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Mercyhurst Lakers men's ice hockey
Hockey current event Current season
Mercyhurst Lakers men's ice hockey athletic logo
University Mercyhurst University
Conference AHA
Head coach Rick Gotkin
33rd season, 564–447–95 (.553)
Arena Mercyhurst Ice Center
Capacity: 1,500
Location Erie, Pennsylvania
Colors Forest Green and Navy Blue[1]
         
NCAA Tournament appearances
1991, 1993, 1995, 2001, 2003, 2005
Conference Tournament championships
1995, 2001, 2003, 2005
Conference regular season championships
2014
Current uniform
AHA-Uniform-MC

The Mercyhurst Lakers men’s ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association hockey team that represents Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania under Head Coach Rick Gotkin. The team is currently a Division I hockey team playing out of the Mercyhurst Ice Center located on the school campus. The Mercyhurst Lakers started out as a club sport at the school, moving up to Division III, followed by Division II, and now plays Division I in the Atlantic Hockey Association conference. After joining their step up into Division I in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in 1998, the Lakers have won their conference tournament making NCAA tournament appearances in 2001, 2003, and 2005.

History[]

Club Sport[]

Student, Chris Cuzzola, who was a student at Mercyhurst playing club hockey at Gannon University, happened to talk to former president of Mercyhurst University, William Garvey, about hockey.[2] As a result of this, hockey would be instated as a club sport competing in the Erie Senior Hockey League for the 1986-1987 season.[3] The coach for the first club season was Bob Cisek who was a Mercyhurst professor at the time. At the club level in the Erie Senior Hockey League, the Lakers went 15-0-3, finishing first in the league.[4]

Division II & Division III[]

After just 1 year at the club level, the Mercyhurst Lakers began an independent trial run at the varsity level, Division III in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) South hockey league. Mercyhurst Athletic Director John Leisering stated, “The administration was immediately enthusiastic about a possible move to varsity status and with the support of the hockey people, the move was approved after just a few months.”[5]

Named head coach for the Lakers in their first season at the Division III level was Fred Lane. Lane was one of the founding members for the Gannon University Golden Knights club hockey and was affiliated with the Gannon hockey program since 1967. As a player, he was Most Valuable Player his sophomore, junior, and senior years and coached the team in 1973 returning in 1978. In 10 seasons as the head coach for the Golden Knights, Lane had a record of 153-47-14 winning 2 Western Pennsylvania College Hockey Association league championships, 6 division championships, and was named WPCHA coach of the year 3 times. In addition to coaching, he was a member of the Amateur Hockey Association of the United States (AHAUS) and the Ontario Coaches Association.[3]

Along with Head Coach Fred Lane, was Associate Coach Bob Cisek who ran the program a year ago at the club level. For the 1987-1988 season, the Lakers had a very competitive schedule in their first season as a Division III team playing a combination of both club and varsity teams. The Lakers opened up their first NCAA Division III season on Saturday, October 31 at West Chester University of Pennsylvania playing their home games at both the Erie Civic Center and Glenwood Ice Rink.[6] The highlight of the season being the game against Division I Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's ice hockey on November 25[6] which they lost 7-3. With 18 of the 28 players being freshmen on the team, Mercyhurst Lakers ended their first varsity season going 16-7-0.[7]

Following the 1987-1988 season, on April 29 of 1988, Mercyhurst College Athletic Director John Leisering named Rick Gotkin as head coach of the team saying, “Rick’s playing, coaching, and recruiting credentials were just the mix Mercyhurst was looking for.”[8] At 28 years of age, Rick Gotkin comes from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, which played at the Division I level in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference where Gotkin served as Assistant Varsity Hockey Coach for the past 2 years (1986-1988). Before Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Gotkin was a coach at SUNY-Brockport (Division III), coached the Enschede Lions in the Netherlands, was Head Coach at SUNY-Canton (NCAA-Junior College), and was Head Coach of the Fife Flyers of the British Hockey League. After coaching Rensselaer, was hired as Head Coach for the Mercyhurst Lakers.[8]

