Lakers return home after 3-1 road stretch

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Lake Superior State returns home after a two-week road stretch with a 3-1 record and the Cappo Cup in hand.

The Lakers, who are also unbeaten (0-0-3-2) in their last three home games, play host to Alaska at 7:05 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Taffy Abel Arena. LSSU sits two points behind the Nanooks in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings. The Lakers (9-12-7 overall, 7-9-6-4 Central Collegiate Hockey Association) are tied with Ohio State for seventh place in the CCHA with 31 points, while Alaska is sixth with 33.

The Lakers lead the all-time series against the Nanooks, 24-12-5. At the Taffy Abel Arena, they are 18-7-0 against Alaska. During the 2009-10 season, they were 1-3-0 against the Nanooks, splitting the home series. LSSU won 4-3 and lost 3-2 at home on Nov. 21-22, 2009. Alaska swept the Feb. 19-20 series in Fairbanks, 4-0 and 5-1.

Senior forward Rick Schofield (12-15—27, 2010-11) led the Lakers last year against Alaska with 2-1—3. Senior forward Will Acton (7-11—18, 2010-11) and sophomore forward Ben Power (2-2—4, 2010-11) totaled 1-1—2. Sophomore forward Fred Cassiani (3-2—5, 2010-11) tallied two assists.

Alaska’s sophomore forward Andy Taranto totaled 2-7—9 during the 2009-10 cluster series. Freshman forward Cody Kunyk (10-11—21) is the Nanooks’ points leader this season, while Schofield leads the Lakers.

Schofield, who is ranked 10th in the CCHA in overall scoring and is tied for 10th in league scoring with 9-10--19, tallied power-play goals during both LSSU wins at NMU. Schofield (3-6--9) and sophomore forward Domenic Monardo (4-5--9) are tied for fifth in the CCHA in power-play points, while senior defenseman Matt Cowie (1-7--8) is tied for eighth.

LSSU special teams have improved dramatically during the past few weeks, jumping from 11th to fourth in power play percentage and from 10th to fifth in penalty killing since early January. LSSU didn’t allow a single power-play goal at BGSU and NMU (a combined 0-for-16). During the Lakers’ last six games, they are killing penalties at a 95.7 percent rate and are 11-for-36 on the power play for 30.6 percent.

Acton is on a six-game point-streak, with 5-3—8, Cowie (4-10—14) is on a five-game point-streak with 0-7—7. Cowie is in double digits in points for the first time in his collegiate career. Cowie was named CCHA Defenseman of the Week after notching four assists against the Wildcats last weekend.

Freshman goaltender Kevin Kapalka (8-7-6-4) stopped 49-of-50 shots on goal at NMU to complete his second sweep and third shutout of the season. Kapalka is third in the CCHA in save percentage (.931), fifth in goals-against average (1.97), and seventh place in winning percentage (.556) when playing against league opponents. He received his third CCHA Rookie of the Week honor.

Special promotions: The Lakers are asking spectators to wear white to Friday’s game in support of the annual White Ribbon Campaign and ending violence against women. LSSU also welcomes area high school students to Saturday’s game as part of E.U.P. Schools Night. E.U.P. students with a valid high school I.D. will receive a free ticket to Saturday’s game and are invited for a pre-game campus tour and meal at the Quarterdeck. To register for the tour and dinner, call LSSU Admissions, 635-2644, or email Jeremy at jbelanger2@lssu.edu.

On behalf of the CCHA, LSSU will pay tribute to Hockey Day Hero Roger Parr during the second period Saturday. Parr is the heart and soul of the Sault’s mite initiation program.

During Saturday’s game the winner of the NCAA Midwest Regional ticket drawing will be announced. Fans still have a chance to register at the softball table during Friday’s game. To enter, buy a program from the LSSU softball team and fill out the entry form.

Note: This week’s edition of ‘Inside the CCHA’ is now available to link or download.  Guests are Miami goalie Cody Reichard, Lake Superior captain Rick Schofield and CBS College Sports Network analyst Dave Starman. The following link will take you to the interview: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ccha/insidetheccha020811.wma