Lake Superior State Sweeps American International

Lake Superior State’s hockey team did their job Saturday night to make Great Lake State Weekend a good experience for all by completing a sweep over American International College with a 4-1 win. Dan Eves gave the Lakers a 1-0 lead on the power play at 11:58 of the first period with assists going to Derek A. Smith and Troy Schwab. The AIC Yellow Jackets tied the game with Jereme Tendler scoring an even strength goal at 9:23 of the second period. Nathan Perkovich was able to regain the Lakers one goal lead less than a minute later, 10:20, with an assist going to Matt Martello and Trent Campbell. Perkovich has scored a goal in each of the Lakers past five games. Jeff Rainville gave the Lakers an insurance goal before going into the lockerroom for the second intermission by scoring a power play goal, his third goal of the weekend, with just 25 seconds remaining, 19:35, in the period. Both Derek Smith’s where awarded assists on the Rainville Goal. Sault native Jason Blain scored his first goal wearing the Lakers anchor 1:22 into the third period to give the Lakers a 4-1 lead, Dan Eves and John Scrymgeour got the assists on the Blain goal. The Lakers went 2-for-6 on the power play, putting 15 shots on goal, and held AIC to 0-for-5 with the extra man. The Lakers finally won the faceoff battle in a game going 36-for-61 in the faceoff circle. LSSU freshman goaltender Pat Inglis saved 14 of the 15 shots he faced. Laker Notes: Bill Crawford did mention that freshman Micheal George from Battleford, Saskatchewan, was experiencing NCAA clearinghouse troubles due to his high school not being able to clear up some academic issues from the 9th grade in a timely fashion. Ryan Baird from Thunder Bay, Ontario has a shoulder problem that he came to school with and had operated on in September; he is expected to see game action against Miami of Ohio the weekend of November 10-11 or the following weekend November 17-18 against Wayne State University. Next weekend the Lakers travel to Bowling Green, Ohio to resume CCHA play by taking on the Falcons of Bowling Green University, Friday and Saturday’s games both start at 7:05.

LSSU shuts out AIC

Lake Superior State University jumped out to an early lead against American International College in Friday night’s contest with senior Jeff Rainville scoring his second goal of the season on the power play just 3:13 into the first period with assists going to both Derek Smiths. Rainville put the puck into the top of the net just 4 seconds into the power play. The Lakers leading scorer, Nathan Perkovich recorded his fourth goal of the season at 15:20 of the first period with Trent Campbell and Matt Martello getting assists on the play, in a play in which Martello took a rebound and passed it to his left where Perkovich was waiting to knock it in. Laker captain Barnabas Birkeland gave LSSU a 3-0 lead, scoring his first goal of the season at 4:10 of the second period with a shot along the ice from the blue line, with assists going to Simon Gysbers and Troy Schwab. Rainville added his second goal of the game a minute later, 5:10, with Derek R. Smith recording his second assist of the game. Josh Sim put in his fourth goal of the season, by putting his own rebound into the upper corner, to give the Lakers a 5-0 lead at 4:14 of the third period with Pat Aubry and Troy Schwab getting the assists on the goal. Lake Superior goalie Jeff Jakaitis recorded his eighth career shutout by stopping all 23 AIC shots. LSSU put 31 shots on goal in the game. First year referee Keith Sergott, a former teammate of LSSU assistant Tim Christian at Ferris State, only called 7 penalties during the game, resulting in 2 power play opportunities for the Yellow Jackets and 3 for the Lakers, each team managed 3 shots on the power play with LSSU able to score one goal. The Lakers where once again bested in the faceoff circle going 27 for 60. LSSU and AIC play Saturday at 5:05 p.m. post-game activities on Saturday include an ice-cream social, Halloween costume contest and skate with the Lakers.

Lakers Take on American International as part of Great Lake State Weekend

This weekend Lake Superior State University will open the regular season at home against American International College. This weekend's meeting will be the first time that these teams, with almost 100 years of hockey history combined, have played. Lake Superior (2-2-0) comes into this weekend's action after splitting with Clarkson University last weekend in Potsdam, New York. Lake Superior won a 5-1 contest on Friday night but was blown out 7-1, playing their worst game of the season on Saturday evening. American International (0-3-0) has lost contests this season to the Army's United States Military Academy (0-2) and Rochester Institute of Technology (3-8, 0-8) LSSU's power play looked to have started clicking last Friday when they went 5 for 8 with the extra man. They also added another power play goal in Saturday's loss making them 8 for 31 on the power play, but they have given up 2 shorthanded goals this season. LSSU's penalty kill has struggled allowing 8 goals during 32 penalty kills, for a 75% penalty kill. American International is 1 for 24 on the power play for a horrendous 4.2% and has killed only 22 of 33 penalties. American International has only scored three goals in their three games this season, with their leading point getter being Jereme Tendler who has 1 goal and 2 points on the season. Last season Tendler recorded 15 goals and 26 assists in 32 games. American International has seen sophomore Tom Fenton (.845 SV%, 5.40 GAA) split time with senior Matt Tourville (.809 SV%, 6.75 GAA) this season with both Fenton starting the Yellow Jackets first 2 games recording 2 losses and giving up 9 goals, before being pulled in favor of Tourville after giving up 7 goals in American International opening game against RIT. Last season Fenton played in 30 games going 6-16-5 and posting a .900 SV% and 3.51 GAA, while Tourville only appeared in 4 games posting a .900 SV% and 4.50 GAA. Lake Superior has seen 9 different players score goals this season, with Nathan Perkovich and Josh Sim putting in 3 goals each. Derek Smith has recorded 4 assists and Simon Gysbers and Troy Schwab have each assisted on 3 goals. Senior goaltender Jeff Jakaitis and freshman Pat Inglis have shared time in goal this season with Jakaitis going 1-2-0 with a .935 SV% and 2.82 GAA, while Inglis is 1-0-0 with a .862 SV% and 5.19 GAA, Inglis was suffering from a cold last weekend and only saw limited action against Clarkson in cleanup duty. Look for Inglis to see playing time this weekend, for probably the last time before Wayne State comes to town in the middle of next month.

