Seniors will guide Lakers into the home stretch

By LINDA BOUVET, LSSU Sports Information Director

Lake Superior State coach Jim Roque and his staff have a recruiting philosophy that revolves around finding players who can fill specific needs and be regular contributors in the lineup. The seven members of this year’s senior class realize how important it is that they all factor into the Lakers’ success on the ice.

“There is so much character in our senior class,” said LSSU captain and points leader Rick Schofield. “Aside from Beamer’s injury, we’re all playing and getting a lot of ice time. That says a lot for the seniors, that we’re leading on the ice and off. And we’re all good students. People respect us. There are always six guys stretching before practice, and it’s all the old guys. It brings us closer.”

Schofield lamented the season-ending injury suffered senior Brian Mahoney-Wilson, who was expected to be the Lakers’ No. 1 goaltender this season.

“You have to feel sorry for the guy,” noted senior forward Chad Nehring. “He’s a hard-working kid, and any team would want a kid like him for what he does on the ice and his off-ice training. He’s already working hard to get back to the ice. It’s tough to see him end his college career like that.”

“He’s already planning his next step,” Schofield said. “I’ve never seen anyone work so hard off the ice and on, or even in the classroom. He’s a great student. I know he’ll do great after college.”

LSSU’s senior class, which also includes defenemen Dillin Stonehouse and Matt Cowie, Schofield’s linemate Will Acton, and Nehring’s linemate Tyson Hobbins, has a combined grade point average of 3.215. As a group, they are among the most-accomplished students to come through the Laker hockey program.

“We are a really close team and even closer as a class,” Acton said. “We came in and rode some ups and downs together. We are certainly very tight-knit, and the next couple weeks will be special for all of us.”

LSSU is 4-5-5 during the second half of the season, including a 1-3-4 record and two shootout victories during its last eight home games. With the exception of Friday’s 8-1 loss to eighth-ranked Miami, the Lakers have improved defensively.

“We’re not really giving up a lot,” Acton said prior to the Miami series. “We’ve come a long way in terms of defending, always keeping the opponent on the outside. A lot of that comes from great first passes out of our end, and we don’t turn the puck over nearly as much. We’re not giving teams second chances like we have in the past. It is something we can still improve on. Especially since Miami is here, we can’t be giving a team like them second and third opportunities. That’s another key point to us moving forward.”

One of the Lakers’ most-improved defenders is Cowie. He totaled a team-leading seven points during the month of February.

“He’s probably one of the best defensemen we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Schofield said. “He has really stepped up, and brings that offensive ability too. He’s got great speed and a good shot, and he’s willing to do pretty much anything. He was player of the week (two weeks ago), and he deserved it. He sets up a lot of plays. He’s always tenacious on the puck, and he works harder than anyone on the ice.”

Cowie forced the turnover that led to Stonehouse’s first goal of the season – an empty-netter against Alaska on Feb. 12.

“I don’t think he gets the recognition he deserves,” Schofield said about Stonehouse. “He’s a stay-at-home D man, smart with the puck and without it. He brings success to others and plays very down to earth. He’s not a defensive liability.”

Hobbins missed the Lakers’ first 14 games due to an injury. Nehring doesn’t think it’s a fluke that the Lakers have been successful with him in the lineup.

“We’ve been playing some of our better hockey during the second half,” Nehring said. “It’s almost like a resurgence for both of us. We have good chemistry and like working together.”

“He’s one of the guys you want on the team no matter where you are in life,” Schofield said of Nehring. “He works extremely hard off the ice and is always looking for ways to improve something. He’ll do anything you ask him to. He’ll stand in front of blocked shots with a smile on his face if it helps the team win. He’s unselfish, and has one of the hardest shots I’ve seen.

“In years past, Tyson has been asked to play every role (forward and defense),” Schofield continued. “To do that at the college level is amazing…He’s been playing great with Chad on the PK and has brought a lot more confidence to his game.”

Schofield and Acton are the Lakers’ undisputed leaders. Every player with whom they have been paired has had success. Schofield is on the verge of a 30-point season and is one point away from the 100-point career scoring milestone, and Acton is on track to match last year’s 20-plus point total despite missing five games due to an injury.

“They are the rocks of our team,” Nehring said. “They do everything right. They are really good players and will have good careers in the future. Everyone wants to follow a couple leaders like them.”