Seawolves vs. Mercyhurst: A Preview

Various sources peg Mercyhurst to finish in either 1st or 2nd place in the 09/10 Atlantic Hockey conference standings. The Lakers (From Erie, Pa on the shores of Lake Erie) are a veteran team sporting 21 returning letter-winners. Last season they finished 3rd in their conference with an overall record of 22-15-3.

The Seawolves defeated the Lakers last season in the Brice Goal Rush tournament in Fairbanks. The Seawolves gifted the Lakers 3 goals in the 1st period before scoring the next four goals to take the lead. A late 2nd period goal for Mercyhurst tied the game at 4 before UAA came out in the 3rd and absolutely dominated the Lakers allowing them only 1 shot while scoring twice for a 6-4 win.

It wasn't a pretty game to watch. I remember being appalled at some of the mistakes the Seawolves made. The end of the game was marred by an ugly intentional kneeing penalty by Laker Captain Ryan Toomey on Jade Portwood.

Toomey quit the Lakers not long after that (after he'd been granted a 5th season of NCAA eligibility), then he quit the Cincinnati Cyclones at the end of last December after being suspended. He went to Finland. That's probably best for him. The less jerk-off assholes playing hockey in North America the better.

The Lakers come in at #49 on the revised College Hockey News average weight chart. They are #57 on the average height chart. With a continued focus on physical play by the Seawolves, there will likely be a lot of moaning and groaning heard on whatever flight the Lakers take home after this weekend. That flight crew would be well-advised to stock some extra ice for the packs Mercyhurst players will likely be needing.

I don't want to sell the Lakers short. They've got a couple of guys that put the puck in the net often last year. #32 Steve Cameron, #22 Phil Ginand, #7 Scott Pitt, #12 Mike Gurtler, #26 Brandon Coccimiglio and #9 Chris Risi would be the players UAA fans might notice and are the likely scoring threats. Their goaltending looks to be solid with junior Ryan Zapolski likely to get the nod over sophomore Max Strang. Zapolski had an admirable .934 save percentage for 08/09 with a 2.22 gaa. Zapolski was not the goaltender versus UAA last season.

Though the eastern-centric media pegs the Lakers as some 15 teams better than UAA, there is every reason to expect a Seawolf victory on Friday night. The Lakers have little practice time under their belts. They did have an exhibition game last weekend versus Ontario IT, they won 3-2. The Seawolves have lots of practice time and have played an exhibition game. If we don't see a plethora of tired Mercyhurst legs in the 3rd period be very very surprised. The advantage of practicing early and UAA's significant size advantage mean that sans some sort of meltdown, the Seawolves will win this contest.

That statement by no means that UAA should take the Lakers for granted. All it takes to generate an upset in Division 1 hockey is for a goaltender to stand on his head. This Zapolski kid sounds capable of such. First shots will have to be good and Seawolves forwards will need to be prepared to jump on any rebounds. UAA will have to convert on it's power play chances and deny the Lakers any conversion when a Seawolf is in the bin. Jonny O or Bryce will have to be sharp in net.

I doubt Coach Gotkin is telling his team that they are 15 teams better than UAA. He understands the realities of the WCHA and that the Seawolves will be one of the best teams his squad will face all season.

My Prediction: UAA 4 - Mercyhurst 0