Lake Superior State’s 6th Place Finish Last Season Declared Fluke by CCHA coaches and Media

After finishing last season in sixth place in the CCHA, after being placed 11th in the CCHA preseason poll, LSSU has failed to gain the respect of the CCHA coaches and Media who have predicted them to finish 10th in the league this season. The same pollsters that predicted that Ohio State would walk away with the CCHA crown last season, and that Miami of Ohio would finish in the lower half of the league not surprisingly predicted that Michigan, Michigan State, and Miami of Ohio where ranked 1-3 in both polls, with Bowling Green, and Western Michigan being projected to be 11th and 12th in both polls. The loss of 12 seniors from last years team obviously contributes to the Lakers poor showing in the CCHA Media and coaches poll. The media and coaches showed their lack of respect for the job that Head Coach Jim Roque has done in recruitment of this year’s incoming freshman class, nor the talent that this class brings the Lakers. "We graduated a lot of guys last year but we are very enthusiastic about our team. We have some real good freshmen coming in and we have a group of six seniors I think that will be outstanding this year that have been biding their time following the gentlemen that just left last year and are getting their chance to lead their team." Coach Roque said. Senior Goalie Jeff Jakaitis was voted Preseason Second Team All CCHA. Prompting Coach Roque to say, "We obviously have an outstanding goalie (Jeff Jakaitis) to anchor us back there." Media Poll 1. Michigan (26) 845 2. Michigan State (38) 844 3. Miami (13) 800 4. Northern Michigan 570 5. Nebraska-Omaha 539 6. Ohio State 514 7. Ferris State 437 8. Notre Dame 403 9. Alaska 390 10. Lake Superior State 379 11. Bowling Green State 158 12. Western Michigan 127 Coaches Poll 1. Michigan State (7) 117 2. Michigan (1) 108 3. Miami (4) 107 4. Ohio State 84 5. Nebraska-Omaha 75 6. Notre Dame 62 7. Alaska 60 8. Northern Michigan 59 9. Ferris State 55 10. Lake Superior State 30 11. Bowling Green State 18 12. Western Michigan 17 CCHA RELEASE FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – For the first time in recent memory, the coaches and media disagree over who deserves top spot in the CCHA’s annual preseason polls. The conference’s 12 head coaches ranked Michigan State first while the media voted for Michigan, albeit by the narrowest of margins. Defending regular-season champion Miami placed third in each category. The Spartans garnered the most first-place votes in both rankings with seven in the coaches poll and 35 in the media poll. The Wolverines received a single vote for top spot from the coaches, polled 26 from the media and landed the No. 1 position in the media poll by virtue of a strong number of second and third-place votes. Four CCHA coaches chose the RedHawks to defend their regular-season title as did 13 members of the media. The Spartans return 17 players, including seven that are NHL draft picks, from a squad that went 17-4-3 in 2006 en route to the 11th CCHA playoff championship in school history. Sophomore goalie Jeff Lerg, the league’s Rookie of the Year last season and Bill Beagan trophy winner as CCHA Tournament MVP, anchors the team defensively. Junior forward Bryan Lerg, who produced 15-23-38 last season, is MSU’s top returning scorer while Rick Comley, beginning his fi fth season in East Lansing, Mich., needs a dozen wins to become just the fifth coach in Division I history to record 700 career victories. The Wolverines, gunning for their 17th consecutive NCCA Tournament appearance, are led by senior captain and defenseman Matt Hunwick along with senior forward T.J. Hensick who is aiming for a third-straight 50-point season. Behind the bench, Red Berenson, in his 23rd season and directing a roster loaded with 13 NHL draft choices, is 15 wins shy of reaching the 600-win plateau for his distinguished career. The Redhawks, the only team outside of the state of Michigan since 1987 to have taken the league’s top regular-season honors, have 15 players back from their championship squad, including the stellar goaltending rotation of junior Charlie Effinger and sophomore Jeff Zatkoff. Junior forwards Nathan Davis (Chicago) and captain Ryan Jones (Minnesota) are among a seven-member contingent of NHL draftees that Enrico Blasi, the 2006 National Coach of the Year, will rely on. A total of 77 members of the media ranked the 12 CCHA teams in projected order of finish for the regular season. Points were awarded on a 12-11-10-9, etc., basis. League coaches ranked the CCHA teams, excluding their own school, in the order they predicted the regular season will end. Points in the coaches poll were tallied on a 11-10-9, etc., basis.

