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USAF Academy, Co. – This weekend, the Mercyhurst Lakers Men’s Hockey team returns to competitive action as they venture westward to challenge the formidable Air Force Falcons in an exciting two-game Atlantic Hockey series. Having faced a challenging stretch in their recent games, the Lakers are driven to recover and secure essential conference points. Meanwhile, the Air Force Falcons are enjoying a strong start to their season, characterized by a well-rounded offensive lineup and consistent goaltending that has set the tone for their games thus far.
History
Historically, Air Force holds the advantage in the all-time series against Mercyhurst, leading with a record of 28 wins, 20 losses, and 5 ties. Notably, Air Force has triumphed in three of the last four encounters, showcasing their recent dominance. The two teams engaged in a competitive series last season held in Erie, Pennsylvania. Since their postseason clash in 2020, the Lakers have faced off against the Falcons only twice at the USAF Academy. The Lakers have struggled at Cadet Ice Arena, holding a disappointing 0-5-1 record in their last six games here, with their most recent victory dating back to 2018. Moreover, Mercyhurst’s all-time performance at Cadet Ice Arena is 10 wins, 13 losses, and 2 ties.
Laker Outlook
Entering this matchup, Mercyhurst sits with a challenging overall record of 2 wins and 10 losses, with a less than stellar 2-6 mark in Atlantic Hockey action. Leading the Lakers’ offensive efforts is Mickey Burns, who has made a notable impact with a total of 10 points, comprising 5 goals and 5 assists. Additionally, teammate Dustin Geregach has emerged as a reliable scorer, contributing 4 goals and 6 assists. In goal, Simon Bucheler has become the primary netminder for the Lakers, amassing a solid .900 save percentage and achieving 288 saves over nine games. The Lakers will keenly focus on improving their power play, currently operating at 20.5%, aiming to leverage this against the disciplined defensive strategies employed by the Air Force team.
A Look at Air Force
The Air Force Falcons head into this weekend’s series with a balanced record of 6 wins and 6 losses, coupled with a strong start in conference play at 3-1. Leading the charge for Air Force is Clayton Cosentino, who has impressively tallied 10 points through 4 goals and 6 assists. Brendan Gibbons also poses a significant threat on the ice, having found the back of the net 5 times. Between the pipes, goaltender Guy Blessing has proven to be a reliable guardian, holding a .889 save percentage along with a goals-against average of 3.19. Air Force has shown remarkable consistency in their penalty kill, limiting their opponents to a mere 17.8% conversion rate.
What to Watch For
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Key Scorers: Watch for the dynamic performances from Mercyhurst’s Mickey Burns and Air Force’s Clayton Cosentino, who are poised to be pivotal for their respective teams in generating offensive momentum.
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Goaltending Duel: The matchup between Simon Bucheler and Guy Blessing will be closely observed, as both netminders will face significant challenges with high shot traffic, adding to the intrigue of the series.
Next Up
Following their series against Air Force, the Lakers will turn their focus to upcoming Atlantic Hockey matchups at home, where they will host Canisius. This is a rematch of an earlier encounter this season, which saw the Griffins secure a decisive 6-3 victory in their previous meeting held in Buffalo.
How does Coach Anderson plan to leverage key players like Mickey Burns and Dustin Geregach to improve the Lakers’ chances of winning?
**Interview with Coach Jamie Anderson of the Mercyhurst Lakers Hockey Team**
*Interviewer:* Thank you for joining us today, Coach Anderson. As your team gets ready to face the Air Force Falcons this weekend, how do you feel about the Lakers’ current form after a challenging stretch of games?
*Coach Anderson:* Thank you for having me. I think it’s important to acknowledge our struggles, but we’re determined to turn things around. The team has been working hard in practice, focusing on our gameplay. What we need now is to translate that effort into results on the ice.
*Interviewer:* The Falcons have historically had the upper hand in this matchup. How does that factor into your team’s preparation for the series?
*Coach Anderson:* History is certainly a factor, but we’re not dwelling on the past. Our focus is on this year’s team and how we can compete with them. We’ve had some tough experiences at Cadet Ice Arena, but we are approaching this game with a fresh mindset and the belief that we can break that streak.
*Interviewer:* Mickey Burns and Dustin Geregach have been key players for you so far this season. How crucial are they to your strategy this weekend?
*Coach Anderson:* They are very important to our offensive strategy. Mickey’s creativity and skill with the puck can create opportunities, and Dustin’s ability to find the net has been invaluable. We’ll be counting on them to lead by example and generate some scoring chances, especially against a tough defensive team like Air Force.
*Interviewer:* The Lakers have struggled with their power play recently. What improvements are you looking for in that area this weekend?
*Coach Anderson:* Our power play is a significant focus for us. We know we can capitalize on our opportunities if we play smart and move the puck effectively. We want to increase our conversion rate and make sure we’re taking advantage of every chance we get on the power play.
*Interviewer:* what do you think will be the key to success for the Lakers in this two-game series against the Falcons?
*Coach Anderson:* Consistency will be key. We need to have a solid defensive performance while also being aggressive and creating scoring opportunities. It’s about finding that balance – if we can execute our game plan effectively, I believe we can come away with some valuable points this weekend.
*Interviewer:* Thank you, Coach Anderson. Best of luck against the Falcons!
*Coach Anderson:* Thank you! We appreciate the support!
