Lakers head to No. 1 Miami
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Fresh off its first series sweep since last January, the Lake Superior State hockey team hits the road for a pair of games against No. 1-ranked Miami.
The Lakers (2-3-1 overall, 0-2-0 Central Collegiate Hockey Association) and league cluster opponent Miami (4-1-1 overall, 2-0-0 CCHA) face off at 7:35 p.m. Friday and 7:05 p.m. Saturday at Steve Cady Arena. Both games will be broadcast live on Yes-FM 99.5.
The Lakers are meeting a nationally-ranked team for the third time in four weeks. Minnesota-Duluth has moved up to third in the polls, while Notre Dame is 11th. Honorable mentions have gone to Michigan Tech, which is still unbeaten, and Colgate prior to losing two games to LSSU.
Last February, the Lakers lost 2-0 and 10-4 in Oxford, Ohio. LSSU returns all four of its goal scorers from the road series. Sophomore forward Domenic Monardo (3-3—6, 2010-11) netted two goals for the Lakers. LSSU’s other goals came from senior forward Chad Nehring (1-0—1, 2010-11) and sophomore forward Nick McParland (0-3—3, 2010-11).
Sixteen Miami players tallied at least one point during last season’s matchup, and 13 of those players this season, including nine who totaled two or more points. Andy Miele (3-9—12, 2010-11) netted three goals and two assists to lead the Redhawks past LSSU. Carter Camper (7-10—17, 2010-11), who leads Miami and the CCHA this season in overall points, tallied two goals and one assist last season.
Against CCHA opponents, Miele leads the conference with two goals and seven assists. Camper follows with 1-7—8. LSSU’s Will Acton is tied for fourth with 1-3—4.
LSSU last defeated Miami during the 2006-07 CCHA quarterfinals in Oxford. The Lakers are 0-4-0 at Miami since then.
Four Laker freshmen recorded their first collegiate points last weekend against Colgate. They were forwards Kyle Jean (0-2—2), Dan Radke (1-1—2), Colin Campbell (1-0—1) and defenseman Matt Bruneteau (0-1—1). Radke tallied his first career game-winner Saturday, while freshman goaltender Kevin Kapalka (1-1-0) totaled 26 saves for his first collegiate victory.
LSSU senior forward Rick Schofield is tied for third in the CCHA in overall points with 3-5—8, and Acton is tied for fifth with 1-6—7. Acton and Schofield are tied for fourth and sixth, respectively, in overall assists. Schofield is also tied for third in overall power-play points with 1-3—4, while sophomore forward Domenic Monardo is tied for eighth with 2-1—3. Sophomore Zach Trotman is tied for first in overall points by a defenseman with 3-3—6.
