LSSU to Play Wayne State for the Final Time

SAULT STE. MARIE – Lake Superior State will be a part of Wayne State’s final hockey season as the Lakers head to Detroit for a non-conference series on Friday and Saturday. The Lakers (1-4-1) will play the Warriors (0-5-1) at 7:05 p.m. on both nights at the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum (5,500). Coverage of the series will be available on the B2 Network and Rock 101 FM with web streaming on http://www.lssulakers.com/. Wayne State, which competes in College Hockey America, is disbanding its men’s hockey program at the conclusion of the 2007-08 season. The Warriors began their program in 1999-00 and have been coached by veteran Bill Wilkinson during all nine seasons. Wilkinson, a former Central Collegiate Hockey Association Coach of the Year at Western Michigan, is in his 25th season overall. No. 12 Notre Dame swept LSSU, 7-3 and 4-1, last weekend during the Lakers’ first CCHA series of the season. LSSU is 1-2-1 against non-conference opponents, all of whom have received mention in the national polls. This weekend’s series is a tune-up for No. 2 Michigan, and the Lakers’ have no intention of letting down their guard. Despite being winless, Wayne State has been competitive during a similarly-tough early-season schedule. The Warriors lost 5-2 at Alaska-Anchorage, and lost 6-2 and tied 2-2 at Ferris State. Their other three losses have been to fellow CHA opponent Robert Morris, including one at the Nye Frontier Classic in Anchorage. WSU is led in scoring by seniors Mike Forgie (3-1—4) and Stavros Paskaris (0-4—4). The Warriors’ captain, Forgie, hails from the Stouffville Spirit, which is the same junior team for which Lakers Simon Gysbers and Will Acton played. Paskaris and the Warriors’ Derek Punches are former Soo Indians. LSSU sophomore Nathan Perkovich scored a goal in both games against Notre Dame and has a goal in five of the Lakers’ first six contests. He is currently tied for fourth in the CCHA in power-play goals with three. Senior Dan Eves (2-3—5) and freshman Chad Nehring (2-3—5) are second in points for the Lakers, but were shut out last weekend by the Irish.