Lakers Leave Nothing but Questions following 7-1 Shellacking by Clarkson

Why did Jakaitis start his second non-conference game in a row? Why was Lake Superior State University unable to match Clarkson’s intensity? Why did the Lakers skate so poorly (the Lakers took 8 hooking penalties)? Why was LSSU unable to capitalize on opportunities early in the game (The Lakers where not able to capitalize on early power play opportunities)? Why where the Lakers unable to capitalize on any opportunities (Clarkson had 2 major penalties in the game, during which LSSU had 5x3 opportunities in addition to the 5 minute majors, LSSU did capitalize on a 5x3 early in the third period)? Who are the real Lakers, this team or the team that played last night? The lone bright spot for the Lakers Saturday night was Nathan Perkovich scoring his third goal of the season on a 5 on 3 power play 1:08 into the third period to put the score at 1-5, Clarkson, with Marty Gurnoe getting the only assist on the goal. Clarkson put 53 shots on goal while the Lakers where only able to muster 23 shots in the contest. Jakaitis gave up 5 goals on 30 shots before being pulled midway though the second period, 10:06, in favor of freshman Pat Inglis. Inglis gave up 2 goals while facing only 23 shots in the second half of the contest. LSSU went 24 for 58 on faceoffs in the game. LSSU was able score one goal on 9 power play opportunities, but gave up 4 goals and 14 extra man opportunities to Clarkson. Clarkson had 28 shots on the power play. The Lakers open the home part of their schedule next weekend against American International. As part of Great Lake State Weekend Friday's game will start at 7:35, while Saturday's game will start at 5:05 p.m. Photo from http://www.clarksonathletics.com/

LSSU tops Clarkson 5-1

Strong special team play by the Lakers gave them a 5-1 win over Clarkson on Friday night in Potsdam New York, where the Golden Knights have won 16 of their last 18 games, with all 6 goals in the game coming on the power play. Clarkson came out strong dominating the Lakers in the first 5 minutes of the game strong goaltending by Lake Superior State’s senior goaltender Jeff Jakaitis keep the Lakers in the game, at one point early in the first period Clarkson out shot LSSU 11-2. Lake Superior State sophomore Josh Sim was able to turn the momentum of the game in the Lakers favor by scoring a power play goal at 8:33 of the first period with the assist going to Derek A. Smith. LSSU senior Jeff Rainville was able to give the Lakers a 2-0 lead going into the first intermission by scoring a power play goal of his own at 16:55 of the first period, with Smith getting his second assist on the game and Barnabas Birkeland getting the other. Clarkson was able to pull the game to within one goal in the second period with Steve Zalewski scoring his 4th goal of the season on the power play, while Steven Olesky, who otherwise had played a great game, was serving 2 minutes for holding. Lake Superior State never looked back after coming back onto the ice in the third period, with the Lakers leading scorer from last season, Trent Campbell, getting his first goal of the young season, at 6:34 of the third period, on a great play by Matt Martello in which he took the puck from the left side of the ice moved behind the goal and found Campbell in the slot with a great pass, fellow freshman Nathan Perkovich received the second assist on the play. Sim scored his second goal of the game at 11:25 of the third period with assists going to Troy Schwab and Derek A. Smith to give LSSU a 4-1 lead. Clarkson lost their composure after this goal was scored and Tyrell Mason was assessed a 2 minute cross checking penalty after taking several shots at a Laker after the goal had been scored. Nathan Perkovich sealed the game for the Lakers by scoring his second goal on the season with just under 5 minutes to play, 15:06 of the third period, in the contest. Marty Gurnoe got the only assist on the goal. LSSU played stronger and stronger as the game went on, including putting up 21 shots to Clarkson’s 9 shots in the third period. LSSU held a shot edge in the game of 41 to 34. Penalties where evenly called by ECACHL officiating staff with LSSU being called for 8 minor penalties and Clarkson for 9. LSSU once again lost the battle in the faceoff circle with Clarkson having a 32-25 edge. Power plays where the real story of the game with LSSU scoring 5 goals in 8 extra man chances, while holding Clarkson to 1 goal in 9 shots on 7 power play opportunities. LSSU and Clarkson face off again on Saturday night at 7:00, look for LSSU freshman Pat Inglis to get his second start in goal on the season. Photo from http://www.clarksonathletics.com/

