SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich - The Lake Superior State Lakers (3-5-0, 2-0-0 CCHA) are set to take on the Ferris State Bulldogs (2-8-2, 1-5-0 CCHA) in a two-game series that will kick off Friday night at Taffy Abel Arena before moving to Traverse City, Mich. for the inaugural Superior Ice Showdown on Saturday at Centre Ice Arena.
The Lakers enter the weekend coming off of a sweep of the Northern Michigan Wildcats in which they outscored NMU 10-1 across both games and resulted in a pair of CCHA weekly honors. First year goaltender Rorke Applebee (Chateauguay, Que.) was named CCHA Goaltender of the Week after stopping 62 of 63 shots, including the second shutout of his young career, and Nate Schweitzer was recognized as the league's defenseman of the week after a four-point weekend (1G,3A). The Lakers also boast the nation's leading penalty kill unit which stands at a perfect 32-32.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs will be looking to snap a five-game losing streak, including most recently being swept at the hands of Michigan Tech, and the next Ferris State victory will mark the 500th in the career of Bob Daniels.
Other stories to watch:
- LSSU leads the all-time series between the two programs 86-64-15, but last season, both teams split the season series 2-2. The Lakers came away with a decisive 5-1 victory on Dec. 16, 2023 in which Bakos recorded 4 assists. FSU would then sweep a weekend home-and-home series when the two teams met again in January prior to a 4-1 senior night victory for LSSU to end the season behind a 2-goal performance from Branden Piku to go along with 3 pionts from Connor Milburn.
- Schweitzer and Bushy enter the weekend leading the team in points with 6 each.
- Tritt, Bakos, and Ahlrik have each scored 3 goals on the season through 8 games.
- Bakos enters the weekend riding a career-best 3-game goal streak, and he scored the game-winner in both of LSSU's contests at NMU.
- 13 differnt Lakers have scored a goal so far this season with 18 having now recorded at least one point.
