WSEE-TV Gary Drapcho 1220 Peach St. Erie, Pa (814) MERCIAD. Sports Editor. Mercyhurst College 501 East 38th St.

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1 Table of Contents Table of Contents... 1 Media Coverage... 1 Outlook Atlantic Hockey History... 4 Head Coach Laker Staff... 7 Rosters/Geographic Breakdown... 8 Laker Players Opponents Mercyhurst Hockey History NCAA Tournament Results MAAC Tournament Results Atlantic Hockey Tournament Results Team Statistics Individual Statistics All-Time Career Statistics Regular Season Game Summaries Year-By-Year Results All-Time Roster All-Time Roster by Number Individual Records Team Records Record vs All Opponents Award Winners Mercyhurst Administration Mercyhurst Sports Information Mercyhurst Recognitions This is Mercyhurst Why Mercyhurst History of Mercyhurst Lakers in the Professional Ranks...IBC Team Photo and Schedule...BC Mercyhurst College 501 East 38th St. Erie, Pa (814) WJET-TV/WFXP-TV Luke Simons 8455 Peach St. Erie, Pa (814) Media Coverage WFNN-1330 Sports Director One Boston Store Place Erie, Pa (814) Pittsburgh- 130 miles I-79 North to I-90 East to Erie, Exit 27 Cleveland- 102 miles - I-90 East to Erie, Exit 27 Buffalo- 95 miles - I-90 West to Erie, Exit 27 Philadelphia- 394 miles Pennsylvania Turnpike or I-80 West to I-79 North to I-90 East to Erie, Exit 27 Toronto- 165 miles QEW West to I-190, Buffalo, NY, West to I-90 West to Erie, Exit 27 WICU-TV Mike Ruzzi 3514 State St. Erie, Pa (814) Erie Times News Matt Martin Sports Editor 205 West 12th St. Erie, Pa (814) Directions to the College WSEE-TV Gary Drapcho 1220 Peach St. Erie, Pa (814) MERCIAD Sports Editor Mercyhurst College 501 East 38th St. Erie, Pa (814) New Jersey- 480 miles I-80 West to I-79 North to I-90 East to Erie, Exit 27 Long Island- 485 miles Cross George Washington Bridge to I-80 West to I-79 North to I-90 East to Erie, Exit 27 Erie International Airport- 10 miles East on Route 20 (West 26th St.) to State Street. Turn right (south) on State Street to East 38th Street. Turn left. Four blocks to Mercyhurst. Laker Hockey Guide General Information President Dr. Thomas Gamble Director of Athletics Craig Barnett Associate AD/Director of Compliance Tony Cipollone Assistant AD Sara Headley S.W.A. Mary Ann Love Location Erie, Pa. Enrollment 4,055 Founded 1926 Nickname Lakers Colors Green, Blue & White Conference Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA) Arena Mercyhurst Ice Center Capacity 1,300 Hockey Staff Head Coach Rick Gotkin rgotkin@mercyhurst.edu Assistant Coach/ Recruiting Coordinator Bobby Ferraris rferraris@mercyhurst.edu Fax Number (814) Assistant Coach Brian Burke bburke2@mercyhurst.edu Volunteer Assistant Coach Jayson Martineau jaysonmartineau@mac.com Head Trainer Mike Folga Team Physician Dr. Greg Coppola, Dr. Patrick Leary, Dr. Jeff Kim Ice Maintenance Jon Danielson, Bill Fife, Larry Schaaf, Mike Brennen, & Jon Finke Administrative Assistant Elizabeth Morgan Director of Athletic Maintenance Pete Geddes Ice Center Manager John Marchetti Sports Information Director of Hockey Operations John Leisering Home Phone (814) jleisering@mercyhurst.edu Fax (814) Sports Information Director Jason Knavel jknavel@mercyhurst.edu Assistant SID Ethan Hulsey ehulsey@mercyhurst.edu Hockey Press Box (814) Hockey Fax (814) Credits Editing John Leisering Layout/Design The Clinton Press Inc. Photography Paul Lorei, Jim Cooper, Jason Knavel, Jim King, Joel Hakken John Hassett & Mike Silverwood (Others as noted) Printing The Clinton Press Inc. 500 West 12th Street, Erie, PA Covers Mary Ellen Leisering and Jason Knavel 1

2 Season Outlook in thirteen years when it takes to the ice in October. The Lakers struggled with a overall mark in and a record in the Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA). From left to right: Assistant Coach Brian Burke, Head Coach Rick Gotkin, Assistant Coach Bobby Ferraris, Volunteer Assistant Coach Jayson Martineau Connecticut. That close setback mirrored a good part of 7 in one-goal contests and just 2-7 in two-goal affairs. The team also set a one-season mark with ten overtime tilts 1-3-6). Freshman defenseman Cullen Eddy made the conference s All-Rookie Team. Mercyhurst lost six players to graduation, two forwards, two defensemen, and two goaltenders, while four other players moved on to pursue other interests. The two forwards, second and third on the team in scoring. Gourgon ended the campaign with 11 goals and 22 assists and concluded his 141-game career with totals of 41 goals and 50 helpers. Champagne missed nine games last season due to injury but 141 points (10th all-time) in a 134-game career. On the plus side, four of the team s six top scorers return, led by senior forward Ben Cottreau. Cottreau s