Limited Edition Doug Weight Laker Hockey Prints

"Laker Hockey Legend - Doug Weight 1989-1991" This signed, limited edition, print is from an original watercolor by Tedi Selke, a well-known regional artist and art teacher. She and her family are long time Laker hockey fans. The painting was based on a set of game photographs provided by the university. The uniform depicted is the one worn by Doug Weight in 1990-91. Note: This print is not framed. Print Size: 15" x 20" Cost of print: $100.00 100% of the net proceeds benefit Laker hockey. Edition of 200 https://www.lssu.edu/foundation/giving/prints.php

LSSU gets Verbal from Acton

Stouffville Spirit center Will Acton has verbally committed to attend Lake Superior State University in the Fall. The 6’-2”, 185 pound, Stouffville native has played with the Spirit for three years including playing last season with LSSU freshman Simon Gysbers. Action attended camp in 2004 with the Petrborough Petes, where his father had played junior hockey, scoring 2 goals. Acton is currently attending York University in Toronto. Will has 5 goals and 10 points in 11 games this season, he had 11 goals and 31 points last season in 48 games before amassing 9 goals and 17 assists in 30 playoff games. Acton was recently named to the Team Canada East team to play at the World Jr. A Challenge in November. http://www.stouffvillespirit.com/news/story.php?storyID=645 Will is the son of Toronto Maple Leafs assistant coach Keith Acton. Keith Action enjoyed a 15 year NHL career with stops in Montreal, Minnesota (where Will was born) Edmonton, Philly, Washington, and with the Islanders, before finishing his career with former Laker player and coach Paul Jerrard in Hershey of the AHL.

Lake Superior State travels this Weekend to No. 15 Clarkson

This weekend Lake Superior State University will travel to Potsdam, N.Y. to take on 15th ranked Clarkson University. LSSU has an all time record of 4-2-0 against the Golden Knights going back to their first and only regular season meeting in 1969. All other meetings between the two teams came at holiday tournaments or during the NCAA playoffs, the last meeting between the two teams was a 5-4 win for the Lakers at the NCAA East Regional in Worcester, Massachusetts back in 1995. The Lakers and Golden Knights may also meet later this season at the Badger Invitational over Christmas break in which Clarkson opens the tournament against Wisconsin, while LSSU opens the tournament against Providence. Lake Superior (1-1-0) comes into this weekend’s action after splitting with Ohio State last weekend in Columbus. Lake Superior was shutout in a 0-1 loss on Friday night but came back on Saturday night to score 7 goals to win the game 7-6 in overtime. Clarkson (3-0-1) played at Providence and Massachusetts over the weekend winning 6-1 against Providence and tying Massachusetts 3-3 on Saturday night. Special teams may be pivotal in this weekends series, the Lakers come into this weekend’s action having scored only twice in 14 attempts, but giving up 2 shorthanded goals during these 14 extra man opportunities. LSSU’s penalty kill has struggled allowing 3 goals during 11 penalty kills. Clarkson’s is 8 for 33 on the power play and has successfully killed 30 of 34 penalties scoring one shorthanded goal in the process. Clarkson has seen 12 different players score goals in the first 4 games of the season. Clarkson is lead by juniors David Cayer 4 goals and 6 points, Steve Zalewski 3 goals and 5 points, Nick Dodge 2 goals and 5 points, and freshman Matt Beca who has 4 assists and 5 points on the season. Last season Dodge led the team with 16 goals and 25 assists and Cayer who had 12 goals and 22 assists. Junior goaltender David Leggio has started all four games for Clarkson compiling a 3-0-1 record and posting a .929 SV% and 2.20 goals against average. Lake Superior saw 7 different players score goals during last Saturday’s game. Sophomore Troy Schwab let the way in points for the Lakers recording 3 assists. Freshman Nik Sellers had a goal and an assist, and Trent Campbell and Steven Kaunisto each had 2 assists. Senior goaltender Jeff Jakaitis and freshman Pat Inglis split the weekend in goal with Jakaitis falling 0-1 on Friday night and Inglis getting the 6-7 win on Saturday night. You can watch the game for free from the Clarkson Golden Knights website: http://www.clarksonathletics.com//Sports/gen/2006/VIDEOSTREAMING.asp

