After a week off the Lake Superior State Lakers ice hockey team heads south to face the Miami of Ohio Red Hawks in Oxford, Ohio. Miami is currently ranked number one in the nation and are firmly situated atop the CCHA standings a full ten points ahead of number two Michigan State. Lake Superior remains in the fourth position, tied with Norte Dame.
The Coach Jim Roque will have to direct the first game of the weekend without the teams individual points leader Rick Schofield who has to sit out a game as the result of a penalty in the Lakers last game against Notre Dame. The rest of the Lakers squad will have to find a way to get the puck past one of the best defenses anywhere. Miami goaltenders Cody Reichard and Connor Knapp are first and second respectively on the CCHA list of lowest goals against average and first and third respectively in win percentage. Add on a 90% penalty kill and the Red Hawks are tough to beat.
Miami is not invincible though. Chinks in their armor this year include losses to Michigan State, Bemidji State and a pair to Robert-Morris who the Lakers swept the weekend before they beat the Red Hawks.
While most media sources acknowledge that the Lake Superior State is having a good year they don’t seem to expect them to finish very strong. Win or lose this series could be one of the biggest of the season for the Lakers. Wins or ties confirm that they are indeed a team worthy of national notice and would be a major confidence boost while losses could be the motivation they need to head into their last three match ups of the season and the playoffs having something to prove.
Game audio is available through WYSS, 99.5 YES FM via their website. http://www.yesfm.net/
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