Tough road test for LSSU Lakers
Lake Superior State University Lakers face a daunting duo of road tests on Friday and Saturday as they go up against Western Collegiate Hockey Association foes from Bowling Green State University.
The Lakers are off to an 0-2 start in conference play and are 2-6 overall following last weekend’s two home losses to Alabama Huntsville.
Both games at Bowling Green this weekend against the Falcons, who are ranked 14th in the nation, will be broadcast live on radio station 99.5 YES-FM.
LSSU will be looking to right the good ship Laker, which seemed to be sailing smoothly following consecutive non-conference victories at home against Northern Michigan and at Michigan State in October. But three successive losses dashed LSSU’s hopes of finishing the opening month on a winning note.
Appearing on this week’s edition of the Laker Hockey Show, which airs on Mondays at 6 p.m. on radio station ESPN 1400, LSSU coach Damon Whitten spoke of the games ahead at Bowling Green.
“Yes it’s Bowling Green, the 14th-ranked team in the nation but really, there is no easy weekend. Every Friday and Saturday night comes another test,” said Whitten.
Despite the three losses in a row, Whitten noted that the Lakers “have been in every game so far this season.”
Younger players have been leading the Lakers offensively thus far this season.
Sophomore forward J.T. Henke leads the Lakers in scoring with 5 goals, 2 assists, 7 points and had the hat trick in a 5-4 overtime loss to Alabama Huntsville last Friday.
Next on the Laker scoring log are a pair of freshmen forwards, Mitch Hults and Gage Torrel. Hults has 3 goals, 2 assists, 5 points and Torrel has 2 goals, 3 assists, points.
Another Laker freshman, defenceman Owen Headrick from Garden River First Nation, has a goal and an assist and has played in all 8 games as the youngest player on the LSSU roster.
Of note, Laker freshmen have accounted for 10 of LSSU’s 18 goals thus far this season. The 10 goals are the most by any freshman class in the entire WCHA, according to LSSU sports information director Eddie Bishop.
Goaltending has not been a Laker strength, however.
Between sophomore Gordon Defiel and freshman Nick Kossoff, Laker goalies have a 3.62 goals against average and .872 save percentage in 8 games.
After this weekend, the Lakers return home to face Arizona State on November 13-14.
I like the direction the Lakers are headed in. It will take time, despite what the “Roquettes” say.