Lakers release 2007-08 hockey schedule

NEWS RELEASE

LAKE SUPERIOR STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

**********************

Lakers to open 2007-08 hockey season at Superior Cup

SAULT STE. MARIE – The Lake Superior State hockey team opens the 2007-08 season on Oct. 12 and 14 at the inaugural Superior Cup, which also includes Minnesota-Duluth, Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan.

The Lakers play at UMD on Oct. 12 and travel to MTU on Oct. 14. NMU also travels to play at the Western Collegiate Hockey Association venues on the opposite dates. LSSU and NMU, which are the two Upper Peninsula representatives from the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, play host to the WCHA squads in 2008-09.

LSSU faces Western Ontario at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20, in its home opener. The exhibition game is a part of Great Lake State Weekend festivities. The following weekend, the Lakers play host to Clarkson in a non-conference series. They travel to Notre Dame for their CCHA opener on Nov. 2-3.

CCHA cluster opponents in 2007-08 include NMU, Michigan and Michigan State, and the Lakers play two home games against all three opponents. The Wolverines travel to the Sault on Nov. 16-17, and the Spartans make the trip north Nov. 30-Dec. 1.

The Lakers play at NMU at 7:35 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 23, and play host to the Wildcats at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 25. The teams meet again at 7:35 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28, in Sault Ste. Marie and Saturday, March 1, in Marquette. The Sunday and Thursday dates were established in order to provide extra rest for the team that is traveling and to accommodate students during Thanksgiving and spring break.

LSSU also plays host to Bowling Green at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12. The Lake State staff was pleased with the response to a 5 p.m. starting time during an October series last season.

Another major change to the 2007-08 schedule is the switch of Friday home game times from 7:35 p.m. to 7:05 p.m. All LSSU home games will begin at 7:05 p.m. except the afternoon contests on Nov. 25 and Jan. 12.

Laker hockey season tickets will go on sale June 1. Season tickets are $156 for adults and $85 for children 18-and-under, and include CCHA First-Round Playoffs. LSSU faculty, staff and retirees have until Aug. 1 to secure their seats, and public season-ticket holders have an Aug. 30 deadline to guarantee their seats. Season Ticket Holder Appreciation Night with Gordie Howe will be Sept. 11.

Last season, the Lakers advanced to the CCHA Semifinals at Joe Louis Arena for the first time in 11 years. They return eight forwards, six defensemen and two goalies from last year’s 21-19-3 squad.

The Blue-White Game is slated for Oct. 6.

Tickets are available at the Norris Center Ticket Office, 906-635-2602, and on www.lssulakers.com.

************************************************************