Lakers open CCHA slate with Ohio State and second annual Pink in the Rink

SAULT STE. MARIE - "Hockey cares" is the theme of this weekend's Central Collegiate Hockey Association series between Lake Superior State and Ohio State along with the second annual Pink in the Rink. 

The Lakers (3-1-0) and Buckeyes (1-3-0) meet at 7:05 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Taffy Abel Arena. Both games will be broadcast live on Yes-FM 99.5 with an audio webcast on www.yesfm.net. A pay-per-view video feed is available on the B2 Network. The Laker Hockey Pregame Show will be broadcast live from Taffy Abel Arena beginning at 6 p.m. on WKNW AM 1400.

The Lakers will wear the custom-made pink jerseys during Saturday's contest. Instead of names on the jerseys, "Hockey Cares" will adorn each players' back. The jerseys will be sold during a silent auction.

Sault Ste. Marie's community spirit shined during the inaugural Pink in the Rink last November. More than $12,000 was raised and donated back to local women's health organizations. This year's event will include more vendors and plenty of pink. The first 1,000 fans who attend each night will receive free mardi gras pink beads and "Believe in Pink" placards. The first 250 fans who show up to Saturday's game will receive goodie bags that include one free chance to win gift baskets donated by local vendors. Tickets to win the gift baskets, along with t-shirts and other pink treats will be sold throughout the weekend.

"In everyone's families, someone has been tested by cancer," said LSSU coach Jim Roque in reference to his team's support of the cause. "For some, it's been closer to home for sure. But they've all gone through it and are all aware of it."

Roque and his players weren't aware of the first Pink in the Rink's overwhelming success until the post-game public skate that Saturday night. This year's Skate with the Lakers, by the way, will be held Oct. 31 following the Michigan game.

"The first one last year went off really well," Roque said. "We were thrilled with how much money was raised and with how the community stepped up for a cause."

LSSU heads into the series with a three-game win streak, five players who have already totaled four or more points and 11 players who have already scored a goal. The Lakers, who were 1-12 in one-goal games last season, are 1-1 so far in 2009-10.

"Ohio State is coming off a big win against (third-ranked) Denver," Roque said. "We'll definitely get to see how good we are."

After starting off with back-to-back home series against Quinnipiac and Denver, the Buckeyes are on the road for two straight weeks, heading to LSSU and Notre Dame. OSU was picked to finish fourth in the CCHA in the 2009-10 pre-season polls after finishing 23-15-4 and advancing to the NCAA Tournament in 2008-09.

OSU boasts five NHL draft picks, including this season's top scorer, Shane Sims (2-2-4), a junior defenseman who totaled 7-17-24 last season. Junior forwards John Albert (11-28-39), Hunter Bishop (14-17-31) and Peter Boyd (13-18-31) are the Buckeyes' top-returning scorers.

Last October in Columbus, Ohio, LSSU won the Friday night game 7-3 and lost the Saturday night contest 4-2. Fourteen different Lakers figured into the scoring during that series. Senior defenseman Steve Kaunisto was among the leaders with a goal and three assists, while junior forward Chad Nehring and sophomore forward Fred Cassiani had two goals each.