Final farewell to the Laker seniors

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - After being swept at No. 1 Miami, 2-0 and 10-4, the Lake Superior State (14-11-5, 9-10-3-2 Central Collegiate Hockey Association) returns home for its last regular-season home series against Ferris State (17-9-4, 11-7-4-3 CCHA). Friday and Saturday's games will be at 7:05 P.M.

The Lakers are 6-5-1 against CCHA opponents at the Taffy Abel Arena, while Ferris is 3-4-3 on the road against CCHA teams. The Bulldogs started out winning their first 11 home games, but are 1-3-1 in their last five.

LSSU leads the all-time record at home against the Bulldogs, 31-17-7. Last season, the Lakers split with Ferris State, winning 2-1 and losing 4-3, in Big Rapids.

The Lakers return four of their five goal scorers from last year's series. Senior forward Zac MacVoy (6-14-20) totaled two goals and two assists in the series. Junior defender Matt Cowie (2-5-7) and sophomore forward Fred Cassiani (5-9-14) both netted one goal. Senior forward Brad Cooper (4-3-7) added two assists and junior forwards Rick Schofield (13-11-24) and Tyson Hobbins (2-4-6) added one apiece.

Ferris State returns six of its eight point grabbers from last season's series. Bulldogs points leader Blair Riley (17-13-30) along with Aaron Lewicki (8-8-16) netted one goal and one assist last season against LSSU. Mike Fillinger (1-2-3) and Zach Redmond (5-17-22) both scored one goal, while Justin Menke (6-5-11) added two assists and Cody Chupp (7-17-24) added one.

In the last 10 meetings between the Bulldogs and Lakers, LSSU is 5-3-2. Three out of those 10 games include CCHA first-round playoff games. LSSU defeated Ferris two games to one in the 2006-07 Playoffs and earned a trip to Joe Louis Arena for the CCHA Championships.

In the last 10 games this season LSSU is 4-4-2 and Ferris Sate is 3-5-2. The Lakers' longest unbeaten streak this season was eight games, LSSU was 6-0-2. The FSU unbeaten streak was 10 games (8-0-2).

This weekend's festivities include a "Whiteout" during Friday's game in support of the White Ribbon Campaign and "men against violence against women." The event includes several on-campus and off-campus sponsors, including LSSU Activities Board, Student Government and Inter-Greek Council, Madigan/Pingatore Insurance, Gillett, Halvorsen & Leonhardt, United Way, Parker's Ace Hardware and Don Wilson Insurance. White t-shirts will be handed out to the first 600 fans Friday.

The "Road to the Joe" Tour will make its way to the Taffy Abel Arena for Saturday's game. The CCHA Championship trophy will be on display, and a set of CCHA Championship tickets will be given away. After Saturday's game, fans and teammates will pay tribute to LSSU seniors Steven Kaunisto, Brad Cooper, Simon Gysbers, John Scrymgeour, Pat Aubry, Zac MacVoy, Pat Inglis and Mitch Edmondson.

Catch the Laker action live on 99.5 Yes FM beginning with the pre-game show at 6:05 P.M. A free audio feed is available on www.yesfm.net. A pay-per-view video feed is available on the B2 Network.