LSSU Lakers 2016-17

[LakerBaker]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

Lake Superior State is adding a new twist to its annual Teddy Bear Toss with the goal of helping area children in need of clothing.

The 2016 Teddy Bear Toss and Toasty Toes is Saturday, Dec. 3, when the LSSU hockey team plays host to Bowling Green State. Each holiday season, hockey fans throw new or gently used stuffed toys on the ice when the Lakers’ score their first goal of the Teddy Bear Toss game. This year, LSSU is asking fans to throw a stuffed toy or rolled up pair of new socks onto the ice.

“The idea was inspired by a recent facebook post by area middle school teacher (and LSSU women’s basketball alumna) Heather Hopkins,” said Linda Bouvet, director of marketing and ticket sales for the LSSU Department of Athletics. “Everyone who read that post was touched by how the local backpack program helps provide nourishment for kids, and how much need exists. Heather noted that addition to food and Christmas presents, many kids desperately need good quality clothing. They want to look and feel like the other kids at school. LSSU wants to help.”

During the Dec. 3 game, LSSU staff will collect toys, coats and new clothes either at the door or in the stands. Fans can roll up socks or other new clothing items to throw on the ice when the Lakers score their first goal.

“Hopefully fans understand that it’s not a good idea to throw hard toys on the ice, so we will have workers available to collect those,” Bouvet said, adding the toys will be given to the LSSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, which has sponsored Christmas for area families for several years.

The Lakers also play BGSU at 7:37 p.m. Friday at Taffy Abel Arena, while Saturday’s game time is 7:07 p.m. Friday is LSSU Student Organization Night. Fans are encouraged to wear their favorite holiday sweaters Saturday. LSSU men’s and women’s basketball is also conducting a toy drive during the Dec. 3 games against Tiffin. The Lakers and Dragons play at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in Cooper Gymnasium.

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

Ringy Dingy!

 

[LakerBaker]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

Lake Superior State returns home to Taffy Abel Arena for the first time in a month following a rigorous three-week stretch on the road against in-state Western Collegiate Hockey Association rivals Michigan Tech and Ferris State, and a nonconference series at Michigan last weekend.

The Lakers (7-7-0, 4-6-0 WCHA) host Bowling Green, the preseason pick to win the WCHA in 2016-17, this weekend for the 161st and 162nd all-time meeting between the longtime rivals. The Falcons (7-7-2, 6-3-1 WCHA) enter the matchup unbeaten in their last six games (5-0-1), including scoring in last weekend's three-on-three overtime tie to earn the extra WCHA standings point. In their last nine games after starting the season 0-6-1, the Falcons are 7-1-1 overall.

The 2016 Teddy Bear Toss and Toasty Toes will be held Saturday, Dec. 3, in the series finale against the Falcons. Each holiday season, hockey fans throw new or gently used stuffed toys on the ice when the Lakers' score their first goal of the Teddy Bear Toss game. This year, LSSU is asking fans to throw a stuffed toy or rolled up pair of new socks onto the ice.

Saturday's contest between the Lakers and Falcons will feature the annual Teddy Bear Toss immediately following the Lakers' first goal of the game. This season LSSU is adding a new twist to the event with the goal of helping area children in need of clothing. During Saturday's game, LSSU staff will collect toys, coats and new clothes either at the door or in the stands. Fans can roll up new socks or other new clothing items to throw on the ice when the Lakers score their first goal.

The Series vs. Bowling Green

Overall: BGSU leads 78-70-12... In Sault Ste. Marie: LSSU leads: 39-31-6

Last meeting: Jan. 8-9, 2016, BGSU won 3-1 Friday; LSSU won 1-0 in OT on Saturday

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

The series with the Falcons dates back to the 1970-71 season and the teams have met at least once per season in every season since the Lakers joined the Falcons in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association during the conference's second season, 1972-73.

Legendary former LSSU and BGSU coach, the late Ron Mason, helped establish the Central Collegiate Hockey Association as a "coaches league" for scheduling purposes, after meeting with former BGSU coach Jack Vivian and former St. Louis University and LSSU coach Bill Selman at the Parker House in Boston.

The Lakers and Falcons later joined the WCHA together in 2013-14 following the disbanding of the CCHA after 42 years of existence, 41 of which the Lakers were members of the conference.

In 160 career meetings between the teams, the Falcons hold a 78-70-12 advantage in the all-time series. When the Lakers have hosted the Falcons, LSSU holds a 39-31-6 edge.

The teams have played 10 times as WCHA rivals with the Lakers holding a 5-3-2 advantage and 3-1-0 record against the Falcons in games at Taffy Abel Arena.