Lake Superior tops OSU in Scoring Spree

Preseason analysis and first game jitters be damned, Lake Superior State’s offense, as well as Ohio State’s offense, stepped up Saturday night to show the scoring prowess that we have been waiting for. With Saturday’s win the Lakers where able to break a 14 game winless streak against Ohio State, including being shut out in their past three games. The first period of the game was played at a fast and furious pace seeing the Lakers score three goals and a total 5 goals scored in all. Freshman Nik Sellers opened the scoring for the Lakers just 2:26 into the first period by deflecting in a shot from Simon Gysbers with assists going to classmates Gysbers and Pat Aubry. Ohio State was able to tie the game at 1-1 with Andrew Schembri scoring a power play goal as Sellers was sitting out two for hooking. Josh Sim was able to regain the lead for the Lakers with a power play goal of their own at 16:19 of first putting a wrist shot top corner, glove side past OSU’s goaltender Joseph Palmer from the slot off a pass from Troy Schwab, Derek A. Smith got on the score sheet with the second assist on the goal. Freshman Matt Martello was able to knock in a rebound less than 30 seconds later (16:48) to give the Lakers a two goal lead (3-1) with assists going to Steven Kaunisto, who had the original shot, and Trent Campbell. Ohio State’s Tommy Goebel was able to pull the Buckeyes to within one with just under three minutes remaining in the period (17:12) Ohio State started the second period on the power play, after Derek R. Smith was called for hitting from behind at 19:11 of the first period. Ohio State was able to capitalize with the extra man with Domenic Maiani scoring just 56 seconds into the second period. Lake Superior State was able to regain the lead, 4 to 3, with Freshman John Scrymgeour scoring at 12:39 of the second period with Troy Schwab getting an assist on the play. Ohio State was able tie the game again (4-4) scoring a short handed goal, their second of the weekend with just 15 seconds remaining in the second period, OSU forward Mathieu Beaudoin was credited with the goal. Laker freshman goaltender Pat Inglis misplayed the shot by not coming out to challenge Beaudoin who was coming down the right side of the ice after Barnabas Birkeland forced him to the outside, the puck when stick side on Inglis after he failed to cut off the angle. LSSU was able to gain their fourth lead of the game just over two minutes (2:08) into the second period when Dan Eves scored with assists going to Nik Sellers and Laker Captain Barnabas Birkeland after Sellers won a faceoff back to Birkeland who got the puck to Eves. OSU’s Beaudoin was able to score his second goal of the game midway through the third period (10:06) on five minute power play called against Dan Eves for checking from behind in which we was also assessed a game misconduct and shown the door for. Freshman Nathan Perkovich scored his first goal as a Laker at 13:13 of the third period on the power play to give the Lakers their fifth lead of the game, assists went to Steven Kaunisto and Trent Campbell. Ohio State was looking down and out when they pulled freshman goaltender Joseph Palmer with 1:10 remaining in the game. OSU’s Beaudoin was able to knock in the puck in a scramble in front of the net with less than 1 second remaining in the game, 19:59 of the third period, to tie the game at 6-6. A video review of the play confirmed that the goal was in before the final horn sounded. LSSU and OSU where both able to muster two shots in the overtime period, the Laker’s Dominic Osman was able to capitalize on their opportunities putting in the game winner at 2:45 of the period off a rebound from a shot by Derek R. Smith, with assists going to Smith and Schwab. The Lakers never trailed in the game but they surrendered their lead five times. The teams where even in shots for the game with totals coming in at 34 to 35 with OSU having the slight lead, again LSSU dominated the first period putting up 16 shots against 8 shots for OSU. LSSU fell off as the game went on and they where only able to muster 16 more shots in regulation time, plus the 2 shots that they got in the overtime period. The Lakers where on the short end in the faceoff circle quite a bit this game with the Lakers losing 31 faceoffs and only winning 23. Schwab saw the most faceoff action going 9 for 24 in the circle. Special teams play dominated the score sheet with the Lakers going 2 for 7 on the power play, making them 2 for 14 for the weekend. The Lakers also surrendered their second shorthanded goal of the season. LSSU gave up 3 power play goals and 6 power play opportunities; one slightly bright spot was only giving up one goal while on a 5 minute penalty kill. LSSU successfully killed off 8 of 11 short handed situations. Freshman Pat Inglis played adequately in goal recording the win with 29 saves, but giving up 6 goals, including a couple of goals he would probably like to have back. Look for him to get significant playing time the next two weeks at Clarkson and against American International during Great Lake State Weekend Freshman Nik Sellers, Matt Martello, John Scrymgeour, and Nathan Perkovich each scored their first goals as Lakers in the game. Troy Schwab recorded three assists in the game and Trent Campbell had two assists. Dan Eves scored his first goal of the season but will miss next Friday’s contest at Clarkson due to the game misconduct that he received for checking from behind. The Lakers travel to Potsdam, N.Y. next weekend to take on Clarkson University.