Lakers Receive 11 votes in USCHO.com/CSTV Poll

Lake Superior State’s hockey team received 11 votes in USCHO.com/CSTV’s 2006-07 Preseason Poll. The 11 points project LSSU 29th in the nation at this time, and 8th in the CCHA behind MSU, Michigan, Miami of Ohio, OSU, NMU, Nebraska-Omaha, and ND. This ranking is pretty consistent with what is expected to come out in the CCHA media and coaches polls Wednesday, September 27. A general consensus around the league is that Michigan, Michigan State, and Miami of Ohio, are the best suited to finish in the top 3 of the league, with Alaska Fairbanks, Western Michigan, and Bowling Green, likely to dwell in the CCHA basement this season. Speculation is that LSSU will fall somewhere between 7-9 in the two polls expected out Wednesday.

FANS CAN ACCESS LIVE internet STREAM OF CCHA MEDIA DAY

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) announced today that the league’s Media Day press conference on Wednesday, September 27, starting at 12:00 noon from the Olympia Club Room at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit will be streamed live on the internet at www.ccha.com. “College hockey fans and the media will have free audio and video access to the insights of all 12 CCHA head coaches and preseason comments from CCHA Commissioner Tom Anastos”, stated CCHA Communications Director Fred Pletsch. The live stream will be available through a link on the home page of the conference’s official web site, www.ccha.com. Internet users must have Windows Media Player installed on their computer in order to access the press conference feed. The entire press conference will also be recorded and archived on www.ccha.com within 24 hours of its conclusion for fans to view. Announcements scheduled for the event include the presentation of the third annual CCHA Preseason All-Conference Teams (First and Second) and the release of the conference television schedule for the 2006-07 season. The traditional preseason Media Poll and preseason Coaches’ Poll will also be released. CCHA teams are scheduled to hit the ice on college hockey’s common start date of Saturday, September 30. Teams in Alaska are allowed to start earlier under an exemption granted to them through Section 17.31.1 of the NCAA’s Operating Bylaws.

Hockey team ready to pick up where it left off.

