LSSU takes on UM-D and MTU during fourth annual Superior Cup

SAULT STE. MARIE - Heading into its fourth year, the Superior Cup continues to be one of the most-highly anticipated college hockey events of the season, particularly for the three Upper Peninsula schools. The four teams along the Lake Superior shoreline make for a natural rivalry.

The 2010 Superior Cup begins at 7:05 p.m. Friday at Taffy Abel Arena with LSSU taking on ninth-ranked Minnesota-Duluth and concludes at 7:05 p.m. Saturday with a match-up between the Lakers and Michigan Tech. Both games will be broadcast live on Yes-FM 99.5. A pay-per-view video feed is available on the B2 Network via www.lssulakers.com.

Minnesota-Duluth holds a slight edge over the competition with a 3-1-2-1 all-time Superior Cup record, while Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan are both 3-3-0-0, and Lake Superior State is 1-3-2-0. The 2010 Superior Cup is the highlight of LSSU’s annual Great Lake State Weekend.

LSSU’s current seniors played in the three previous Superior Cups, and it’s no surprise that scoring standouts Chad Nehring (2-3--5) and Rick Schofield (1-4--5) lead the Lakers in points, followed by Will Acton (0-3--3). Last season, Nehring contributed two goals and an assist, and Schofield added a goal and two assists as the Lakers lost 4-3 to Minnesota-Duluth and beat Michigan Tech 3-1.

Last Saturday, after holding its first official practice of the 2010-11 season earlier that morning, LSSU fell behind 2-0 in the first period and lost a 5-4 exhibition home contest to Western Ontario. Sophomore forward Domenic Monardo led the Lakers with two goals and an assist. LSSU out-shot UWO, 41-18, but the more-seasoned Mustangs had an answer for every Laker attack. The following night, fourth-ranked Michigan beat UWO, 4-2.

In other exhibition games last weekend, UM-D and the Minnesota Whitecaps tied 3-3 with the Bulldogs winning the shootout 3-2 in seven rounds, and Michigan Tech beat Nipissing, 5-3. Minnesota-Duluth’s top-returning scorers are junior center Jack Connolly (18-31—49), senior forward Justin Fontaine (21-25—46) and junior Mike Connolly (14-26—40). They are among six returning UM-D players with 10 or more goals.

MTU’s top-returning scorers are junior center Brett Olson (18-12—30) and sophomore defenseman Steven Seigo (4-15—19). Last season, the Huskies gave up an average of 4.10 goals per game.

Central Collegiate Hockey Association teams have a busy non-conference schedule this weekend. The only conference match-up pits Michigan at Bowling Green as legendary coach Red Berenson seeks his 700th career coaching victory. Other interesting contests include No. 2 North Dakota against No. 12 Alaska in Anchorage, and No. 8 New Hampshire at No. 3 Miami.

During Friday’s game, LSSU will recognize 2010 Alumni Association honorees Bob Kjolhede ‘76 (Outstanding Alumnus), Timothy A. Farmer Ph.D. CPA ‘79 (Ken Shouldice Achievement Award), Steve Eles ‘03 (Paul Ripley Award for Young Alumni), and Peter and Georgia Gianakura (Dr. Donald and Catherine Finlayson Distinguished Citizen Award). Saturday, LSSU will introduce the 2010 Bud and Mary Mansfield Parent of the Year Award winner Suzzanne Luton.