This weekend marks the only scheduled meeting between the teams this season. Last year the teams met twice, with both sides skating to a pair of 1-1 ties in Bowling Green before splitting the series held at Abel Arena. The Falcons won the series opener 3-1 in Sault Ste. Marie last January, before the Lakers earned the split with a 1-0 overtime victory in the finale.

Scouting the Falcons

Junior forward Mitchell McLain leads the surging Falcons with 17 points through 15 games this season on seven goals and 10 assists. Following McLain to lead the Falcons, six others have reached double digits in scoring, including: Mark Friedman (4-8--12), Tyler Spezia (4-8--12), Kevin Dufour (4-7--11), Alec Rauhauser (2-9--11), Matt Pohlkamp (6-4--10) and Sean Walker (5-5--10).

The Falcons rank second behind the Lakers in overall scoring among WCHA teams with a 3.19 goals per game average on the season. Their scoring defense ranks fourth with a 2.94 goals against average.

Junior goaltender Chris Nell has led the Falcons in the crease this season but is posting just a .885 saves percentage and boasts 2.61 goals against average. Freshman goaltender Ryan Bednard picked up the team's first shutout of the season on Saturday night in a 3-0 shutout over Alaska Anchorage. Bednard made 11 saves in the victory to improve his season totals to a 2.96 goals against average and a .800 save percentage.

Special teams should play an important role in the series as both teams are close in power play percentage, with the Lakers ranking sixth in the WCHA, clicking at 15.1 percent on the season, while the Falcons rank seventh converting 14.0 percent of their power plays. The Falcons' penalty kill has struggled this season, ranking ninth in the league at 77.1 percent, while the Lakers are tied for fifth at 83.8 percent.

Last Week Against the Wolverines (Fri.: 3-1, W |Sat.: 4-1, L)

Last weekend the Lakers opened the series at then-No. 16 ranked Michigan with a 3-1 victory on Friday night before falling 4-1 in the series finale Saturday night.

Sophomore forward Diego Cuglietta led the Lakers and the WCHA in points on the weekend, totaling a league-leading three assists. The native of Kamloops, B.C., also produced a +1 rating and registered two shots against Michigan.

Senior captain and special teams partner of Cuglietta, Gus Correale also added a two-point outing in Friday's victory. Correale assisted on Josh Nenadal's second period goal to tie the game at 1-1 and later iced the victory with an empty net goal.

Freshman forward Luke Morgan was named the WCHA Rookie of the Week after scoring the game-winning goal over the Wolverines with 2:57 remaining in Friday's contest. The goal was the second of the season for Morgan and his second-straight game with a goal.

Sophomore forward C.J. Hayes registered the Lakers' lone goal on Saturday, his first of the season and first point of the season. Junior J.T. Henke and sophomore Mitch Hults each added an assist on Friday night.

In net the Lakers received solid goaltending from Gordon Defiel on the weekend. The junior from Stillwater, Minn., made 55 saves on 59 shots faced for a .932 save percentage and averaged 2.01 goals against.

Laker Log

Hults continues to lead the Lakers with 16 points on five goals and a team-leading 11 assists in 14 games. BGSU's Mitch McLain is the only WCHA player with more points than Hults, with seven goals and 10 assists in 15 games played.
Five other Lakers have reached double figures in scoring this season: Henke (4-9--13), Cuglietta (7-5--12), Owen Headrick (2-10--12), Gage Torrel (6-5--11) and Brayden Gelsinger (4-6--10).
Cuglietta's seven goals leads the Lakers and ranks tied for second overall in the WCHA. His two game-winning goals is tied for fourth and his two shorthanded tallies leads the league.
Cuglietta ranks fourth and Hults ranks fifth overall in faceoffs won among WCHA players. Cuglietta has 147 wins on the draw (.535 faceoff percentage) and Hults has 141 wins (.538 percent).
After registering 10 blocked shots, including seven on Saturday, freshman defenseman Collin Saccoman leads the nation in blocked shots and holds a +7 rating. Only Minnesota State's Carter Foguth averages more blocks per game (2.77) than Saccoman (2.64).
Junior defenseman Aidan Wright ranks 10th overall in the WCHA with 28 blocked shots and his defensive partner Kyle Chatham ranks tied with sophomore defenseman Matt McArdle with 22 blocked shots each.
Wright ranks second among WCHA players and is tied for 12th among the nation's defenseman with a +9 rating on the season, while Chatham and Saccoman are tied for fourth among WCHA players with +7 ratings.
Despite scoring just nine goals in their last two series and 18 goals in their last eight games, the Lakers continue to lead the WCHA with a 3.43 goals per game average.
Headrick leads WCHA defensemen in assists (10), assists per game (0.71), points per game (0.86), and is tied with BGSU's Mark Friedman for the league lead with 12 total points. Nationally, Headrick is tied for 11th in points by defensemen.
Looking Ahead (vs. Bemidji State, Dec. 9-10)