LSSU shutout by OSU in CCHA opener

In a battle of two anemic offenses Friday night a Lake Superior State special team’s miscue cost LSSU a point in CCHA play. Ohio State’s penalty kill was able to force a turnover by poke-checking the puck around LSSU freshman defenseman Simon Gysbers playing the point on the power play, allowing Ohio State’s Tommy Goebel to score an unassisted short-handed goal on Lake Superior State’s senior goaltender Jeff Jakaitis. This was the third scoring change that OSU was able to create during this LSSU power play. LSSU was able to start the game strong, tallying 11 of their 22 shots in the first period, but fell off in the second and third periods in which OSU out shot them 35 to 11, giving Ohio State a 44-22 lead on the game. Laker goaltender Jeff Jakaitis totaled 43 saves in the game, while being barraged by OSU shots and bodies as the buckeyes took several opportunities to run the Laker net minder. Ohio State’s Joseph Palmer recorded his first win for the Buckeyes, and second win over LSSU, by posting a shutout, making 22 saves. The Lakers where shutout for the third time in their past three games against the Buckeyes and the fourth time in their last seven against OSU. Both teams were unable to score on the power play with LSSU finishing 0-for-7, and OSU going 0-for-5 with the extra man. The Lakers where 29 for 59 in the faceoff circle but failed to gain possession at many crucial moments in the game. The Lakers and Buckeyes square off again Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at Value City Arena.

LSSU set to take on Ohio State

The Lake Superior State University (15-14-7 last season) hockey team will travel to Columbus, Ohio to take on the slumping Ohio State Buckeyes Hockey team at the Value City Arena this weekend. Lake Superior is coming off an exhibition loss this past weekend to Lakehead University. Ohio State topped Guelph over the weekend 5 to 1 in exhibition play. Ohio State, picked to finish sixth in the CCHA preseason media poll and fourth in the CCHA preseason coaches polls, are looking to comeback from last season in which they finished 10th in the CCHA (15-19-5). The buckeyes have been averaging 2.50 goals per game this season while giving up 3.00 goals per game. The Buckeyes open the 2006-07 season with eight of their first 10 games in Columbus. Last season, the squad played six of its first seven games on the road, going 2-4-1 in the stretch. All-time, the Buckeyes are 84-42-14 (.650) in Value City Arena. Last season Ohio State's had the CCHA’s worst power play with a .104 Power Play Percentage, while their penalty kill was ranked 5th in the CCHA with a .842 penalty kill percentage. Ohio State surrendered 4 short handed goals on the season, while tallying 7 themselves. Last Season the Lakers were eighth in the CCHA in penalty killing with a giving up 33 goals in 36 games with a kill rating of .822, the Lakers scored 8 short handed goals last season. LSSU’s power play was ranked 6th in the CCHA with a .173 power play percentage. LSSU leads the all-time series against Ohio State, 65-49-9, including being 26-26-5 in Columbus. The Lakers have struggled mightily as of late against the Buckeyes, going 2-16-2, in a streak going back to 1998, including being shutout by OSU in both games (0-3, 0-4) in Columbus last season. Previous to this losing steak the Lakers had gone on a 5 year streak where they went 19-0-3 against the Buckeyes. This season the Buckeyes are in the same CCHA cluster as the Lakers, (as well as Northern Michigan, and Miami) Ohio State will visit the Sault on January 26th and 27th.. LSSU goaltender Jeff Jakaitis was voted to the preseason all CCHA second team after going 14-14-7 last season with a .920 SV% and 2.22 GAA. LSSU returns Trent Campbell who had 14 goals and 26 points last season, and Troy Schwab who had 16 assists and 24 points. LSSU will rely heavily on their freshman class this season with Nathan Perkovich, Matt Martello, and Michael George expected to lead the way Last season Ohio State was led offensively by Junior Tom Fritsche who had 11 goals and 30 points, after finishing the 2004-05 season with 34 assists and 45 points, unfortunately for OSU Fritsche is out indefinately with severe ulcerative colitis, an intestinal illness. . After struggling in goal last season Ohio State brought in what is arguably the best freshman goaltending tandem in the nation. Joseph Palmer from the U.S. National Team Development Program and Nick Filion of Cornwall Colts, CJHL Rookie of the Year in 2006. Palmer is projected to be the OSU number one goalie who has garnered 23 games of college experience, including 20 against D-I competition, from his two seasons with the U.S. NTDP, including posting a win over LSSU last season when LSSU fell to Team USA 4-3 in the Sault.

LSSU Falls to Lakehead Univeristy

Lakehead University came out Saturday night and beat the Lakers for the first time in 23 years. The LSSU game at the Pullar was Lakehead’s third game in three nights after traveling 670 miles during the same period. Lakehead fell 8-1 on Thusday night against the University of Minnesota-Duluth, and 6-1 against Michigan Tech on Friday night. The Lakers sported their throwback uniforms in the game which they will wear at various times during this season. The announced attendance at the game was 1500. Play was fairly even in the first period and the Lakers applied some strong pressure in the second but Lakehead’s Chris Whitley was solid in goal. Former Soo Greyhound Jeff Richards returned to the Sault in style opening the scoring at 14:34 of the first period. Laker Freshman Pat Aubry tied the game for the Lakers at two and a half minutes later (17:08) with the only assist going to senior Dominic Osman. Richards scored his second goal of the game at 10:58 of the second period, and Lakehead’s Mathieu Maissoneauve made it 3-1 with a power-play goal at 1:36 of the third period, while Josh Sim was serving his time in the penalty box for roughing. Jeff Jakaitis was strong in goal giving up both of Richard’s goals in the two periods he played totaling 21 saves. Freshman Pat Inglis supported his effort to get playing time this season by allowing just one goal, on the power play, and saving 8 shots while replacing Jakaitis in the third period. The Lakers went 0-for-11 on the power play, while the Thunderwolves were 1-for-2 with the man-advantage. LSSU had 11 shots with the man advantage, 36 for the game, while Lakehead had 4 shots with the extra man, and 32 in the game. The Lakers put three shots off the Lakehead goal posts, and one shot off the cross bar. The Lakers where 35-22 in the faceoff circle, with Troy Schwab going 15-6 and Matt Martello going 7-1. The Lakers travel to Columbus, Ohio to open the CCHA season against Ohio State next Friday and Saturday.

