Feb. 27, 2008

Erie, Pa - The Mercyhurst College Club Hockey team did something it couldn't do all year long heading into the ECHL Playoffs...start a winning streak of 3 games or more. Its been an up and down season for the Lakers who traded wins and losses all year long with their opponents, but just before the ECHL league playoffs the Lakers knocked off Youngstown State, the Bradford Rattlers and Niagara University by scores of 7-2, 6-0, and 5-4 respectively.

Just prior to the playoffs, the Lakers hosted the Bradford Rattlers Junior B team out of Canada, winning in convincing fashion by a score of 6-0. Senior captain Matt Warren led the way with a 5 point night, tallying 3 goals and 2 assists. Ten other Lakers contributed to the scoresheet on the night.

A few days later, the Lakers traveled to Niagara University to close out the season in what turned out to be a hard fought game on both ends of the ice. By the end of the game, the Lakers were able to edge out the Eagles by a score of 5-4 in overtime. Blake Camlin turned out to be the hero on the night after firing a shot past Mike Battaglia just 17 seconds into the four on four overtime frame. Senior captain Bobby Williams was spectacular in net turning aside 37 Purple Eagle shots.

Drawing off some of their late season momentum, the Lakers defeated the University of Rochester by a score of 8-3 during their ECHL quarter-final match-up only to be disappointed on the next night losing to Niagara University in their semi-final game by the same margin.

Niagara University continued on to the ECHL finals to face off against the ECHL's National Tournament representative, the Robert Morris University Colonials from Pittsburgh, Pa. RMU came out on top, winning the ECHL League Championship by a margin of 3-2 in overtime. They will now carry on to play undefeated Illinois at the ACHA National Tournament.