Reprinted from the Summer 2006 Laker Log with permission from LSSU, the Laker Log, and Laker Athletics Hockey coach Jim Roque enters his second year at the helm expecting his team to improve its skating and its overall play in 2006-07. "', The Lakers improved markedly last season, moving to sixth place in the 12-team Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and earning home ice in the playoffs for the first time in six years. They finished 15-14-7 for their first winning season since 1999-2000. Roque knows that the Lakers must score more if they are to contend for a top spot this season. "We have great goaltending," he said, referring to senior Jeff Jakaitis, a finalist for CCHA Player of the Year honors in 2005-06. “We improved our scoring last season, and our defense was better. We need to step it up another notch or two this season. We need to support Jeff even better by providing more offense, and we need to rest him a little more than we have the past two seasons.” Jakaitis enters his last season at LSSU as the all-time leader in save percentage (.922), second in career goals-against average (2.43) and third in career saves (2,387). He earned First-Team All CCHA honors in 2005-06 and was named a Scholar-Athlete in the league. Jakaitis has proven that he is a top-caliber goalie at the Division I level. “We think that we have added depth and speed and improved out skating,” and the head coach. “(Assistant Coaches) Tim (Christian) and Joe (Shawhan) did a great job recruiting last year, and we will improve our ability to move the puck and should score more goals.” This season, the Lakers believe that they have added some speed and skill up front, some stronger skating skills on the blue line and will help Jakaitis with the addition of goaltenders Patrick Inglis (6-4, 200 pounds) from Edmonton, Alberta and Mitch Edmondson (6-3,212) from Traverse City. It's expected that Inglis will be able provide good minutes early, giving Jakaitis more opportunities for a night off in 2006-07. Sophomore forward Troy Schwab returns from a CCHA Rookie Team honorable-mention season, looking to improve his numbers and make a bigger impact in 2006-07. He had eight goals and 24 points in his freshman season good for second in scoring behind Trent Campbell (14-12-26), who returns for his senior year in 20(1)607. The Lakers return 14 letter winners, including senior forwards Dominic Osman (9-9-18) and Jeff Rainville (4-11-15), and defenseman Barnabus Birkeland (l-10-11). "Trent and Troy have the potential to become elite players in the CCHA,"said Roque. "Both are capable of all-league performances, for sure. Derek A. Smith is on the verge of being one of the best defensemen in the league, and other players are stepping in that direction." The Lakers graduated 12 seniors last April, including four defense men who buoyed a top-10 national ranking in goals-against in 2005-06. Gone are Kory Scoran, Ren Fauci and Alex Dunn, who played both on the blue line and at forward last season. Returning on defense are Birkeland, sophomore Marty Gurnoe and junior Derek A. Smith. "On defense is where the fans will notice the biggest change," said Roque. "We won't be as big, but we should be more mobile, and we should skate better. The way the game is now, skating is at a premium. Some people seem concerned about our defense this season, but I'm not. We have four real good players returning and are adding three very talented freshmen. I have no concerns about defense." Incoming defensemen include Steven Kaunisto, a Michigan Sault native, Simon Gysbers from Richmond Hill, Ontario, and Ryan Baird out of Thunder Bay,Ontario. Gysbers ranked 15yd on the NHL's Central Scouting List for the 2006 entry draft (which was June 24), while incoming forward Nathan Perkovich, from Canton, Michigan, stands 6-5 and is an eighth-round pick of the New Jersey Devils in 2004. Lake Superior signed forward Michael George from Battleford, Saskatchewan last fall. He was a teammate of Troy Schwab in Kindersley (Sask.) two years ago, and is a big winger/center who can handle the puck and skate. Also up front are John Scrymgeour from Pickering, Ontario, a smart, hard-nosed winger; Matt Martello, from North York, Ontario, a very talented forward; Nik Sellers from Plymouth, Michigan, a versatile forward who played for the Soo Indians two years ago, and Patrick Aubrey, from Ottawa, who will add depth and quickness to the forward units. In addition, the Lakers have Michigan Sault native Jason Blain, a speedy forward and former Soo Indians' player, who transferred last January from Northeastern University. Blain will be eligible to play in January, and will add leadership and depth. Edmondson comes in as a third netminder looking to earn playing time. He played the last two seasons at Traverse City West High School, here he was coached by former Laker great Anthony Palumbo. "We will not lean on the freshmen to carry us," said Roque. "We will be very patient with them, and they will learn from some very good upper classmen and sophomores." Long-time Lake Superior State hockey fans can rekindle memories of the program's early days when the Lakers open the 2006-07 season with an exhibition game against Lakehead University at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7, at Pullar Stadium. The LSSU-Lakehead rivalary dates back to the 1967-68 season and the days when Pullar Stadium was the Lakers' home rink. Last season, LSSUplayed in the TBay Tel Varsity Cup at Lakehead and defeated the Thunderwolves 4-0. It was the first time the teams had met since 2001. Lakehead was a finalist for the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic championship last spring. "We're turning the clock back a bit with this game," said Roque."Many of our fans will remember games at Pullar Stadium when Lakehead was a regular rival. We'll charge general admission and we hope to pack the place and create a little early excitement. It was that way in the '60s and '70s." This season, the Lakers will play a number of road series early and be at home more in the second half. They will travel to Ohio State, Clarkson University, Bowling Green, Alaska and Ferris State in the first half, with home series against American International (Great Lake State Weekend, Oct. 27-28), Miami (parents' Weekend, Nov. 10-11), Wayne State, Northern Michigan (home-and-away) and the USAUnder-18s (Dec. 16). Clarkson, Providence College and NCAA champion Wisconsin will join the Lakers at the Badger Classic in Madison, Wisconsin Dec. 29-30. The Lakers will open that annual event against Providence College on Dec. 29. In the second half, January home series are scheduled with Nebraska-Omaha (Youth Hockey Weekend, Jan. 5-6)), Notre Dame and Ohio State, while the only road series will be at Michigan State Jan. 19-20. In February, NMU, Michigan (Friday, Feb. 16) and Western Michigan will all play in Sault Ste. Marie, while road games/ series will be at NMU and Miami, and the Lakers will play Michigan at Joe Louis Arena on Sunday, Feb. 18, at 3 p.m. Laker Log original text