For the 1988-1989 season, the Mercyhurst Lakers played in the ECAC-West Division alongside SUNY-Brockport, Canisius College, SUNY-Fredonia, SUNY-Potsdam and St. Bonaventure University.[8] In the Lakers first full season as an NCAA Division III program, the Lakers took a record of 11-16-1 under new Head Coach Rick Gotkin.[7] The first time the Lakers would be ranked was in the 1990-1991 season where they ranked 9th in the short history of the team.[9] During the 1991-1992, the Mercyhurst Lakers opened up their new rink on campus, the Mercyhurst Ice Center. According to the first Division II poll released, the Mercyhurst Lakers ranked 2nd in the 1992-1993 season only behind Bemidji State University.[10] In that season, the Lakers finished with 2 wins and 3 losses against Division I teams. The wins coming against Kent State University and the University of Alabama-Huntsville and the losses coming from Kent State and two from the University of Alaska-Anchorage.[10] The first time the team would be ranked 1st in their history was in December 1994.[11] In the 1994-1995 season, the Lakers went 23-3-2 coming out with their first ever ECAC-West division championship and placing second in the NCAA Division II play-offs.[12]

In September 1997, while the Meryhurst Lakers were playing in the ECAC-West division, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) rounded up 8 teams to form a Division I hockey conference. Joining the conferences of Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference, Hockey East, Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and Western Collegiate Hockey Association in NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey with 48 schools playing in 5 Division I conferences. The MAAC included Canisius College, Fairfield University, and Iona College (New York) as full members with American International College (AIC), University of Connecticut, Holy Cross College, Quinnipiac College, and Sacred Heart University as associate members with visions of Bentley University and Mercyhurst joining for the 1999-2000 season making the conference 10 teams.[13]

Division I[]

In May 1998, the Mercyhurst Board of Trustees approved the transition from Division II non-scholarship to play Division I ice hockey in the NCAA.[14] The Lakers ended their long association with the Eastern College Athletic Conference West division to play Division I hockey in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. In the Lakers first full season at the Division I level in the 1999-2000 season, Mercyhurst went 20-14-2 with Rick Gotkin still as Head Coach of the team.[7] In 2003, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference reorganized to create the Atlantic Hockey Association with Quinnipiac, Connecticut, AIC, Canisius, Holy Cross, Sacred Heart, Bentley, Army Black Knights, and Mercyhurst as the 9 members of the league.

Currently the Atlantic Hockey Association contains 11 teams; Mercyhurst, AIC, Niagara University, Robert Morris University, Air Force Falcons, Army, Canisius, Sacred Heart, Bentley, Holy Cross, and Rochester Institute of Technology.

Season-by-season results[15][]

All-time coaching records[]

As of the completion of 2019–20 season[15]

Tenure Coach Years Record Pct.
1987–1988 Fred Lane 1 16–7–0 .696
1988–Present Rick Gotkin 32 564–447–95 .553
Totals 2 coaches 33 seasons 580–454–95 .556

Awards and honors[]

NCAA[]

All-Americans[]

AHCA Second Team All-Americans


ECAC West[]

Individual Awards[]

Player of the Year

Rookie of the Year

All-Conference Teams[]

First Team All-ECAC

  • 1990–91: Scott Burfoot, F
  • 1992–93: Andrew Moir, D
  • 1995–96: Kevin McKinnon, F

Second Team All-ECAC

  • 1992–93: Rob Madia, F
  • 1994–95: Justin Proud, D
  • 1996–97: John Evangelista, F
  • 1997–98: John Evangelista, F


MAAC[]

Individual Awards[]

Defensive Player of the Year

  • Paul Colontino, D: 2000

Goaltender of the Year

Offensive Rookie of the Year

Coach of the Year

Tournament Most Valuable Player

  • Jeff Gould: 2001
  • David Wrigley: 2003

All-Conference Teams[]

