Visors and Risers

Courtesy Hurst Hockey Insider  Mercyhurst graduating Senior Forward Kyle Dutra has signed a pro contract with the Norfolk Admirals of the East Coast Hockey League*. Dutra, a 6'3" 200 pound forward has spent his passed four years playing at Mercyhurst University. In his 147 games playing with the Lakers Dutra has amassed 71 points (32 goals, 39 assists) with a -15 plus/minus over that span. This past season Dutra played in 39 contests for the Lakers, scoring 10 goals and dishing out 17 assists. Dutra left Mercyhurst to join the Admirals following the Lakers being eliminated by the Army Golden Knights in the second round of the Atlantic Conference tournament. This season the Admirals are currently in last place in the southern division and 24th overall in the league posting a record of 24-34-4. In his first game with the Admirals on Saturday March 18th Dutra managed to score his first pro goal in his first pro game, heres to many more! *The ECHL  is a profesional h...

Atlantic Hockey Showdown: Playoff Round #2  "RIT wins 2015 Title" (Credit Bryan Bennet)   Round #1 Results:   #10 AIC (0) Vs. #7 Mercyhurst (2) The Lakers swept the weekend behind an impressive all around team effort helping themselves get out of that three game losing streak to end the season. In Friday night's game the Lakers jumped out to a 3-0 lead before giving up three straight, Sophomore Forward Derek Barach would then score his second of the night late in the second period that eventually ended up as the game winning goal as the Lakers won 4-3. Saturday's game was a different story however, as the Lakers used a 4 goal second and 24 saves from Junior Goaltender Brandon Wildung to roll over AIC 5-0 and earn a sweep to move on to the next round. #11 Niagara (2) Vs. #6 RIT (1)  In easily the biggest upset of the playoffs thus far, the Niagara Purple Eagles managed to take down RIT, winning two out of the three games on the weekend. Niagara would...

Saturday February 25, 2017  Mercyhurst Ice Center, Erie PA    Mercyhurst Lakers (12-17-4, 5th in Atlantic Conference)    Vs.  RIT Tigers (12-15-0, 8th in Atlantic Conference)                                                              Photo Credit- Omar Phillips Mercyhurst Lakers:  After finishing 4th in the Atlantic last season (15-9-4) the Lakers have had a tough time getting on any sort of prolonged run throughout the season. Mercyhurst is currently in 5th place following a 4-0 loss to Canisius on Thursday night. - Sophomore Defenseman Les Lancaster  (Ypsilanti, Mich) has been a rock on defense for the Lakers this season, posting 21 points (5 goals, 16 assists) in 32 games this season - Freshman goaltender Colin DeAugustine has posted a record of 5-6-2 with a 2.95 goals...

Credit USCHO.com On Thursday, night the Canisius Golden Griffins laid an absolute beat down on the Mercyhurst Lakers, which was also their last home game of the season as well as their senior night. Canisius scored early in the game and never looked back, Sophomore Defenseman Alex Jaeckle scored at 4:17 of the first period. This started off a torrid three goal first period for the Griffins which would eventually chase Lakers goaltender Brandon Wildung from the net going into the second period. Jaeckle’s game winner was his third goal as well as his third game-winning goal of the season. Senior goaltender Charles Williams set school records in wins with 19 and shutouts with 5 and the Griffins extended their unbeaten streak to 15 games, the longest active unbeaten streak in the entire nation. Canisius wraps up the season with a record of 21-11-7 and is guaranteed a first round bye heading into the Atlantic Hockey Tournament. Mercyhurst drops to a record of 15-...

Thursday February 23, 2017  HarborCenter, Buffalo NY   Canisius Golden Griffins (18-10-7, 1st in Atlantic Conference)   Vs.  Mercyhurst Lakers (12-16-4, 5th in Atlantic Conference)                                                         Courtesy: www.tomwolf.smugmug.com On a Thursday evening contest the Atlantic leading Canisius Griffins take on the Mercyhurst Lakers in a pivotal conference matchup. Although every team in the Atlantic is guaranteed a spot in the playoffs, positioning is still up in the air. Atlantic Hockey Playoffs Explained:  - There are 11 total teams in the Atlantic Conference - The top 5 teams are given a first round bye while the bottom 6 teams are paired up and play a best of 3 game series hosted by the higher seeded team (Round 1 will take place March 3rd-5th) - ...

Credit Elite Prospects  With the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea  less than a year away and NHL still not having any set plans in place for their sending their players to these games, it is looking as if the biggest hockey league in North America will not be participating. This does not come as a huge shock to any around the game as for the past couple Winter Olympics there has been complaints from fans and owners alike that stopping the NHL season right near the end to go and play in international competition was too disruptive to the league and its players. Although this closes the door for any player under NHL contract from playing for any nation in these games, it opens the door for players who might not otherwise get this opportunity. Enter Ryan Zapolski ... Credit Getty Images An Erie, PA native and four year goaltender at Mercyhurst University Zapolski never really found any traction in North American Professional leagues after his graduation. Followin...