Lakers to take on Fighting Irish in semi-final

NEWS RELEASE

LAKE SUPERIOR STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

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Lakers to make first appearance in CCHA Playoff semifinals since 1996

SAULT STE. MARIE – Lake Superior State will take on No. 1-ranked Notre Dame in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association Playoff semifinals at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

The Lakers (21-17-3) are making their first appearance in the CCHA Playoff semifinals since 1996. LSSU and Notre Dame (29-6-3) are meeting in the playoffs for the first time.

Tickets are on sale at the Norris Center Ticket Office for $24 (adult) and $9.50 (LSSU students). Fans can also call 313-396-7911 before 5 p.m. on Thursday and mention “LSSU Alumni” to receive a $3 discount through the Joe Louis Arena group sales office.

Discounted ticket prices through the Joe Louis box office are: $27 (lower bowl, rows 1-7); $21 (lower bowl, rose 8-20); $19 (upper bowl, rows 2-12); $12 (upper bowl, rows 13-21); $7 (general admission).

General admission includes the two ends behind the goals and upper bowl seats rows 22 and higher.

Michigan (25-12-1) and Michigan State (21-12-3) will play in the other semifinal game at 8 p.m. on Friday. Both semifinal games will be televised live on FSN Detroit. Saturday’s Mason Cup championship game at 7:30 p.m. will also be televised. The third-place game will take place at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Both LSSU games will also be broadcast live on WSUE 101.3 FM and simulcast on www.lssulakers.com. Fans wanting to pass along good wishes to the team can send an email to [email protected], and the messages will be delivered to the players on Friday.

LSSU Playoff notes:

* After improving to 21-17-3, the Lakers are enjoying their winningest season since finishing 30-8-2 in 1995-96.

* Prior to its 11-year CCHA final four drought, LSSU made nine straight playoff appearances at Joe Louis Arena and reached the championship game all nine years. The Lakers won playoff titles in 1991, ’92, ’93 and ’95.

* Senior Jeff Rainville scored one goal on Friday and both goals on Saturday at Miami and improved his CCHA Playoff totals to a league-leading 3-5—8. Senior Trent Campbell, who assisted on both goals on Friday and had the only assist on Rainville’s game-winning goal on Saturday, has 2-4—6 during the playoffs. Junior defenseman Derek A. Smith is third on the team in scoring during the post-season with 3-1—4. He leads the CCHA in playoff scoring by a defenseman.

* Senior goaltender Jeff Jakaitis is 4-1-0 during the playoffs with a 2.11 goals-against average and .938 save percentage. For the season, he has a 2.17 gaa and .935 save percentage.

* Friday’s CCHA semifinal game between Notre Dame and LSSU will pit two of the nation’s goaltenders against each other. UND senior David Brown was named to the All-CCHA First Team and leads the nation in gaa at 1.64. Jakaitis was named to the All-CCHA Second Team and is ranked second nationally in save percentage.

* LSSU was 0-2-0 against Notre Dame during the regular season. The Fighting Irish swept the Lakers 4-3 OT on Jan. 12 and 4-1 on Jan. 13 in Sault Ste. Marie. LSSU endured a four-game losing stretch, including two OT losses, during that stretch.

* The Lakers are 5-1-0 in their last six games heading into the CCHA semifinals. ************************************************************