First Team All-MAAC

  • 1999–00: Paul Colotino, D
  • 2000–01: Peter Aubry, G; Eric Ellis, F
  • 2001–02: Peter Aubry, G; Louis Goulet, F

Second Team All-MAAC

  • 1999–00: Eric Ellis, F; Louis Goulet, F
  • 2000–01: Jody Robinson, D; Louis Goulet, F; Tom McMonagle, F
  • 2001–02: Adam Tackaberry, F
  • 2002–03: T. J. Kemp, D; Rich Hansen, F

MAAC All-Rookie Team


Atlantic Hockey[]

Individual Awards[]

Player of the Year

Rookie of the Year

  • Ben Cottreau: 2005
  • Taylor Holstrom: 2011
  • Lester Lancaster: 2016

Best Defensive Forward

  • Scott Reynolds, F: 2005
  • Dan O'Donoghue, F: 2014
  • Jack Riley, F: 2018
  • Joshua Lammon, F: 2019

Best Defenseman

Individual Sportsmanship Award

  • Chris Risi, F: 2010
  • Nick Jones: 2014
  • Bryan Sienerth: 2018

Regular Season Goaltending Award

Regular Season Scoring Trophy

Coach of the Year

Most Valuable Player in Tournament

  • Scott Champagne: 2005


All-Conference Teams[]

First Team All-Atlantic Hockey

Second Team All-Atlantic Hockey

  • 2003–04: Mike Carter, F; David Wrigley, F
  • 2004–05: Conrad Martin, D; David Wrigley, F
  • 2005–06: Ben Cottreau, F
  • 2007–08: Ben Cottreau, F
  • 2008–09: Ryan Zapolski, G; Steve Cameron, F; Matt Pierce, F
  • 2009–10: Brandon Coccimigilo, F
  • 2010–11: Ryan Zapolski, G
  • 2012–13: Ryan Misiak, F
  • 2013–14: Dan O'Donoghue, F
  • 2014–15: Ryan Misiak, F
  • 2016–17: Derek Barach, F
  • 2017–18: Brandon Wildung, G; Joseph Duszak, D; Jack Riley, F; Derek Barach, F

Third Team All-Atlantic Hockey

  • 2008–09: Scott Pitt, F
  • 2009–10: Ryan Zapolski, G
  • 2010–11: Jeff Terminesi, D; Scott Pitt, F
  • 2011–12: Nick Jones, D
  • 2012–13: Matthew Zay, F
  • 2014–15: Daniel Bahntge, F
  • 2015–16: Derek Barach, F

Atlantic Hockey All-Rookie Team

  • 2003–04: Jamie Hunt, D
  • 2004–05: Ben Cottreau, F
  • 2005–06: Chris Trafford, F
  • 2006–07: Cullen Eddy, D
  • 2007–08: Jeff Terminesi, D
  • 2008–09: Phil Ginand, F
  • 2010–11: Taylor Holstrom, F
  • 2011–12: Tyler Shiplo, D; Dan Bahntge, F
  • 2014–15: Jack Riley, F
  • 2015–16: Lester Lancaster, D; Derek Barach, F
  • 2018–19: Josh McDougall, D

Mercyhurst Ice Center[]

Before the opening of the Mercyhurst Ice Center, the Mercyhurst Lakers played their games at the Erie Civic Center and Glenwood Ice Rink. Due to constantly being on the road, the Lakers team referred to themselves as “The Boys On The Bus”. Needing a rink on campus, Mercyhurst President, William Garvey, found a deal to fund the building for a rink on campus.[16] On December 8, 1991, the Lakers began to play in the Mercyhurst Ice Center located on the Mercyhurst University campus.[17] They opened the new rink against the Rochester Institute of Technology that they lost 5-4.[7]

Notable alumni[]

