LSSU to host Nanooks

The Lake Superior State University (6-5-3, 3-5-2 CCHA) hockey team will play host to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks (6-4-2, 4-3-1 CCHA) this weekend at the Taffy Abel Arena. Lake Superior is coming off home sweep over Robert Morris University this past weekend, winning 3-0 and 4-3 in overtime last weekend for their first home sweep since Oct. 18-19, 2002. UAF split their home series last weekend against Northern Michigan University, winning 3-1 on Friday and losing 4-1 on Saturday. UAF has split every weekend series that they have played this season including series against, Minnesota, and Michigan. UAF took three points in their weekend series at Ferris State University the first weekend of November. The Nanooks have been averaging 2.67 goals per game this season while also giving up 2.67 goals per game. UAF's power play is ranked 7th in the CCHA with a .165 Power Play Percentage, while their penalty kill is also ranked 7th in the CCHA with a .831 penalty kill percentage. Alaska Fairbanks has also surrendered 1 short handed goal on the season, while not being able to tally one themselves. UAF is the fifth most penalized team in the league averaging 19.58 penalty minutes per game. LSSU got its power play rolling against Robert Morris this past weekend, scoring 4 goals on 10 opportunities. LSSU conversely surrendered 1 goal on 9 opportunities to RMU. The Lakers are currently sixth in the CCHA in penalty killing giving up 12 goals in 14 games with a kill rating of .838. LSSU’s power play is currently ranked 4th in the CCHA with a .182 power play percentage. LSSU leads the all-time series against UAF, 19-9-3, Last season the Lakers tied the Nanooks 2-2, and 1-1 at Fairbanks. This is the only scheduled meeting of the two teams this season. LSSU goaltender Jeff Jakaitis is currently ranked sixth in the CCHA with a 2.36 GAA, and eighth in the CCHA with a .908 SV%. The Lakers are ranked second in the CCHA and seventh in the nation with a goals against average of 2.14. LSSU is offensively lead by Dominic Osman who has 5 goals in 12 games, and Jeff Rainville who has 4 goals and 10 points on the season. UAF is led offensively by junior Curtis Fraser who has 5 goals and 9 points in 12 games this year, after finishing last year 17-14-31, and Kyle Greentree who has 4 goals and 11 points, after leading UAF in scoring his freshman year, last year tallying 12 goals and 32 points. Second year UAF head coach Tavis MacMillan has been going with a goaltender by committee strategy this year. Both goaltenders have shown nearly identical statistics with veteran sophomore goaltender Wylie Rogers posting 3 wins, a 2.66 GAA, and .914 SV% in his 6 appearances, and freshman Chad Johnson posting 3 wings, a 2.60 GAA, and .928 SV% in his 6 appearances.