Lakers make first road trip for 2006

The Lake Superior State University (12-6-4, 8-6-2 CCHA) hockey team travel to Big Rapids this weekend to take on Ferris State University (9-8-5, 4-6-4 CCHA) this weekend at Ewigleben Ice Arena. LSSU is 4-4-1 on the road this season while Ferris is 4-3-2 at home. LSSU is coming off of a home sweep of Western Michigan this past weekend while Ferris was swept by Northern Michigan going into their game Monday night at Bowling Green. This weekend’s match up against Ferris State University will mark the 101th and 102th times that these two teams have met in the past 25 years. Lake Superior State University has a come out on top of these meeting winning 57 and losing 33, ten have resulted in ties. The Lakers have struggled against the Bulldogs of late though only winning two of their last 12 contests, including the two games that the teams tied at the Taffy Abel Arena this past October. Ferris’ special teams have been average this season, the Bulldogs power play is ranked 6th in the CCHA with a .174 power play percentage. Ferris’ penalty kill has been pretty good recording a .855 penalty kill percentage, and have been averaging only 20.14 penalty minutes a game, 6th in the CCHA. LSSU’s special teams have been average this season, the Lakers power play is ranked 2nd in the CCHA scoring a goal 19.2% of the time, 29 goals in 151 opportunities. The Lakers penalty kill is ranked 7th in the CCHA, allowing 19 goals in 116 opportunities, for a .836 penalty kill percentage. Both teams have scored 5 shorthanded goals while only giving up 2 shorthanded goals each. The Lakers are averaging 2.86 goals per game this season while allowing only 1.91 goals per game. Conversely Ferris is averaging 3.18 goals per game while surrendering an average of 2.91 goals per game. LSSU is looking to continue the success they where enjoying before heading into the Christmas break, while Ferris is in the midst of the toughtest part of their schedule where they will be playing NMU, LSSU, MSU, and Miami. Ferris is lead by, senior forward Greg Rallo, Junior center Mark Bomersback and freshman goaltender Mitch O'Keefe. Rallo has 12 goals this season and 25 points, Bomersback has 9 goals and 19 points in 22 games this season. O'Keefe has played in all of two-thirds of Ferris’ games this season recording a .904 SV% and a 2.66 Goals Against Average. LSSU is lead by junior goaltender Jeff Jakaitis with his NCAA 7th ranked 1.87 goals against average, and 11th in the nation with a 0.924 save percentage. Jakaitis is also ranked third in the nation with 1132:13 minutes played this season. The Lakers offensive leader is Trent Campbell who has amassed 8 goals and 17 points this season. LSSU’s team defense is rated 5th in the country only giving up an average of 1.91 goals per game this season. The Lakers are looking to remain undefeated in 2006 with important games this January against Ferris, Bowling Green, and Nebraska-Omaha, before they conclude their season against Michigan, Northern, and Michigan State in February.