junior year was interrupted by injury but, despite missing seven games, the Toronto native still led the squad with 35 points. Also forward Matt Pierce (11g, 14a, 25pts), senior forward Ryan Toomey (12g, 9a, 21pts) and sophomore winger Cody Collins (6g, 15a, 21pts). Other returning forwards are senior Kerry Bowman (2g, 0a, 2pts), junior Brett Robinson (5g, 9a, 14pts), and sophomores Nick Vandenbeld (7g, 7a, 14pts), Chris Risi (6g, 7a, 13pts), and Neil Graham (4g, 7a, 11pts). Mercyhurst welcomes back six defensemen to a team that allowed 3.83 goals-per-game a season ago. Senior Jamie Coghlan, the elder statesman of the group, hopes to enjoy an injury-free campaign. Coghlan played in only 15 games a season ago and totaled a goal and an assist. The Toronto native has played in only 47 games in his career. Also back are juniors of their careers last season as Phillips ended the year with a goal and ten assists while the 6-4, 215-pound Medernach registered 16 pts), Derek Fisher (0g, 3a, 3pts) and Eddy (5g, 11a, 16pts) complete the returning defensive corps. Mercyhurst will have two new netminders in Mike Tyler Small withdrew from the team in the middle of last season. So, all eyes will be on the duo of junior transfer Matt Lundin and freshman and Erie native Ryan Zapolski. Lundin played two years for the University of Maine ( and ) before back-stopping the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League (USHL) to the Clark Cup Championship in Zapolski played the last two seasons for the Mahoning Valley Phantoms of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). He played his high school hockey at Erie Cathedral Prep. All told, twelve new players will be in uniform come October: seven forwards, three defensemen, and two netminders. The coaching staff also lost assistant John Rose, who took a similar job at Alaska Fairbanks, but added Brian Burke and volunteer Jayson Martineau. The Lakers schedule is demanding. Not only does Mercyhurst have the usual grueling 28-game Atlantic Hockey Association slate, but also a very tough and expanded eightgame independent list of contests. Also, getting out of the gate out-of-town. From left to right: Co-Captain Ryan Toomey, Assistant Captain Kirk Medernach, Assistant Captain Matt Pierce, Co-Captain Ben Cottreau Mercyhurst Ice Hockey

3 Season Outlook 2007 national champion Michigan State (CCHA) is on the Maine (Hockey East), and nationally-ranked Michigan Tech (WCHA). After an exhibition contest against Waterloo on Sunday, October 7, the Lakers begin regular season play at the prestigious Lefty McFadden Invitational at the Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio. The Lakers will open with Ohio State Friday, October 12 and then play either Notre Dame or Wisconsin (2006 national champions) Saturday. Even the Atlantic Hockey Tournament will undergo a metamorphosis. All ten teams will make the tournament, the regular season ends with a best two-of-three scenario. weekend. The #5 and #4 seeded teams will compete in a playin game with the winner facing the tournament s top team in day. From left to right: Seniors Jamie Coghlan, Kerry Bowman, Ryan Toomey, and Ben Cottreau MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Atlantic Hockey Association is to provide its members with a positive NCAA Division I college hockey experience fostering competitive excellence, championship play and recognition of teams and individual student-athletes and coaches. Atlantic Hockey is committed to academic excellence, a high level of competitiveness, sportsmanship and fair play within the context of athletic integrity. CORE VALUES Educational experience for student-athletes (life skills), Sportsmanship, Academic and athletic integrity, Excellence, Competitive equity, Cohesiveness of league member within AHA, Promote/enhance hockey (amateur/youth), Commitment to community service, and Recruiting integrity. VISION STATEMENT The Atlantic Hockey Association s vision is to be among the elite in NCAA Division I Ice Hockey by embracing its core values and succeeding with integrity, teamwork, service to community and the competitive, inspired spirit of its membership. 3

