March 14, 2008

Mercyhurst men's ice hockey coach Rick Gotkin met with the media in a press conference Thursday afternoon at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, N.Y. His Lakers face Sacred Heart in the Atlantic Hockey Final Five play-in game at 7:05 p.m. Thursday evening.

On being in the Atlantic Hockey Final Five...
This is a great tournament, and it is a privilege to be in this setting and play in this venue with a terrific field. We have a daunting task going against a very good Sacred Heart team tonight.

On navigating the tournament...
We have great respect for (Sacred Heart). Getting through to the semifinals or the finals has not even crossed our minds. We aren't looking ahead. Our only concern is to beat a great Sacred Heart team.

On returning to the tournament after missing last year...
It is much better to be a part of the tournament this year and playing in it rather than sitting at home in beautiful Erie, Pa., watching it on my computer on the B2 Networks. Our team sets goals at the beginning of every season and one of them was to get back to this tournament and be in the top five.

On the possibility of having to play three games in a row...
This is a question that I'm sure will come up a lot this weekend. If I were playing, and I don't know, maybe I could still take two or three shifts, I'd be excited for the chance to play three days in a row. It would be exciting to play tomorrow, and if we could be a great Army team and get to the championship, I think the players will feed off of the energy of that. Our players are 20-years old and in their late teens, so I don't think fatigue is a hurdle. I'm excited to be playing tonight, though, rather than having to sit around for two or three days. This is a great setting for a tournament and a great city. But that might be a bigger challenge than going three days in a row. If we can get to the championship, the emotion and excitement and natural energy of the young players will overcome any fatigue.

On having a disadvantage after not playing in the tournament last year...
Atlantic Hockey and Blue Cross Arena gave us a chance to skate yesterday, and we've played in venues like this the last couple of seasons. It's a pro-type facility. I'm not sure what the crowd will be like tonight but if we can get through to play Army or play against an RIT team that is playing is playing so close to home, I would expect a great crowd and our kids feed off that. I don't see it as a disadvantage. We are just excited to be back and be a part of this tournament.