Jamie Hunt, Mercyhurst 2003-2006.[18] Nick Jones, Mercyhurst 2010-2014.[18] T.J. Kemp, Mercyhurst 2001-2005.[18] Ryan Zapolski, Mercyhurst 2007-2011.[18]

Current roster[]

As of August 31, 2020.[19]

# S/P/C Player Class Pos Height Weight DoB Hometown Previous team NHL rights
1 Flag of Texas Lenz, MattMatt Lenz Freshman G 5' 11" (1.8 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1999-06-02 Grapevine, Texas Steinbach (MJHL)
2 Flag of Ontario Townend, CadeCade Townend Sophomore D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1999-06-17 Carleton Place, Ontario Carleton Place (CCHL)
3 Flag of Texas Johnson, KimballKimball Johnson Freshman D 6' 0" (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1999-06-23 Coppell, Texas Minnesota Wilderness (NAHL)
4 Flag of Ontario Wichers, QuinnQuinn Wichers (C) Senior D 6' 4" (1.93 m) 217 lb (98 kg) 1997-08-19 Metcalfe, Ontario Kemptville (CCHL)
5 Flag of New York Bevilacqua, MichaelMichael Bevilacqua (A) Junior D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1997-05-07 Hamburg, New York Green Bay (USHL)
6 Flag of Pennsylvania Briere, CarsonCarson Briere Freshman F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1999-09-23 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Trail (BCHL)
7 Flag of Ontario Daniels, DevonDevon Daniels Junior D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1998-04-28 Thunder Bay, Ontario Ottawa (CCHL)
8 Flag of Ontario Norton, OwenOwen Norton Junior D 5' 9" (1.75 m) 161 lb (73 kg) 1998-06-19 Ancaster, Ontario Surrey (BCHL)
9 Flag of New York Cmunt, JustinJustin Cmunt Sophomore F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1998-01-28 East Amherst, New York Shreveport (NAHL)
10 Flag of Ontario Kitt, GeoffGeoff Kitt Junior F 6' 3" (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1997-02-09 Dryden, Ontario Carleton Place (CCHL)
11 Flag of Ohio Ipri, StevenSteven Ipri Junior F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 155 lb (70 kg) 1998-03-13 Broadview Heights, Ohio Lone Star (NAHL)
12 Flag of Minnesota Heidemann, AustinAustin Heidemann Freshman F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1999-06-27 Maple Grove, Minnesota Sioux City (USHL)
13 Flag of Pennsylvania Maust, PaulPaul Maust Sophomore F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1998-06-24 Butler, Pennsylvania Green Bay (USHL)
14 Flag of Ohio Feduolov, GueorguiGueorgui Feduolov Sophomore F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1998-12-10 Mentor, Ohio Shreveport (NAHL)
15 Flag of Ontario Spagnuolo, DanteDante Spagnuolo Sophomore F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 178 lb (81 kg) 1998-09-04 Newmarket, Ontario North York (OJHL)
16 Flag of Ontario Stockie, AshtonAshton Stockie Sophomore F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1999-07-15 Stratford, Ontario North York (OJHL)
18 Flag of Pennsylvania Hunter, DaltonDalton Hunter Junior F 6' 3" (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1997-09-26 Greensburg, Pennsylvania Dubuque (USHL)
19 Flag of Illinois Dahm, GarrettGarrett Dahm Freshman F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 2000-06-29 Belleville, Illinois Youngstown (USHL)
20 Flag of Ontario Stewart, KeananKeanan Stewart Freshman F 6' 3" (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 2000-04-29 Elmira, Ontario Burlington (OJHL)
21 Flag of New Jersey Acosta, KhristianKhristian Acosta Sophomore F 5' 8" (1.73 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1998-05-05 Port Monmouth, New Jersey Tri-City (USHL)
22 Flag of Ontario Schneider, BrendanBrendan Schneider Sophomore F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1998-08-26 Wellesley, Ontario Merritt (BCHL)
23 Flag of New Jersey Bendorf, JonathanJonathan Bendorf Sophomore F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1999-02-26 Yardville, New Jersey Aberdeen (NAHL)
24 Flag of Minnesota Reifenberger, MarkoMarko Reifenberger Freshman F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1999-01-19 Hastings, Minnesota Minnesota Magicians (NAHL)
25 Flag of Ontario Maziarz, JosephJoseph Maziarz Sophomore D 5' 11" (1.8 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1999-02-23 Waterloo, Ontario North York (OJHL)
27 Flag of Wisconsin Watson, CarverCarver Watson Sophomore D 5' 11" (1.8 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1998-03-03 Appleton, Wisconsin Vernon (BCHL)
28 Flag of Saskatchewan McDougall, JoshJosh McDougall Junior D 5' 10" (1.78 m) 187 lb (85 kg) 1998-06-19 Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Nipawin (SJHL)
29 Flag of Minnesota Johnson, HankHank Johnson Senior G 6' 1" (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1996-01-10 Minneapolis, Minnesota Bemidji State (WCHA)
31 Flag of Missouri McClellan, KyleKyle McClellan Freshman G 6' 1" (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1999-03-18 Manchester, Missouri Omaha (USHL)
34 Flag of New York Kane, NoahNoah Kane Freshman F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1999-11-27 Buffalo, New York Maine (NAHL)
38 Flag of Ontario Sheriff, DanteDante Sheriff Freshman F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1999-08-04 Brampton, Ontario Austin (NAHL)

