The Lakers trek to Alaska with CCHA top-four finish within reach
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Lake Superior State returns to Central Collegiate Hockey Association action after last Friday’s 4-3 exhibition win against the U.S. National Team Development Program’s Under-18 team. The Lakers make the long trip to Fairbanks, Alaska, to play for a chance to regain their status as a top-four team in the CCHA standings.
The Lakers and Nanooks meet at 11:05 p.m. EST at the Carlson Center. It will be LSSU’s first test of the season on an Olympic-size rink.
Lake State dropped to a seventh place tie with Michigan State after its bye week. LSSU is 14-11-5 overall and 9-9-4-4 in the CCHA, while Alaska is in 10th place with an overall record of 10-14-4 and a 7-13-4-2 CCHA mark. With 35 points, the Lakers are six points out of first place. Ferris State leads the conference with 41 points, but only four points separate the teams in places 2 through 8.
Miami, which is part of a three-way tie for fourth place, has the bye this week. In CCHA action, Ferris State plays at Notre Dame, Northern Michigan travels to Bowling Green State, Ohio State heads to Western Michigan, and Michigan State and Michigan meet in a home-and-Joe series.
LSSU leads the all-time record against the Nanooks, 25-12-6. On the road, the Lakers are 6-7-5, but they are 0-5-5 during their last 10 games at Alaska dating back to Jan. 17, 2003. The last time the Lakers won in Fairbanks was Dec. 9, 2000.
Last season, LSSU tied 2-2 and lost the shootout in three rounds, 2-0, then won 4-2 during a series played in Sault Ste. Marie.
Sophomore defenseman Andrew Perrault (0-6—6) scored a goal, and junior forward Ben Power (3-6—9) added an assist during the 2-2 tie. LSSU points leader Domenic Monardo (9-15—24) and senior defenseman Kyle Haines (4-13—17) netted single goals during the 4-2 victory.
Cody Kynuk leads Alaska and is tied for third in league scoring with 12-10—22, while Monardo is tied for 11th at 8-10—18. Both teams have three players ranked among the top 20 in CCHA goal scoring. For LSSU, junior Nick McParland is tied for eighth with nine, while Monardo and sophomore Kyle Jean are tied for 13th with eight each. Kynuk and Alaska junior forward Jarret Granberg have scored a combined nine power-play goals in league play.
This weekend’s series will also showcase a few high-scoring defensemen. Alaska’s Aaron Gens (2-15—17) and Michael Quinn (3-8—11) will go head-to-head with LSSU’s Zach Trotman (8-9—17) and Haines.
LSSU is fourth nationally (88.7) and third against CCHA opponents (88.0) in penalty killing. On the power-play, LSSU is second against league opponents (19.7). In league play, Alaska’s power play is ranked seventh (.152), while its penalty killing is ranked 10th (.800). The Lakers and Nanooks are nearly even in scoring offense and scoring defense.
LSSU sophomore netminder Kevin Kapalka is ninth in goals against average against CCHA opponents (2.50) and win percentage (.524), and seventh against CCHA opponents in save percentage (.923). Alaska senior Scott Greenham is 11th in goals-against (2.52) and save percentage (.904).
Both games will be broadcast live on 99.5 Yes FM via a feed. LSSU returns home for its last regular-season series Feb. 17-18 against Western Michigan. LSSU will pay tribute to seniors Fred Cassiani, Brian Cooper, Haines and Kyle Pobur following the Feb. 18 game.
