory” Halloween Party sponsored by War Memorial Hospital from 6-8 p.m. in Cooper Gymnasium. Admission to the Halloween party is free and includes games, face painting, trick or treating for kids and a costume contest. Fans can purchase tickets to win one of several high-dollar themed raffle baskets or bid on jerseys and silent auction items. Free soda refills are available with a purchase of an official Pink in the Rink cup. Special Pink in the Rink cupcakes will be sold.
Through eight years, more than $145,000 has been raised and donated back to local health and wellness organizations. Last year, $10,000 was donated to the WMH newly-opened Cancer Care Center. The remaining funds went to Community Health Access Coalition, Breastfeeding Education and Support Team, Pregnancy and Infant Loss, Diane Peppler Shelter, Girls on the Run and Hospice of the EUP.
To follow Pink in the Rink and make a donation, email pinkintherink@yahoo.com or go to Pink in the Rink LSSU on facebook and twitter.
Ringy Dingy!
LakerBaker
New member
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17
Here is a preview of this weekend's series against Alaska Fairbanks, with head coach Damon Whitten.
http://www.lssulakers.com/sports/m-hockey/2016-17/videos/Laker_Hockey_Preview-_Alaska_-PITR-
You can also hear the legendary Voice of the Lakers, Bill Crawford with head coach Damon Whitten on Laker Hockey Talk on ESPN Radio station 1400 http://lakers.sovcomm.net/Laker%20Hockey%20Talk/ and the Laker Hockey Show with Bill Crawford at http://lakers.sovcomm.net/Laker%20Hockey%20Show/ on your home of Laker Athletics Sovereign Communications.
Ringy Dingy!
Here is a preview of this weekend's series against Alaska Fairbanks, with head coach Damon Whitten.
http://www.lssulakers.com/sports/m-hockey/2016-17/videos/Laker_Hockey_Preview-_Alaska_-PITR-
You can also hear the legendary Voice of the Lakers, Bill Crawford with head coach Damon Whitten on Laker Hockey Talk on ESPN Radio station 1400 http://lakers.sovcomm.net/Laker%20Hockey%20Talk/ and the Laker Hockey Show with Bill Crawford at http://lakers.sovcomm.net/Laker%20Hockey%20Show/ on your home of Laker Athletics Sovereign Communications.
Ringy Dingy!
Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17
Brian is working with the Detroit Red Wings this season. He was at Notre Dame last year.
http://www.wingingitinmotown.com/20...wilson-as-their-goaltending-development-coach
It's great to see some of the former Lakers getting roles in the coaching world! Troy Schwab is with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits and Matt Bruneteau with the Stevenson Mustangs.
Brian is working with the Detroit Red Wings this season. He was at Notre Dame last year.
http://www.wingingitinmotown.com/20...wilson-as-their-goaltending-development-coach
It's great to see some of the former Lakers getting roles in the coaching world! Troy Schwab is with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits and Matt Bruneteau with the Stevenson Mustangs.