Dinner with Laker Hockey

Have dinner with Laker Hockey and help United Way from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Monday, October 9 at Tanglewood Golf Course. Members of the hockey team will be serving you during a spaghetti dinner benefit. Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door. Ages 5 and under are by donation. Carry out is available. For more information, contact Molly Paquin at 632-3700.

LSSU to Host Lakehead at the Pullar

The Lake Superior State University-Lakehead University rivalry dates back to 1967, with the Lakers holding a 24-6-2 record, last season LSSU shutout Lakehead 4-0 at the TBAY TEL Varsity Cup. This season Lakehead returns 14 players from last year’s squad, 8 freshman, and has 2 junior transfers form Alberta colleges’ hockey. The Thunderwolves have 2 players who played in the WHL and 12 players with OHL experience including Jeff Richards who played for the Soo Greyhounds from 1999-02. Ryan Maunu from Sault Ste Marie, Ontaio; is in his first year with the Thunderwolves. The Saturday evening game at the Pullar Arena will be the first game for the Lakers and the 7th game for the Lakehead Thunderwolves. The Thunderwolves have one win this season against the Manitoba Bisons, and three losses one to the Bisons, and two to the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League. Lakehead plays Minnesots-Duluth on Thursday, Michigan Tech on Friday, and then come to the Sault to play the Lakers on Saturday evening. Lakers to open season with exhibition game at Pullar Stadium LSSU RELEASE SAULT STE. MARIE – Lake Superior State’s theme going into Saturday’s hockey season opener against Lakehead University is “Old-Time Hockey, Old-Time Jerseys, Old-Time Stadium, Old-Time Prices – Pack the Pullar.” LSSU returns to the first home of Laker Hockey for its exhibition game at 7 p.m. Saturday at Pullar Stadium in downtown Sault Ste. Marie. The Lakers moved into what is now Taffy Abel Arena in 1976 after playing at the Pullar for 10 years. To learn more about Laker Hockey’s early days at Pullar Stadium, see the story in the feature’s section of www.lssulakers.com. Tickets for Saturday’s game are $5 for adults and $3 for children and LSSU students with a valid school ID. Tickets are available at the LSSU Norris Center Ticket Office, but are not part of the season-ticket package. Media passes are also available for the game, but there will be no seating available in the Pullar Stadium press box except for local radio. Contact LSSU sports information director Linda Bouvet, 906-635-2601, for a media pass. LSSU returns 12 letter-winners from last year’s squad, which finished 15-14-7 for the Lakers’ best record since the 1999-00 season. Among those returnees are three of the team’s top four scorers from 2005-06, including senior Trent Campbell (14-12—26), sophomore Troy Schwab (8-16—24) and senior Dominic Osman (9-9—18). LSSU also returns Central Collegiate Hockey Association First-Team goaltender Jeff Jakaitis, who is listed as a College Hockey News pre-season All-America “Player to Watch” for 2006-07. Lakehead returns 14 players from its 2005-06 squad, which finished 26-18-4 and earned a silver medal at the 2006 Canadian collegiate nationals. The Thunderwolves’ top returnees are senior captain Jeff Richards (23-18-41) and junior goaltender Chris Whitley (2.58 goals-against average, .920 save percentage). Lakehead all-time scoring leader Joel Scherban graduated in 2006. Lakehead’s stop in Sault Ste. Marie will conclude a three-game stint against U.S. teams. The Thunderwolves are also traveling to Minnesota-Duluth on Thursday and Michigan Tech on Friday. Last season, LSSU and Lakehead met for the first time since 1987. The Lakers shut out the Thunderwolves 4-0 last December during the first round of the TBAY-TEL Varsity Cup in Thunder Bay, Ont. Campbell, senior Jeff Rainville, junior Dan Eves and sophomore Josh Sim scored Laker goals in that contest. Jim Roque, who is in his second season as the Lakers’ coach, expects to have a team that may go through some growing pains defensively, but will be a better skating team than past squads. He expects this group to adapt well to the CCHA’s year-old initiative to eliminate obstruction from the game. “We graduated a lot of guys from last year, but I am very enthusiastic about our team,” Roque said during last week’s CCHA Media Day at Joe Louis Arena. “We have six seniors who have been biding their time, following the gentlemen who graduated last year. Now they are getting the chance to lead our team and be the go-to guys on our team.” LSSU’s senior class includes Jakaitis, Campbell, Osman, Rainville, defenseman Barnabas Birkeland and forward Derek R. Smith. Birkeland will serve as the Lakers’ captain in 2006-07.