Lake Superior state University Hockey Games to be Televised on the Internet

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. -- Lake Superior State University and B2 Networks today announced a multi-year partnership allowing Lakers fans to watch hockey and other selected sporting events on a world-wide basis. All LSSU hockey games from Taffy Abel Arena will be shown on the revolutionary broadband network along with additional events to be added as the partnership develops. Fans wanting to watch the LSSU Athletics via B2 will need a high-speed internet connection and Windows Media Player 9 or higher. Games will be sold on an individual basis with LSSU season passes to be announced at a later date. Events can be accessed through the LSSU athletic website, http://www.lssulakers.com/. An unnamed source has indicated to LSSUHockey.com that prices are being projected around $6.00 a game or $60 for the season pass. The season pass price is subject to change, because if other schools pick up the technology, it could expand the total number of games available to LSSU fans though out the season. “I am excited about the opportunity to reach more people who want to watch Laker Hockey live,” LSSU hockey coach Jim Roque said. “We can reach parents at home, who live too far away to make it to the Sault on a regular basis. They can hear Bill Crawford’s voice and watch Jim Howie’s video. He does such a good job with the video. We can also reach alumni, who have a lot of interest in staying in tune with the program and want to watch games.” For Lake Superior State, the agreement with B2 Networks brings, for the first time, an opportunity for alumni, family and friends to follow Lakers athletics without visiting the Upper Peninsula. The broadcast schedule will allow for added exposure to an athletic department on the rise. B2 has broadcast one-time events such as the Drake Relays and the Florida College Hockey Classic in the past, but the deal with LSSU brings the company into the world of year-round NCAA athletics. To start with, Laker Hockey is a natural transition for a network that has broadcast more than 5,000 hockey games from four different leagues during the last two seasons. "Lake Superior State has developed a strong following through years of success on the ice and we are proud to be able to deliver Laker Hockey to all their fans around the world," said Greg P. Bell, B2 Networks Owner and CEO. "As a former resident of northern Michigan, I am looking forward to watching LSSU myself, and we are excited about adding NCAA sporting events to our schedule of over 5,000 upcoming broadcasts this season.” “We have been researching for more than two years for a feasible means to bring video web casts of Laker athletics to our parents, alumni and fans,” said Kris Dunbar, LSSU director of athletics. “We are thrilled to have discovered B2, which is a leader in this new technology. Not only will Laker hockey receive world-wide exposure, the B2 Network will generate revenue for the entire LSSU athletics program. Eventually, we look forward to providing web audio and video coverage of our Division II sports.” B2 Networks is a premier provider of reliable and secure international television and video broadcasting systems, pay per view and billing systems. Our network of arenas, stadiums, local venues, billing systems and data centers are currently in use to distribute live events to personal computers, mobile devices and television screens around the world. Working with organizations such as the National Lacrosse League, the AHL, ECHL. UHL, USHL and World Pro Fighting, B2 has established itself as a leader in innovative direct to home, mobile and television broadcasting. For more information about B2 Networks, visit http://www.b2now.com/.

Season-ticket holders must claim seats by Sept. 30

SAULT STE. MARIE - Saturday, Sept. 30, is the deadline for Lake Superior State hockey season-ticket holders to claim their seats for the 2006-07 season. The season kicks off at 7 p.m. on Sept. 30 with the annual Blue-White Game at Taffy Abel Arena. Although admission for the Blue-White Game is free, the Norris Center Ticket Office will be open from 6-8 p.m. so season-ticket holders can pick up their tickets. The general public can also purchase tickets at that time, but unclaimed season-ticket holders' seats won't be released until 8 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 2. The Norris Center Ticket Office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, call 906-635-2602. The Lakers officially open their season with an exhibition game at Pullar Stadium against Lakehead University on Saturday, Oct. 7. This game, which will bring fans back to the early days of Laker hockey and the old ICHA rivalries, will not be part of the season ticket package. General admission tickets for this game are $5 for adults and $3 for children and LSSU students. The season ticket package includes 18 home games. If purchased before Sept. 30, season tickets are $126 (full season), $65 (Friday only or Saturday only) and $70 (children). Prices go up to $144 (full season), $72 (Friday only or Saturday only) and $75 (children) after Sept. 30. Single-game tickets are $9 or adults and $5 for children.