Lakers begin CCHA action at Notre Dame

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Lake Superior State begins a challenging Central Collegiate Hockey Association slate Thursday and Friday with a series against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.

In addition to traveling to Notre Dame this weekend, the Lakers (0-1-1) travel to Miami Oct. 29-30 and Michigan Nov. 19-20. Last season, the schedule seemed to favor the Lakers during the first half of the season, then toughen up with second-half including back-to-back season-ending series against Alaska and Northern Michigan.

The Lakers’ record during the first half of the 2009-10 season was 10-7-3-1 overall and 7-6-1-1 CCHA. The Lakers were 5-11-2 overall and 3-9-2 in the CCHA during the second half.

The Lakers have an overall record against Notre Dame of 25-23-7. The LSSU-UND series will be the only CCHA match-up this weekend. Both games are at 7:35 p.m. in South Bend, Ind., and will be broadcast live on Yes-FM 99.5.

Last January, LSSU lost 6-1 and tied 1-1 with a shootout victory during a home series against Notre Dame. Sophomore forward Domenic Monardo (1-3—4) scored the only shootout goal during the extra session.

LSSU is returning only one point grabber from the 2009-10 series against the Irish. Sophomore defenseman Zach Trotman (2-0—2 in 2010-11) netted LSSU’s only goal during the 1-1 tie. Notre Dame is returning four out of their five goal scorers from last season’s series. Notre Dame’s Calle Ridderwall, who is scoreless so far in 2010-11, netted a hat trick during the 6-1 victory over the Lakers.

The last time LSSU defeated Notre Dame was Dec. 17, 2005, in South Bend, Ind. The Lakers won that game, 4-0, but are 0-9-3 since then. On the road all-time against the Irish, LSSU is 16-11-6.

LSSU tied No. 7 Minnesota-Duluth, 6-6, and lost to Michigan Tech, 6-2, during last weekend’s Superior Cup. Seven Lakers contributed two or more points. Senior Rick Schofield (2-3—5), Monardo (1-3—4) and sophomore forward Nick McParland (0-3—3) led the team. Schofield, senior Will Acton and Monardo made up the Lakers’ top line.

Notre Dame finished 1-1 in last weekend’s IceBreaker in St. Louis, Mo., beating Holy Cross, 6-3, and losing to No. 10 Boston University, 5-4.