Sault Ste. Marie’s Pullar Stadium

http://hermes.lssu.edu/~jshibley/Foundation/PULLAR%20Hockey%20Ad/Pullar%20%20Dedication%201939.jpg Linda Bouvet, LSSU sports information director; and Liz McAllister, Sault Area High School student intern With 67 years of history under its belt, Sault Ste. Marie’s Pullar Stadium has quite a story to tell. Many old-time players, coaches and officials remember the place fondly and consider it to be one of the most unique ice facilities in the region. Although Lake Superior State University currently plays at Taffy Abel Arena, it wasn’t always the home of Laker Hockey. When LSSU’s venue moved to campus in the mid 1970s, the days of “barn hockey,” raucous fans and flying pucks into the stands were all but over. But the Soo Lakers began their hockey days at “The Pullar.” “The Pullar” was built in 1939 after Mrs. Sophia Nolte Pullar endowed the city of Sault Ste. Marie with $70,000 to start either a home for the elderly or a community center. Her board of trustees concluded that a community center that doubled as an ice rink would fit most with what she had in mind. Construction took just under nine months and $181,000 to complete. Two days after its completion, on Dec. 7, 1939, the Soo Indians junior hockey team hosted its tryouts there for the first time. So began the aura of Pullar Stadium. One of the original Pullar legends is NHL great Clarence “Taffy” Abel, for whom the Norris Center is now named. He spent a majority of his hockey life in and out of Pullar Stadium – some years as a player, others as a coach or manager. He most-notably played for the Chicago Black Hawks and the New York Rangers, winning Lord Stanley’s Cup with both teams. The Detroit Red Wings also used the Pullar as a training camp facility. Playing at the Pullar before the Norris Center opened in 1976 was certainly something different than what college hockey players have accustomed to now. Instead of the glass that now surrounds Taffy Abel Arena, chicken wire and steel bars topped the boards and caused plenty of cuts and bruises for the players. And fans had to pay attention, as there wasn’t much protecting them from flying pucks. Randy McArthur, a member of the first Soo Lakers team in 1966-67, said that it was dangerous to play there, but that it was also “the best ice I ever played on.” Players’ appreciation for the fast and high-quality ice hasn’t changed over the years. In addition to honoring Laker Hockey’s 41-year history, the Pullar’s renown ice is one of the reasons for LSSU’s interest in returning to the Pullar for the first time in three decades. LSSU is playing host to an original Laker rival, Lakehead University, in an exhibition game at 7 p.m. Saturday at Pullar Stadium. One tradition that will likely come back to life is sprinting to the Bomb Shelter during intermission. In the 1960s, the hotel and bar located just east of Pullar Stadium was known as the Hickler House Hotel and Bar. Today, the establishment is called the Harbor House Hotel, but the locals still refer to the “Happy Hideaway” bar as the Bomb Shelter. In the old days, the crowd’s evolving demeanor during the game created an interesting dynamic among players, officials and fans. If there wasn’t a good fight on the ice, one usually broke out in the stands. Jim Booth, a teammate of McArthur's, remembers when the fans invited the players to share in the festivities. Since there wasn’t any glass surrounded the bench (and there still isn’t), the fans were much closer to the players. “As players, the Bomb Shelter was off limits,” Booth said. “But after the end of the second period, there was more than one occasion that an adult beverage was offered to us on the bench to help us out in the third period.” Bud Clarke, an off-ice official who has been with the Lakers through all four decades, remembers fans who had already made a few runs to the Bomb Shelter and snuck up to the press box. They occasionally threw drinks on the scorers, ruining more than one of Clarke’s suits. “One time they threw hot chocolate on (then LSSU president) Dr. Shouldice and his wife,” Clarke said. “I told him to go up there and kick ….” Clarke, obviously, couldn’t leave his scorer’s post. “The biggest issue at the time was the Soo Indians’ drawing more fans than Laker Hockey,” MacArthur said. “By the time I graduated (in 1970), the Lakers had bigger crowds. It was a fun place to play. The Soo really supported us then. Ron Mason built it up. He is the winningest coach in college hockey, and he started the program.” Jim Duquette, another long-time off-ice official, remembers when the legendary Mason, who began his coaching career with the Soo Lakers, stormed onto the ice and handed referee Bob Gilray a rulebook, indicating Gilray wasn’t doing his job correctly. Gilray threw the book on the ice in anger. Prior to the start of the next period, Bud Cooper, athletics director at that time, had to go into the locker room and talk Gilray into doing the next period. Bill Selman, former St. Louis University and Lake Superior State coach, recalled being on the visitor’s bench, where the water hose draped behind him. "It ruined most of my sports coats, with me banging around into that thing and coming home with marks all over my back,” he said. “But, we had a lot of fun up there." Selman noted that trips from St. Louis to the Sault were an adventure in itself (one time his team went through five buses to get up and back), and the Pullar added to the memories. “I do remember that the ice was pretty good,” he said. “And the smallness of the building made the ice appear to be much smaller. Coaching there reminded me a lot of my days at North Dakota (he coached there for two seasons in the ‘60s) when we played in a tin Quonset hut.” Playing in the confines of the Pullar was a big change for the St. Louis University team, which had the fortune of playing its home games in the St. Louis Blues’ NHL facility. The fun at the Pullar didn’t stop after the final whistle. The dressing rooms were small by today’s standards and didn’t include a shower room. After the games, players had to walk down the hall, most of the time with just a towel in hand, to the shower area. This routine was no secret to the female students. Booth stated that “the best cheers were saved for the players as they dashed down the hall (and) the girls were checking out their butts.” The time at the Pullar was a good one. Suits were ruined, tempers flared and a lot of great hockey was played – the Pullar legend had formed. So remember the not so distant past as you enjoy the Lakers’ season opener against Lakehead. Watch out for flying pucks and try not to miss a minute of the action, even if you zip over to the Bomb Shelter for a quick round.