The Lakers return to the road next weekend, following the brief reprieve from road contests. Next weekend's matchup at Bemidji State poses the toughest test to date for the Lakers this season, as the Beavers are firmly atop the WCHA standings with an unbeaten 11-0-1 conference record and an 11-4-1 overall mark to rank 13th nationally in Monday's USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll.

The Beavers are led by junior goaltender Michael Bitzer's 1.46 goals against average, a .938 save percentage and three shutouts on the season. Bitzer's stellar play has helped the Beaver lead the nation in scoring defense with a 1.62 goals against per game average.

LSSU Alumni Association Gatherings (Ann Arbor)

Laker fans with or without tickets, are welcome to join Laker alumni and fans at the Blue Leprechaun at 1220 W. University on Saturday evening, November 26, starting at 5:30pm. The Alumni Association will sponsor a pre-game social for Laker fans from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., featuring appetizers and terrific LSSU door prizes. The social will be $5 per person at the door, or free for premium (dues-paying) members of the LSSU Alumni Association and children under 12 years old.

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

Ringy Dingy!

 

[streaker]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

The Lake Superior State University Lakers deserved a better fate on Saturday night and had some tough luck, the bounces didn't go their way and couldn't buy a goal, and the refs once again played a key factor in helping Michigan. The good ship Laker played outstanding despite the 4-1 score, and the youth, short bench, fatigue up front, illnesses played a big part in the loss.

Ringy Dingy!

Good series by the Lakers, worked real hard all weekend. But, Mr. Ringy-Dingy, the officials had nothing to do with either win or loss. Big Ten Officials are bad every game for both teams. And based on your comments, it sounds like you are making excuses.

 

[LakerBaker]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

Good series by the Lakers, worked real hard all weekend. But, Mr. Ringy-Dingy, the officials had nothing to do with either win or loss. Big Ten Officials are bad every game for both teams. And based on your comments, it sounds like you are making excuses.

Methinks you should see the experience with the WCHA officials, man.

Head coach Damon Whitten on record has rightly called them an "embarrassment", made "a mockery of the game", and "not allowed the Lakers to come back".

It's been like that all season for the good ship Laker, who most nights can't buy a goal, and the officials, including last Saturday night, played a key role in the outcome. This is a young team, and they will learn and the bounces will go more their way, but it doesn't help when the officials determine so much.

Ringy Dingy!

 

[Bill]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

Good series by the Lakers, worked real hard all weekend. But, Mr. Ringy-Dingy, the officials had nothing to do with either win or loss. Big Ten Officials are bad every game for both teams. And based on your comments, it sounds like you are making excuses.

LakerBaker is a troll. Most of us on this thread just ignore LakerBaker.

 

[LakerBaker]

LakerBaker is a troll. Most of us on this thread just ignore LakerBaker.

Methinks the other posters on here can make up their own minds without you interjecting, man.

For all the name calling, labeling and "ignoring" you do and preach, you certainly spend a lot of time commenting on me chum, and I find that laughable and sad at the same time.

Let others decide for themselves, man.

Ringy Dingy!

 

[PerkyforPrez]

Good series by the Lakers, worked real hard all weekend. But, Mr. Ringy-Dingy, the officials had nothing to do with either win or loss. Big Ten Officials are bad every game for both teams. And based on your comments, it sounds like you are making excuses.

I hope you seriously don't think he's actually a Laker fan.

 

[LakerBaker]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

I can't wait to listen to the legendary Voice of the Lakers, Bill Crawford on http://www.yesfm.net for the good ship Lakers game against Bowling Green State University. Methinks it's going to be a big weekend for the Super Sophomores including Garden River, Ontario native Owen Headrick, who has the attention of many NHL scouts, and for Diego Cuglietta, man.

The month of November, which included four games against top-20 opponents and six straight road contests, was every bit as challenging as Lake Superior State expected it to be. As a team, the Lakers struggled through much of it, but ended on a high note, splitting with then 16th-ranked Michigan. They won a game in Yost Arena for the first time since the 2005-06 season.