4 Atlantic Hockey History new chapter in the history of A college hockey was ushered into existence when the Atlantic Hockey Association was created on June 30, 2003, by nine charter members. The sixth Division-I men's ice hockey conference arose when the founding members - American International, Bentley, Canisius, Connecticut, Holy Cross, Mercyhurst, Quinnipiac, Sacred Heart, and the United States Military Academy (Army) Quinnipiac after a two-year stay in Atlantic Hockey announced on August 24, 2004 that the Bobcats would be leaving and joining the ECAC Hockey League. Four months later the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) announced their hockey program will be making the jump to Division I and will join Atlantic Hockey starting in the season. At the end of the season the Air Force Academy will also be joining Atlantic Hockey making the move from the College Hockey America conference, announcing its move on April 12, With the addition of RIT and Air Force beginning with the season the league increase its membership to ten (10) teams. Last season, Holy Cross earned its second Atlantic Hockey Association Regular Tournament victory as Holy Cross defeated top-seed Minnesota, 4-3 in overtime at the West Regional in Grand Forks, N.D. the season, but fell in the title game to Mercyhurst, as the Lakers earned the automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament. Mercyhurst drew top-seeded Boston College and nearly upsetting the Eagles in the First Round of the East Regional. The inaugural season for Atlantic Hockey showed that the conference has a bright future on the horizon. Robert DeGregorio, a former commissioner of Hockey East, development of the league as play between the nine squads began in the Fall of with victories over non-conference opponents, such as Ohio State and Western Michigan (CCHA), Rensselaer (ECAC), Merrimack (Hockey East) and Wayne State by capturing the tournament championship, sending the Crusaders to the NCAA Success in the classroom is as important as success on the ice among the member institutions of Atlantic Hockey as 295 student-athletes have garnered All-Academic honors by the Atlantic Hockey Association. Last season, 101 student-athletes garnered the 3.0 GPA during both the Fall and Spring semester to earn All-Academic honors. 106 student-athletes were named to the All-Academic squad led by Sacred Heart's 18 student-athletes topping the league. A total of 88 student-athletes were named to the Atlantic Hockey All-Academic squad in recognition of their outstanding scholastic achievement. Atlantic Hockey athletes have also contributed their time off the ice to numerous charitable organizations as a way of saying thanks to their many supporters. Ocean to the Rocky Mountains. Members reside in Colorado (Air Force), Connecticut (University of Connecticut, Sacred Heart), Massachusetts (American International, Bentley, Holy Cross), New York (Army, Canisius, RIT), and Pennsylvania (Mercyhurst). AHA Conference Teams AIR FORCE Falcons AIC Yellow Jackets ARMY Black Knights BENTLEY Falcons CANISIUS Golden Griffins CONNECTICUT Huskies HOLY CROSS Crusaders RIT Tigers SACRED HEART Pioneers Mercyhurst Ice Hockey

5 Rick Gotkin (19 yrs.) Milestones: *1st win - Oct. 29, 1988 (16-1 over Ithaca) *100th win - Nov. 4, 1994 (5-3 over Canisius) *200th win - Jan. 15, 2000 (3-1 over AIC) *250th win - Feb. 9, 2002 (5-1 over AIC) *300th win - Nov. 5, 2004 (2-0 over Army) The Gotkin File Personal: Born: Place of Birth: Brooklyn, NY Wife: The former Diane Kaminski of Erie, Pa Children: Lindsey Ann and Brandon Reed Education: SUNY, College of Canton, Associate of Science Degree, 1980 State University of NY, College of Brockport, B.S. in Physical Education, 1982 Coaching Background: Part-time Assistant Coach at Brockport State Head Coach Enschede Lions Pro Hockey Club; Netherlands Head Coach at State University of NY at Canton Head Coach Fife Flyers Pro Hockey Club; Kirkcaldy, Scotland Assistant Coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Head Coach of Mercyhurst College (19 yrs.) Collegiate Record: Overall Record: (19 yrs.) NCAA Appearances: 6 (1991, 1993, 1995, 2001, 2003, 2005) ECAC Playoff Appearances: 10 ( ) ECAC Final Four: 10 ( ) ECAC Runners-up: 3 (1991, 1992, 1999) ECAC Regular Season Champions: 1 (1995) ECAC Champions: 1 (1995) MAAC Hockey League Regular Season Champions: 3 (2001, 2002, 2003) MAAC Hockey League Playoff Appearances: 4 (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003) MAAC Hockey League Final Four: 4 (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003) MAAC Hockey League Runners-up: 1 (2002) MAAC Hockey League Championship: 2 (2001, 2003) Atlantic Hockey Playoff Appearances: 3 (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007) Atlantic Hockey Final Four: 3 (2004, 2005, 2006) Atlantic Hockey Championship: 1 (2005) Head Coach Head Coach Rick Gotkin s team had a disappointing passing year. The Lakers bowed out of the conference playoffs mirrored the Lakers season: 3-7 in one-goal games, 2-7 in twogoal games, and in overtime affairs. Junior forward Ben Cottreau was selected Atlantic Hockey Player of the Week twice while senior Kyle Gourgon won the honor in early February. Freshman defenseman Cullen Eddy made the AH All-Rookie Team and senior Scott Champagne was