LSSU Hockey This Week for October 2, 2006

Notes compiled from Lake State This Week for October 2, 2006 Laker Hockey Show is back on the airThe Laker Hockey Show will return to the airwaves beginning this Tuesday from 6-7 p.m. on WSOO 1230 AM. The show, which features interviews with Coach Jim Roque, Laker players and others, takes place at Moloney's Alley with WSOO host John Bell. Stop by Moloney's Alley on West Portage Avenue to hear it or tune in to WSOO. Laker hockey players to serve spaghetti for United WayHave dinner with Laker Hockey and help United Way from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Sunday at Tanglewood Golf Course. Members of the hockey team will be serving you during a spaghetti dinner benefit. Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door. Ages 5 and under are by donation. Carry out is available. For more information, contact Molly Paquin at 632-3700. Laker hockey takes a skate back through time this weekend with a game in Pullar Arena. The team takes on former rival Lakehead University at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are available at the Norris Center box office. LSSU and Lakehead used to compete regularly in the 1960s and early 1970s when both teams were part of the International Collegiate Hockey League. The Lakers will be wearing their replica jerseys from that period.

White’s Win

Yesterday was actually my first experience with LSSU’s Blue-White game. In the years that I was actually a student at LSSU my Blue-White experience can be summed up by saying, “Oh that game was yesterday.” This brings me to my first complaint on the weekend; it was an awesome experience for a Laker hockey fan, why does the school do nothing to promote this game? Why not print out a ticket to the game and put it in each season ticket holder’s package? The blue team handled the white team pretty well in the first couple of minute’s of the game, until Trent Campbell opened he flood gates, 4:07 into the first, by pushing a shot five hole by Freshman Mitch Edmondson. Freshman Nathan Perkovich showed his speed by putting one over Edmondson’s left shoulder after getting around the defense on the right wing just over 30 seconds later (4:53 of the first). Perkovich (8:30) and Dominic Osman (17:12) each added one more in the first period to give the Whites a 4-0 lead going into the dressing room. Trent Campbell came out early in the second 24 minute half putting two behind Laker Starter, and Blue Team backup Jeff Jakaitis in the first 2 minutes (1:03 & 1:43) of the half. Troy Schwab, took advantage of a cold Jakaitis, by adding a power play goal for the White team at 3:15 of the second to give the White’s a 7-0 lead. The Blue team rallied late in the second period with Derek R. Smith (10:16) and Carter Lee (14:07) putting in goals to bring the final score to 7-2 Whites. Freshman goalie Pat Inglis made 20 saves on 21 shots in 36:22 for the Whites, while Jakaitis gave up 3 goals on 16 shots for the Blue team. Edmondson gave up 4 goals on 11 shots while playing for the Blue team, and 1 goal on 8 shots while backstopping the Whites. Of the returning players Campbell was hands down the most dominant player on the ice last night, scoring three goals on 5 shots, while developing quality scoring chances. The poor performance from Jakaitis was also a development that may be further played later in the season; Jakaitis may be pressed this season by the imposing 6-4 Inglis, who played quite well, for playing time. Petrovich’s scoring touch as well as his size (6-5, 197) and skating ability had the crowd at the Norris Center buzzing all night long. Other new comers that impressed during the game where Forwards Matt Martello and Michael George, as well as the 6-4 defenseman Simon Gysbers. Carter Lee, the transfer from Northeastern University, showed the promise that followed him from his New England Prep School days; we will have to wait another year to see what transpires with him though. My second complaint has to do with the LSSU Campus Shoppe, I was disappointed to find out that it closes at 4:00 PM on Fridays and is not open at all on Saturdays. This means that Laker fans and Alumni that travel up to the Soo for a weekend series, or potential students on campus for a weekend tour; are unable to purchase a souvenir. I do realize that there is a shop open at the Norris Center during games, but this selection is far less that what is available at the Campus Shoppe.