LSSU to Travel to #1 Michigan

Last weekend we had Hockey Day in Canada, this weekend we have the inaugural “Hockey Weekend Across America.” Lake Superior State (6-16-6 overall, 4-13-5 Central Collegiate Hockey Association), which is riding a five-game unbeaten streak, plays No. 1 Michigan (23-3-4 overall, 16-2-4 CCHA) at 8:05 p.m. Friday and 7:35 p.m. Saturday at Yost Arena. Friday’s game will be broadcast live on CSTV. Saturday’s game is part of a “Hockey Day in Michigan” double-header on FSN-Detroit. Former LSSU goaltender Mike Greenlay will be broadcast Saturday’s game with Ken Daniels and Shireen Saski. Greenlay, who played at LSSU from 1986-88, is the television color commentator for the NHL’s Minnesota Wild. Radio coverage of both games will also be available on Rock 101 FM. National themes for “Hockey Weekend Across America” include “Wear your jersey to school (or work) day” on Friday, and “Bring a friend to the rink day” on Saturday. Go to http://www.hockeyweekendacrossamerica.com/ to get more information and register to win prizes. Among the many statewide events are the “Hockey has Heart” campaign (see http://www.hockeyhasheart.com/ for details), and “Hockey in the Hood,” which is the first minority hockey tournament sponsored by the Detroit Hockey Association in cooperation with the NHL’s Diversity Task Force. “Hockey Day in Michigan” is in its third year. The Lakers head to Michigan this weekend after earning three points in a series for the second straight week and owning a 3-0-2 record in their last five games. During early-season 5-1 and 6-2 home losses to the Wolverines, they were in the midst of a seven-game losing skid. They have a much higher confidence level heading into this weekend’s rematch. One of LSSU’s hottest players is sophomore forward Zac MacVoy, who scored a goal in both games of last weekend’s 3-3 tie and 3-2 win at Western Michigan. MacVoy, a transfer from U-M, has three game-winning goals and one game-tying goal to his credit during the Lakers’ last five games and has taken over as the team’s points leader (8-10—18). Freshman Chad Nehring (2-0—2), junior Troy Schwab (1-1—2) and senior Dan Eves (0-2—2) also had multiple-point weekends. Sophomore Nathan Perkovich (13-4—17), Eves (6-11—17) and Schwab (4-13—17) are tied for second on the team in scoring. Michigan overtook Miami for the CCHA standings lead by taking three of four points from the RedHawks during last weekend’s series in Oxford, Ohio. The Wolverines’ top line of Max Pacioretty, Kevin Porter and Chad Kolarik combined for six goals, five assists and a plus-six rating as they won 4-2 and tied 5-5. Porter (25-20—45) and Kolarik (20-19—39) are ranked first and third, respectively, in the CCHA in points. U-M is 9-0-2 in its last 11 road games, which is the second-longest road unbeaten streak in school history. The team is 10-2-2 in Yost Arena.