Sophomore center Diego Cuglietta led the Lakers through that stretch with three goals, six points and an even plus-minus rating. He had at least a point (2-3—5) in four of LSSU’s last five games and notched three assists during last weekend’s series at Michigan.

“Friday’s game for sure,” noted LSSU captain Gus Correale regarding whether Cuglietta was the Lakers’ best player at Michigan. “A lot of guys played well, and that was one of our most complete games all year. We shut them down on the penalty kill, and he was obviously heavily involved in that. And he had a short-handed goal.”

Cuglietta, while emerging as a standout two-way player, is confident in his team’s potential despite the November setbacks.

“Compared to last year, our team is a lot better,” he said. “We have good skill up front, solid goaltending and it seems like a different atmosphere compared to last year. My role hasn’t changed too much. I’ve matured mentally as a hockey player. I don’t get down as much, and keep trying to play the right way and work hard all of the time.”

The 5-10, 177-pounder from Kamloops, British Columbia, ranks third on the team in overall scoring with 7-5—12 and leads all LSSU forwards in overall plus-minus at +5. Cuglietta enters this weekend’s series against Bowling Green State tied for second in the WCHA in overall goals scored. In league play, his seven goals and two short-handed goals against lead the WCHA.

“He’s one of our top guys on the PK and, because of his offensive ability, on the power play,” noted forward Jake Hand, who frequently plays right wing on a line with his roommate. “He can put the puck in the net…He’s good in front of the net, good in the corners. Once he has the puck, it’s hard to get it off his stick.”

Experienced gained as a freshman has helped Cuglietta develop a successful “next game” mentality. As a rookie, he appeared in 38 of 40 games for the Lakers and totaled 6-5—11. During the off-season, he worked to improve his shot and put on 10 pounds of muscle. He said his recent scoring run, which helped him surpass his rookie season totals, boils down to confidence and knowing his limits.

“First and foremost, you have to have a pro mentality – not too high, not too low,” he said. “We understand it’s a long year. If we’re not always playing our best hockey, we’ve got to continue working hard so the bounces will start going our way. We will get some wins.”

“He is one of our more consistent players,” Hand said. “And he plays with an edge every single night. He plays the same way every night, and not a lot of guys can’t do that.”

After Cuglietta, the Lakers’ next five scoring leaders for the month have a combined plus-minus of -31. When it comes to protecting the Lakers’ zone, he takes his cue from Correale (+4).

“It starts with his work ethic,” noted Correale, who played left wing with Cuglietta throughout most of last season and the first part of 2016-17. “That’s the reason why he’s one of the best forwards. He works as hard on his defense as he does on offense. He creates turnovers in the defensive zone, and he’s a smart player…He always seems to find the puck and can transition to offense pretty quickly.”

“Gus helped me a lot. We were linemates with good chemistry,” said Cuglietta of LSSU’s lone senior. He added that Dan Vernace ’16 was a mentor last season.

“We’re both pretty fast players and respect the D zone,” Correale said. “The way we think is similar. He’s not always trying to make fancy plays. He’s chipping pucks, using his speed. We’re both little guys and like to use our bodies.”

Prior to the Michigan series, Cuglietta noted that the Lakers needed to get back to playing their game, which requires speed and good discipline. They had success at Yost Arena, and must continue that progress against a Bowling Green team that is 5-0-1 in its last six games.

“As a team, every day in practices and workouts we’re playing against each other and guys are giving it their all, making each other better players,” Cuglietta said.

Cuglietta came to LSSU after spending three seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League. He was the No. 3 scorer and assist co-leader for the Merritt Centennials in 2014-15, and ranked among the top 25 in BCHL scoring in 2013-14. He described Merritt as a small hockey town – similar to Sault Ste. Marie. Cuglietta enjoyed a successful junior hockey career thanks in part of help he received from youth coaches Brian Schwab (atoms) and Bill Adams (pee wees).

Cuglietta, along with his brother and step-sister, are also accomplished soccer players. His brother, Nikko, plays soccer at the University of Alberta, which just won a national title (CIS) in Guelph, Ontario. He is the son of Diana Cuglietta-Naccarceto and Lino Cuglietta.

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

See you at the bell. Ringy Dingy!

 

[Bill]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

Huge come from behind win for the Lakers. BG played well; in your face, quick sticks, good forecheck. It didn't look good for the Lakers the first 2 periods. Getting the not so pretty goal on the goalmouth scrum to tie the game put a lot of life into the Lakers. Nellis' go ahead goal was a real snipe shot. They got a much needed 3 points.

