Lakers Open CCHA Season at Ohio State

SAULT STE. MARIE – Lake Superior State and Ohio State are two Central Collegiate Hockey Association opponents with a recent history of hard-fought thrillers and a need to get off to a good start in 2008-09. The Lakers (0-1-1) head to Ohio State (0-1-1 overall, 0-1-1-1 CCHA) for their first CCHA test of the season. The teams play at 7:05 p.m. Friday and 8:05 p.m. Saturday at the Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Both games will be broadcast live on Rock 101. Lake Superior State tied Minnesota-Duluth, 2-2, and lost 3-2 to Michigan Tech during last weekend’s season-opening Superior Cup. Junior Zac MacVoy picked up an assist against UM-D and scored a goal against MTU, and sophomore Will Acton notched an assist in both games to lead the Lakers. Sophomores Tyson Hobbins and Dillin Stonehouse tallied their first career goals. Junior goaltender Pat Inglis’ 29-save effort, that included six overtime saves, was impressive, but the Bulldogs gave him his first collegiate shootout loss. UM-D scored the only goal during three shootout rounds last Friday. Ohio State came out on the winning side of its first shootout and defeated rival Miami 4-3 during Game 1 of a home-and-home series – the only league series of the weekend. The Buckeyes lost 7-3 at Miami on Saturday. Sophomore forward John Albert had a goal and three assists for the series to lead OSU. OSU was picked to finish seventh and LSSU 10th in the CCHA Pre-Season Coaches Poll. The Buckeyes return 15 letter winners from last year’s 12-25-4 team that placed 11th in the league standings. The Lakers return 19 letter winners from a team that finished 10-20-7 overall and placed 10th in the CCHA. The Lakers and Buckeyes split the last two series against each other, which were both played in Sault Ste. Marie. The average goal differential during the last six meetings between the two teams is 1.33. Last January, LSSU rebounded from a 4-3 loss with a 6-5 overtime win that sparked a five-game unbeaten streak. Twelve of the 13 Laker players who figured into the scoring during last year’s series are returning. MacVoy led the way with two goals and two assists, while senior forward Troy Schwab added two goals and an assist. Michigan travels to Northern Michigan for this weekend’s only other CCHA series. Eight league teams are playing non-conference opponents.