Lakers start 2010 with road series in Pittsburgh

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - Lake Superior State (10-7-3 overall, 7-6-1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association) heads to Robert Morris (3-10-3 overall, 1-4-2 College Hockey America Men) for its first series in the New Year. The Lakers will play Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m. at the RMU Island Sports Center.

The Lakers, for the second time this season, are on a four-game win streak. LSSU also won four games in a row from October 11-23.

LSSU is facing a College Hockey America team for the first time this season. In addition to match-ups with Robert Morris in 2008-09 and 2005-06, the Lakers also recently played CHA opponents in 2006-07 (Wayne State) and 2005-06 (Bemidji State).

LSSU leads the Colonials in the overall series, 3-1-0. This is the first time in school history that LSSU will travel to Pittsburgh to play Robert Morris.

Last season in Sault Ste. Marie, LSSU and RMU split the series. The Lakers defeated the Colonials 3-1 in the Friday game and lost 4-3 Saturday. Sophomore forwards Fred Cassiani and Dan Barczuk are the only returning Lakers who scored against the Colonials last season. They combined to tally three goals, and six returning Lakers totaled 10 points in the two games.

Junior forward Chad Nehring (11-3-14), who is third on the Lakers in points, is also tied for third on the CCHA overall goal-scoring list and tied for second in power-play goals with six. Junior forward Rick Schofield (9-9-18) leads the Lakers with 18 points and is on a five-game point streak. Schofield has four goals and three points in the last five games. Senior forward Zac MacVoy (4-12-16) is tied sixth on the CCHA assists list.

Nehring and Schofield are both Nationally ranked. Nehring is tied for seventh in power-play goals while Schofield is tied for fifth in game-winning goals with 3.

Laker Hockey will air live on Yes-FM 99.5 with a free audio feed on www.yesfm.net. Listen to the Pre-game show on Talk Radio 1400 at 6:00 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday. A pay-per-view feed is available on the B2 network..

The Lakers sit in fifth place in the CCHA with 22 points. LSSU returns to conference play Jan. 8-9 at Michigan State with televised games at 7:05 and 5:05 p.m.