 

[Bill]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

Gotta feel bad for Gordie. He's been a very good goalie for us but it looked like he had a total brain fart on that turnover that led to the winning goal for BG.

 

[PerkyforPrez]

Gotta feel bad for Gordie. He's been a very good goalie for us but it looked like he had a total brain fart on that turnover that led to the winning goal for BG.

I agree and I'm sure no one will be tougher on him then himself. I had a sense that the Lakers were going to win the game until that play.

 

[LSSULaker889294]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

If the Lakers want to make noise in the 2nd half of the season, they must score on the power-play, limit defense blunders, and defend home ice better. Lakers are only .500 on home ice in WCHA play which isn't going to cut it.

 

[CKrouth]

I agree and I'm sure no one will be tougher on him then himself. I had a sense that the Lakers were going to win the game until that play.

I completely agree. Until that happened, it seemed like the Lakers were coming on really strong. Once that turnover happened, everything went downhill. They certainly had some chances after, though. The BGSU goaltender got some good stops when he needed to.

 

[sm2pk]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

They need to cut down on turn overs, get a power play working , and this weekend they missed to many passes.

 

[LakerBaker]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

The good ship Laker deserved a better fate on Saturday night and the bounces didn't go their way in the third period, man, as Lake Superior State fell 5-2 to Bowling Green in Saturday's (Dec. 3) Western Collegiate Hockey Association series finale.

The Lakers (8-8-0, 6-6-0 WCHA) scored a pair of goals in the second period to take a 2-2 tie into the third period but the Falcons(8-8-2, 7-4-1-1 WCHA) scored a trio of goals in the final period to ice the victory. Junior forward Mitch McLain tallied a hat trick on the BGSU empty net goal to pace the Falcons offensively with a three-goal night.

BGSU took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission on McLain's first goal of the night. Three and half minutes into the middle period, freshman Brayden Gelsinger knotted things up with his fifth goal of the season, assisted by Josh Nenadal and Kyle Chatham.

With Gelsinger's goal came a shower of teddy bears from the stands as 1,944 fans inside Taffy Abel Arena launched stuffed animals onto the ice to donate to local children in need during the holiday season.

McLain responded two minutes later with a power-play goal to put the Falcons ahead 2-1.

With 7:37 left in the second period sophomore forward Gage Torrel picked up his third point of the weekend by swatting a tipped puck out of midair and past Ryan Bednard to tie the game at 2-2. Line mate Mitch Hults added the assist for his third helper in the weekend series against BGSU.

Torrel's tally was the last hiccup in Bednard's evening as the freshman netminder provided the Falcons with 28 saves to improve his record to 2-1-0 on his rookie campaign.

Lakers goaltender Gordon Defiel surrendered a pair of goals in the third period, including a shorthanded tally that the junior netminder misplayed and coughed up to Lukas Craggs for the unassisted goal. Craggs' fourth goal of the season coming 5:44 into the final period would stand as the eventual game winner.

Senior Kevin Dufour would later make it a 4-2 contest with his fifth goal of the season with 8:04 remaining, followed by McLain's exclamation mark on the split, tallying his second hat trick in three weeks on the empty net with 23 seconds remaining.

Saturday's loss to BGSU gives the Lakers' their second consecutive weekend series split, as they head to WCHA frontrunner Bemidji State next weekend. The Lakers and Beaver renew their storied rivalry, which dates back to the teams' NAIA National Championship days of the late 1960's and early 1970's, next Friday and Saturday night at the Sanford Center in Bemidji, Minn.

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

Ringy Dingy!

 

[Bill]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

I think Gelsinger played very well this weekend.

 

[Bill]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

Having watched the series with BG this past weekend, I think the area where we're still a little behind the top teams in the league is skating speed/ability at D. I think on offense we can pretty much skate with anyone now but our D-men don't quite have the skating speed of some of our better opponents. Our overall team speed has definitely improved since Damon took over as coach, although that has been more evident with our forwards than our D-men. I do think our skating at D is getting better but we're still not where we need to be.

 

[sm2pk]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

I was at the games this past weekend and was told, do not know how true, but most the team was playing sick .

 

[Bill]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

I was at the games this past weekend and was told, do not know how true, but most the team was playing sick .

Could be. It's that time of the year.

Old time rivalry series this weekend at Bemidji. Lakers need to get at least a split, which means they're going to have to find a way to score some goals each game, something that almost everyone has been finding difficult to do against Bemidji so far this season.

 

[Bill]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2016-17

We have a new recruit, forward Yuki Miura, currently playing at Waterloo of the USHL. He is a 96 birth date so will be joining the Lakers next season.

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=277409