Lakers in the NHL[]

Player Position Team(s) Years Stanley Cups
Jamie Hunt Defenseman WSH 2006–2007 0

See also[]

References[]

  1. Mercyhurst Laker Football 2016 Quick Facts. Retrieved on September 11, 2016.
  2. (January 2013) The Foundations of a University: Mercyhurst In The Twentieth Century. Erie, PA: Mercyhursty University, 320–321. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Lane Named Hurst Hockey Coach", Mercyhurst University, January 20, 1987. 
  4. "Hockey Team Set For Varsity Campaign", Mercyhurst University, October 28, 1987. 
  5. "Central's Sciarrino Going To Mercyhurst For Hockey", September 17, 1987. 
  6. 6.0 6.1 "Laker Hockey Team Begins First Season On Varsity Level", Mercyhurst University, October 15, 1987. 
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Mercyhurst Team History. Retrieved on 7 March 2019.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Mercyhurst Names New Hockey Coach", Mercyhurst University, April 29, 1988. 
  9. "Lakers Ranked For First Time In History", Mercyhurst University, February 11, 1991. 
  10. 10.0 10.1 "NCAA Ranks Lakers #2 In Division II", Mercyhurst University, January 4, 1993. 
  11. "Laker Hockey Team Ranked #1 in NCAA Division II", Mercyhurst University. 
  12. "Lakers Open Camp For 1995-96 Season", Mercyhurst University, October 13, 1995. 
  13. "The MAAC Hockey League Story". 
  14. "1999-2000 Season Outlook", Mercyhurst University, 1999. 
  15. 15.0 15.1 "Mercyhurst 2004-05 men's ice hockey Guide", Mercyhurst Lakers. Retrieved on 2018-11-27. 
  16. (January 2013) The Foundations of a University: Mercyhurst In The Twentieth Century. Erie, PA: Mercyhurst University, 398–399. 
  17. "Mercyhurst Opens Ice Center; Hosts Rochester Institute of Technology", Mercyhurst University, December 8, 1991. 
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Mercyhurst College Hockey Alumni Report. Retrieved on 7 March 2019.
  19. 2020–21 Men's Ice Hockey Roster. Mercyhurst Athletics. Retrieved on July 19, 2018.

External links[]

This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at Mercyhurst Lakers men's ice hockey. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Ice Hockey Wiki, the text of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License 3.0 (Unported) (CC-BY-SA).


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