Lakers to be introduced to Robert Morris this weekend

The Lake Superior State hockey team will celebrate the Thanksgiving weekend with a first-ever series against Robert Morris University – a second-year NCAA Division I program.

The Lakers and Colonials will play at 7:35 p.m. on Friday and 7:05 p.m. Saturday at Taffy Abel Arena. RMU is 4-5-1 during it second season, coming off a split with Alabama-Huntsville. LSSU, meanwhile, is 4-5-3 after two shutout losses at Ohio State.

LSSU is welcoming Eastern Upper Peninsula area emergency services personnel as special guests to Friday’s game. Saturday is “Family Night” at LSSU, and families who come together to the game will receive adult tickets for $4 and children’s tickets for $2, plus a concessions coupon. The Lakers have postponed “Youth Hockey Night” to Dec. 3 when the Lakers play host to Alaska Fairbanks.

Lake Superior State dropped to fifth in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings due to last weekend’s losses in Columbus, Ohio. LSSU head coach Jim Roque looked to that series as a barometer for his team and he expected a much better showing against the Buckeyes.

Despite the setback, Roque remained positive about the potential of his Lakers. They’ll want to make a good showing against a solid RMU team and prepare for a return to CCHA action Dec. 2-3 against UAF.

"We came here to pass the test and we passed with flying colors,” Roque told Insidecollegehockey.com. “We're going to be a good team. I like our team.”

LSSU is one of two CCHA opponents for the Colonials this season. RMU defeated Western Michigan 5-2 on Oct. 15 and beat the U.S. National Team Development Program’s Under-18 squad 6-5 on Oct. 16.

The Colonials, under coach Derek Schooley, are led in scoring by senior forward Kurt Wright (6-6—12), a transfer from Findlay, and junior forward Doug Conley (0-12—12). Their top goaltender is sophomore Christian Boucher, who has a .888 save percentage and 3.23 goals-against average.

The Lakers also beat Western Michigan handily this season, but suffered a 4-3 exhibition loss to the U-18s on Oct. 8 –after five days of practice and one other pre-season game.

The Lakers are still second in the CCHA in goals-allowed per game at 2.25, but have dropped from a tie for fifth nationally to eighth. Junior goaltender Jeff Jakaitis is now ranked fourth in the league and 15th nationally in goals-against at 2.28. He is second in the CCHA in saves with 264.

Heading into this weekend’s series, LSSU’s top scorers are junior forward Trent Campbell (4-3—7) and freshman forward Troy Schwab (3-4—7).

(Submitted by Linda Bouvet of the LSSU Sports Information Department)