The Lakers are off to Alaska

SENIOR FAREWELL ??? Lake Superior State University Laker senior hockey players line up for a final time in LSSU's Taffy Abel ice arena during recognition night on Feb 13, in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. Eight seniors and their families received flowers, balloons, mementos, and fond farewells from fans during the traditional post-game ceremony. Shown left to right are Steven Kaunisto (Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.), Brad Cooper (Coppell, Tex.), Simon Gysbers (Richmond Hill, Ont.), Pat Aubry (Ottawa, Ont.), John Scrymgeour (Pickering, Ont.), Pat Inglis (Calgary, Alta.), Zac MacVoy (Livonia, Mich.), and Mitch Edmondson (Traverse City, Mich.). (LSSU/Sean O'Mara)

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - Lake Superior State plays its last four regular-season hockey games on the road and heads to No. 20 Alaska to face the Nanooks Friday and Saturday at the Carlson Center.

The Lakers (15-12-5 overall, 10-11-3-2 Central Collegiate Hockey Association) and Nanooks faced off earlier in the season with LSSU winning 4-3 and losing 3-2 in overtime. Heading into this week's series, the Lakers are in eighth place in the league standings and contending for home ice for the first round of the CCHA Playoffs. Alaska is tied for fifth and still in the hunt for a first-round bye.

Lake Superior State had 12 players record at least one point in the November series played in Sault Ste. Marie. LSSU's points leader Rick Schofield (15-12-27) picked up two goals, freshman forward Ben Power (3-15-18) netted a goal and an assist, while senior forward John Scrymgeour (5-9-14) added two assists.

The Nanooks (12-9-9 overall, 9-9-8-4 CCHA) had eight players earn points in the series. Alaska's points leader Andy Taranto (12-17-29) netted one goal and added three assists for the weekend, while Nik Yaremchuk (4-15-19) scored two goals and totaled two assists. Three other Nanooks totaled at least two or more points in the weekend series.

The Lakers in their last 10 games have a record of 3-5-2, while Alaska is 2-3-5. In those last 10 games the Lakers are 0-3-1 on the road and the Nanooks are 1-1-3 at home. Last weekend, the Lakers split a home series with 14^th-ranked Ferris State, winning a come-from-behind thriller 4-3 and losing 2-1. Alaska, which traveled to Ohio State, won 4-1 Friday and lost a shooting following a 3-3 tie Saturday.

This season, Alaska has a home record of 6-3-5, the Lakers are 6-6-2 on the road.

Schofield and Alaska's Dion Knelsen are tied for sixth overall in goal scoring with 15 apiece and tied for third in the conference with 13 goals each. Schofield is tied for first overall in game-winning goals with five, while Taranto and LSSU junior forward Will Acton (9-14-23) are tied for eighth overall with three.

Listen to a live audio feed of both games on 99.5 Yes FM starting at 11:05 P.M.

Note: Anyone who buys a ticket for the Feb. 27 hockey game at Northern Michigan will get free admission to the NMU vs. Lake Superior State women's and men's basketball games, which will also be played that day at the Berry Events Center in Marquette.