May 1, 2008

Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst men's hockey coach Rick Gotkin's 2008-2009 schedule, released today, mirrors those of his prior 20 years - exciting and challenging. The Lakers, Atlantic Hockey playoff runners-up in March, will play 15 games at the Mercyhurst Ice Center, including a preseason exhibition, and 22 away contests.

In addition to the usual 28 conference games, the schedule includes eight independent contests and an October 5 home exhibition game against Canada's Royal Military College (RMC).

"After the way we finished this past season, I think we're all excited for 2008-09", Gotkin said. "The independent schedule is designed for one purpose: to get us ready to play in our conference which gets better and better with each passing year. We'll get the opportunity to play before hostile crowds and see how competitive we are against teams from the CCHA, WCHA. ECAC, and, perhaps, Hockey East. The conference should be balanced again next season. There are no easy nights."

Mercyhurst begins the regular season with eight straight road games. The Lakers start October 10 and 11 with first-ever meetings with St. Cloud State (WCHA). The Huskies finished 19-16-5 a year ago and were ranked in both national polls at season's end. From there it's north to Alaska (Fairbanks; CCHA) and a two-day event that will pair the Lakers against the host team October 17 and against Alaska Anchorage (WCHA) the following night. Mercyhurst hasn't played Alaska Fairbanks since the 1990-91 canpaign when it was a member of Division III and lost road games to the Nanooks by scores of 9-2 and 4-2. The Seawolves also own a 2-0 record against Meercyhurst thanks to 4-1 and 7-3 home wins during the 1992-93 season.

Mercyhurst heads west the following weekend to test the Mavericks of Nebraska-Omaha (CCHA) for the first time. The eight-game trip ends two weeks later when the Lakers start Atlantic Hockey play at Holy Cross.

Four home conference games follow when Bentley and Army, the 2007 regular season champ, visit. The Falcons open the home campaign November 14 and 15 while Army comes to town November 21 and 22.

Mercyhurst winds up independent action November 28 and 29 when it visits Troy, NY for the annual RPI Tournament. The Lakers battle RPI (ECAC) on Friday and will get either Princeton (ECAC), which finished last season with 21 wins and a national ranking, or Northeastern (Hockey East) the second night. Mercyhurst has won once in five tries against RPI, but hasn't played the Engineers in three years. Mercyhurst has never played Princeton and is 0-2 against Northeastern.

After RPI, 22 conference games conclude the campaign, six of which (five road) will be played before Christmas.

Mercyhurst begins the New Year with a pair of road games at Army before enjoying eight successive conference games in Erie. The Lakers especially hope to play well during that stretch since five of the last six are out of town.

The Atlantic Hockey Association Playoffs will start the weekend of March 6.

Mercyhurst finished 15-19-7 overall last season and 11-10-7 in the conference and fifth place. A gallant bid to play in the NCAA Tournament for a seventh time in the team's hostory ended with a 5-4 double overtime loss to Air Force in mid-March.

Mercyhurst loses only three players to graduation.

2008-09 Mercyhurst Men's Hockey Schedule
(all times eastern)

Date Opponent Time Location
Oct 5 Royal Military College (Exh) 7:05 p.m. Erie, Pa.
Oct 10 @ St. Cloud State 8:07p.m. St. Cloud, Minn.
Oct 11 @ St. Cloud State 8:07p.m. St. Cloud, Minn.
Oct 17 @ Alaska Fairbanks% 11:35p.m. Fairbanks, Alaska
Oct 18 vs. Alaska Anchorage% 8:35p.m. Fairbanks, Alaska
Oct 24 @ Nebraska-Omaha 8:05p.m. Omaha, Neb.
Oct 25 @ Nebraska-Omaha 8:05p.m. Omaha, Neb.
Nov 7 @ Holy Cross* 7:05p.m. Worcester, Mass.
Nov 8 @ Holy Cross* 7:05p.m. Worcester, Mass.
Nov 14 Bentley* 7:05 p.m. Erie, Pa.
Nov 15 Bentley* 7:05 p.m. Erie, Pa.
Nov 21 Army* 7:05 p.m. Erie, Pa.
Nov 22 Army* 7:05 p.m. Erie, Pa.
Nov 28 @ RPI# 7:00p.m. Troy, N.Y.
Nov 29 @ RPI Tournament# 4/7:00p.m. Troy, N.Y.
Dec 5 @ American International* 7:05p.m. Springfield, Mass.
Dec 6 @ American International* 7:05p.m. Springfield, Mass.
Dec 12 @ RIT* 7:05p.m. Rochester, N.Y.
Dec 13 @ RIT* 7:05p.m. Rochester, N.Y.
Dec 19 Canisius* 7:05 p.m. Erie, Pa.
Dec 20 @ Canisius* 7:05p.m. Buffalo, N.Y.
Jan 9 @ Army* 7:05p.m. West Point, N.Y.
Jan 10 @ Army* 7:05p.m. West Point, N.Y.
Jan 16 Sacred Heart* 7:05 p.m. Erie, Pa.
Jan 17 Sacred Heart* 7:05 p.m. Erie, Pa.
Jan 23 UConn* 7:05 p.m. Erie, Pa.
Jan 24 UConn* 7:05 p.m. Erie, Pa.
Jan 30 Air Force* 7:05 p.m. Erie, Pa.
Jan 31 Air Force* 7:05 p.m. Erie, Pa.
Feb 6 American International* 7:05 p.m. Erie, Pa.
Feb 7 American International* 7:05 p.m. Erie, Pa.
Feb 13 @ UConn* 7:05p.m. Storrs, Conn.
Feb 14 @ UConn* 7:05p.m. Storrs, Conn.
Feb 20 @ Bentley* 7:05p.m. Waltham, Mass.
Feb 21 @ Bentley* 7:05p.m. Waltham, Mass.
Feb 27 @ Canisius* 7:05 p.m. Buffalo, N.Y..
Feb 28 Canisius* 7:05p.m. Erie, Pa.
March 6-8 Atlantic Hockey Playoffs Begin 7:05p.m. Campus Sites

* denotes Atlantic Hockey opponent
% Alaska Tournament (Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska Anchorage, Maine, Mercyhurst)
# RPI Tournament (Mercyhurst, Northeastern, Princeton, Rensselaer)