By Linda Bouvet, LSSU Sports Information Director

Junior forward Pat Aubry played a role in a few of Lake Superior State's most-memorable goals of the past two seasons. Like most athletes, however, it's the one he didn't score that haunts him the most and inspires him to work on his game every day.

Aubry was named LSSU's most-improved player as a freshman two years ago, when the Lakers made their first trip to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association semifinals at Joe Louis Arena in 11 years. During that season, he scored a goal during the Lakers' 3-2 home victory over Michigan and was one of two LSSU players who scored short-handed goals during the same power play in a 4-3 victory over Western Michigan.

Last season, he scored his first collegiate game-winning goal as the Lakers beat Bowling Green State 6-1 and tied the CCHA First-Round Playoff series, 1-1.

But BGSU's overtime goal during Game 3 of that series, the one that ended the Lakers' 2007-08 season, sticks in his head.

"Not for a good reason, obviously," Aubry said. "We weren't able to make it to the Joe. That was the best weekend, and the worst."

Aubry, a self-described defensive forward, doesn't reenact significant goals he scored, but memories of Joe Louis Arena are still fresh. He wouldn't mind a chance to relive them.

"Going to the Joe was amazing," he said. "Now we want to be back there. We want to be there every year...There is room for us in the top four and we want to be there. That's what we are striving for."

To make that happen, the Lakers' first step is to get off to a good start. So far this season, the Lakers are 2-3-1 overall with two CCHA series splits on the road. This weekend is their first CCHA test on home ice.

"Winning on Friday makes it a lot easier on Saturday," said Aubry, whose team has lost both Saturday CCHA games after winning on Friday so far this season. "Our confidence is a lot higher. We know every game in our conference is tough. If we put too much pressure on ourselves, it might not help us. We know we have to go out there and perform."

Aubry finished third on the team in faceoff wins last year and is currently tied for third with 24. Playing five years of junior hockey helped him develop his prowess in the faceoff circle. These days, as he continues to sharpen his skills, he finds that teammate Brad Cooper challenges him in practice.

"Experience is a big factor, and I think I'm getting better every day in practice," Aubry said. "Hopefully the offense will come. I've always been a defensive player. I don't mind getting the big penalty kill for the team, or winning the big draw in our end. Not having a minus on the night. I've also been trying to be more offensive. If I play a good defensive game, the offense will come."

Aubry began his long junior hockey tenure with the Ottawa Junior Senators. Former Laker Colin Nicholson and Aubry helped the Senators win the World Bank Cup in 2001. He finished his career as the No. 2 scorer for the Kanata Stallions of the Central Junior Hockey League.

Since arriving at LSSU in 2006, Aubry has roomed with goaltender Pat Inglis and the pair have been best friends pretty much since the day they met.

"I feel lucky to have met the guy," said Inglis, who finds that Aubry's easy-going nature complements the pressure-packed life of a goaltender. "We're a perfect fit, and now he's one of my best friends. He's a good student, and helps me when I need some help. During the last couple years we've had a lot of the same classes. We have similar personalities. The good thing about Pat is that he is a calm guy. He doesn't get too stressed out about things."

"He (Inglis) is under loads of stress, and he deals with it really well," Aubry said. "He's in a good mood most of the time. (The pressure of being a goaltender) doesn't seem to affect him. He deals with the stress really well."

"He'll always tell me the truth," noted Inglis, who is currently nursing an ankle injury. "If I need to ask someone about hockey, I'll ask him. By his reaction, I'll know what I need to do."

Inglis, a Calgary, Alberta, native, has family in Aubry's hometown of Ottawa, Ontario, and has spent part of the last two summers at Aubry's home. Aubry has also flown to Alberta so they could attend the Calgary Stampede in early July. Teammates Josh Sim and Rick Schofield joined them at the event this past summer.

"It was a blast," Inglis noted.