LSSU Lakers notebook

NEWS RELEASES

LAKE SUPERIOR STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

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Lakers fall 1-0 at NMU

LSSU takes a four-goal lead into final game of Cappo Cup series

MARQUETTE - Northern Michigan defeated Lake Superior State 1-0 Friday at the Berry Events Center to snap a three-game Wildcat losing streak.

Despite the loss, LSSU (14-12-3 overall, 8-10-3 Central Collegiate Hockey Associatiion) has a four-goal lead heading into Game 4 of the Cappo Cup total-goals series, which concludes at 7:05 p.m. Saturday at Taffy Abel Arena.

The Lakers swept NMU in a home-and-home series Dec. 1-2 to snap a seven-game losing streak against the Wildcats. NMU got back on the winning track thanks to Mike Santorelli's 5-on-3 power-play goal at 12:40 of the second period. It was Santorelli's 26th goal of the season.

Lake Superior State out-shot NMU, 26-20, including 14-4 in the third period. LSSU goaltender Jeff Jakaitis stopped 19 of 20 NMU shots, while Wildcat goaltender Bill Zaniboni (11-15-2) totaled 26 saves to record the shutout.

LSSU finished 0-for-7 on the power-play, while Northern Michigan was 1-for-5.

LSSU held onto its spot in the CCHA standings due to losses by Western Michigan, Ohio State and Nebraska-Omaha -- teams that are also bunched in the middle of the pack. NMU moved into a seventh-place tie with the Lakers and Broncos.

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"Road to the Joe" Tour is headed to NMU and LSSU

Mason Cup will be on display at Taffy Abel Arena Saturday

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. - The fifth annual Central Collegiate Hockey Association "Road to the Joe" Tour presented by FSN will be making its eight and ninth stops on the CCHA arena circuit this weekend. The tour will be in Marquette Friday for the first game of the home-and-home series between Northern Michigan and Lake Superior State and complete its tour of the Upper Peninsula on Saturday at LSSU.

The "Road to the Joe" Tour, created to promote the CCHA Championship at Joe Louis Arena, consists of a mobile display, the Mason Cup Playoff Championship Trophy, CCHA Championship posters, a CCHA Championship Fan Guide, ticket brochures, a t-shirt giveaway and an Enter-to-Win contest for a one-night stay at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center, and two tickets to both days of CCHA Championship action March 16-17, 2007.

Fans also have the opportunity to have their picture taken with College Hockey at the Joe's mascot, Joe College, and the Mason Cup trophy, named after legendary hockey coach, and current MSU Athletics Director, Ron Mason.

The 2007 CCHA Championship will be held at Joe Louis Arena, home of the National Hockey League's Detroit Red Wings. The tournament features all 12 teams with a new format adopted last season. The top four finishers in the regular season will receive first-round byes, while seeds five through 12 will clash in best-of-three series on Friday-Sunday, March 2-4. The winners of the first-round series will then travel to the campus of the top four schools, March 9-11, for another best-of-three series, with a spot at the CCHA Championship in Detroit on the line. The final four teams will play Friday, March 16, and the CCHA Championship will be held Saturday, March 17. The CCHA Tournament champion will receive the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

CCHA Championship festivities begin with the annual CCHA Awards Banquet on Thursday, March 15 at the Fox Theatre in downtown Detroit. The event is open to the public and tickets ($15 per person) can be purchased at the door or by calling the CCHA Office at (248) 888-0600.

The CCHA semifinals are slated for Fri., March 16 at 4:35 p.m. and 8:05 p.m. Preceded by a third-place game, the winners will meet in the CCHA Championship final on Sat., March 17 at 7:05 p.m. The semifinal and finals of the CCHA Championships will be broadcast on FSN Detroit, serving Michigan and Northwest Ohio.

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Vote for Jakaitis as a Pontiac Frozen Four Skills Competition candidate

Go to www.ncaasports.com

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Lake Superior State hockey fans have been doing a great job voting for goaltender Jeff Jakaitis on www.hobeybaker.com, and now they can also help Jakaitis get named to the participate in the 2007 Pontiac Frozen Four Skills Challenge.

Jakaitis is a candidate for the skills challenge, which takes place on Friday, April 6, at the Scotttrade Center in St. Louis. Thirty-two senior men and women will be selected to participate in this East versus West competition in the following events: puck control relay, fastest skater, hardest shot, accuracy shooting, rapid fire shooting and penalty shot competition.

The Pontiac Frozen Four Skills Challenge is part of "Friday Night at the Frozen Four" activities that also include the presentation of the Hobey Baker Memorial Award and the Hockey Humanitarian Award.

Fans can vote online at www.ncaasports.com through Monday, Feb. 12. Fan voting for the Hobey Baker Award continues through March 4.

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Laker women lose heartbreaker at GVSU

ALLENDALE - A much-improved Lake Superior State women's basketball team had 12th-ranked Grand Valley State on the ropes, but GVSU dominated a four-minute stretch midway through the second half to win Thursday's Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division showdown, 53-47, on its home court.

LSSU (14-6 overall, 9-3 GLIAC), which led by as many as 10 points in the first half and seven points in the second half, had a chance to take over first place in the North Division and boost its standing in the Great Lakes Region. The Lakers remain in sole possession of second place heading into Saturday's game at Saginaw Valley State.

Julia Braseth led all scorers with 16 points as GVSU improved to 17-4 overall and 10-2 in the GLIAC.

Jaclyn Armstrong led Lake Superior State with 13 points and six rebounds. Ronlea Peterson and Monica Rehmann scored 11 points each. Mandi Johnson contributed five points, seven rebounds and five assists.

LSSU shot 40 percent from the field, including 7-of-19 from three-point range. The Lakers made 4-of-7 free throws and out-rebounded GVSU, 35-31.

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GVSU men beat LSSU on their home court

ALLENDALE - Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division leader Grand Valley State defeated the Lake Superior State men's basketball team for the second time this season, winning Thursday's home game 82-48.

GVSU (19-2 overall, 10-2 GLIAC) limited Lake State to 16 field goals while shooting 54.7 percent from the field. Grand Valley State took control early, leading 42-18 at halftime.

Scott Perkins led LSSU with 14 points and eight rebounds. Ryan Kuhl and Tim VanOudheusden added 10 points each.

Lake Superior State (8-13 overall, 5-7 GLIAC) plays at 3 p.m. Saturday at Saginaw Valley State.

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