Turco, McMillan returning home to face the Lakers

NEWS RELEASE

LAKE SUPERIOR STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

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Lakers celebrate GLSW with first-time series against American International

SAULT STE. MARIE – The Lake Superior State hockey team celebrates Great Lake State Weekend with a first-time series against Atlantic Hockey opponent American International.

The Lakers (2-2-0) play host to the Yellow Jackets (0-3-0) at 7:35 p.m. on Friday and 5:05 p.m. on Saturday. Game time for Saturday’s contest has been moved up in order to accommodate the GLSW schedule. Both games will be broadcast live on WSUE 101.3 FM and simulcast on www.lssulakers.com.

LSSU also plans to provide live video access to this weekend’s series via the B2 Network. Check www.lssulakers.com later in the week for more details. A minimal subscription rate for single games or a season package will be charged.

The Soo BlueLiners will host their first luncheon of the season beginning at noon Friday at the Cisler Center. The public is welcome to attend.

During second intermission of Friday’s game, LSSU will honor distinguished alumni Bud Cooper of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., and Dr. Richard Gray of Scottsdale, Ariz., as well as Laker parents Bill and Sharon Bollin of Farmington Hills.

For the second time in as many weeks, LSSU will serve as the opposing team’s only regular-season test against a Central Collegiate Hockey Association team. Last weekend, the Lakers split a non-conference series at Clarkson, winning 5-1 on Friday and losing 7-1 on Saturday.

AIC is wrapping up a five-game road stretch that spans three weeks, while LSSU is returning home after back-to-back road series. Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) swept the Yellow Jackets 8-3 and 8-0 on Oct. 20-21.

Opponents have out-scored AIC, 18-3, in three games this season. The Yellow Jackets are coming off a 6-21-5 finish in 2005-06. Junior forward Jereme Tendler totaled 15-11—26 to lead AIC in scoring last season, while senior defenseman Jeremy Leroux followed with 5-12—17.

AIC’s roster also includes sophomore forward David Turco and freshman forward Mike McMillan of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

The Lakers are playing six of their next eight games at home before spending the Thanksgiving holiday in Alaska.

Freshman forward Nathan Perkovich is leading the Lakers in scoring with three goals and one assist, while junior defenseman Derek A. Smith has four assists, including three in last Friday’s 5-1 victory.

Sophomore forward Josh Sim has three goals so far this season, while senior forward Trent Campbell and freshman forward Matt Martello are tied at 1-2—3.

Sault Ste. Marie native Jason Blain, a junior forward, joined the lineup last weekend after being cleared by the NCAA. Blain transferred to LSSU from Northeastern at mid-semester of 2005-06. He played in 47 games and contributed three assists through 1 ½ seasons at Northeastern, where he was named rookie of the year in 2004-05. Blain played for the Soo Indians in 2003-04 and totaled 13 goals and 45 assists.

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