selected to the Frozen Four Skills Challenge as an alternate. Despite the sub-500 season, the Lakers had Division I s 15th best power play (19.2) and 16th best scoring offense (3.26). Under Gotkin s leadership, Mercyhurst owns an eight-year Division I record of , three NCAA playoff appearances, three regular season conference titles, four regular season runners-up, eight conference playoff appearances, three conference playoff championships, and one conference runnerup. He ranks among the top Division I coaches in all-time winning percentage and in victories. Gotkin was the conference s Coach of the Year in when he took the Lakers all the way to the conference regular and postseason titles and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. For his efforts, he was a Spencer Penrose Award, given to the men s ice hockey University Division Coach of the Year. Gotkin s 19 years at Mercyhurst represent the longest tenure of any Mercyhurst College head coach, past or present, and his 347 wins are also a Mercyhurst best. He came to Division III Mercyhurst from Division I Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in 1988 and quietly began to build a varsity program that would bring the college local, regional, and national recognition. Mercyhurst has won 18-or-more games 13 times and 20-or-more seven times. The Lakers made the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) playoffs every year they were eligible, won an ECAC title in 1995, and reached the NCAA Playoffs six times coach ever to take the same program to the NCAAs at all three levels. That notoriety got him a spot in Sports Illustrated s Faces in the Crowd segment at the conclusion of the season. Over the years, he and his staff have produced seven All Americans, four ECAC Players of the Year, three ECAC Rookies Hockey First Team selections, and one AH Rookie of the Year. 5

6 Head Coach Gotkin s Record at Mercyhurst Overall Conference Year W L T W L T * * * * * * * * # # ^ ^ ^ Career Six NCAA Appearances.607 win percentage overall.668 win percentage conference * member of the ECAC West # member of the MAAC Hockey League ^ member of Atlantic Hockey Junior defenseman Jamie Hunt signed a two-year contract with the National Hockey League s Washington Capitals following to jump directly to the NHL from college. A number of alums also play for professional teams in leagues such as the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) and the United Hockey League (UHL). Gotkin has overseen the program s transformation from Division III to Division II (1993) to Division I (1999) status. The Lakers were members of the ECAC West from 1988 through 1999 before joining the Division I MAAC Hockey League. Mercyhurst and the eight other MAAC teams withdrew from the conference in June of 2003 to form Atlantic Hockey. It took awhile for Gotkin s program to generate momentum. In fact, without a home rink, the Lakers played nearly 70% of their spring of 1991 came word that the College Board of Trustees had approved building an on-campus facility. The Mercyhurst Ice Center opened for business December 8, Gotkin is very active with USA Hockey, having coached several USA Select National Festival Teams throughout the years. He has been involved with the NCAA Youth Education Through Sports (YES) Program. Gotkin has also been a featured speaker at many USA Hockey coaching clinics and symposiums. He has served on the Hobey Baker Award Committee and currently serves on four other national committees: the American Hockey Coaches Association Division I Committee, the US College Hockey online.com National Poll Committee, the Division I East region advisory committee, and the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine College Hockey Poll. The Laker hockey team has also been very active in the community during Gotkin s tenure. The team has been involved with, among others, the Edmund L. Thomas Adolescent Center, the Shriners Hospitals for Children, the annual college food drive, and the Skating Club of Erie. In 1995, the varsity hockey team won the Sister Rita Panciera Award given annually to the mercy. In March of 1998, the team was honored again, this time by the Erie Achievement Center for its work with the disabled. Meanwhile, during Gotkin s stay at Mercyhurst, the team s cumulative QPA has been consistently good with his players Dental, History, and Business Administration. The six seniors on the squad had a combined grade-point-average of Gotkin is married to the former Diane Kaminski of Erie, Pa. They are the parents of two children: Lindsey Ann was born September 2, 1991, and Brandon Reed arrived April 1, The family resides in Erie, Pa. NCAA Active Winningest Division I Coaches (Minimum 5 years as a Division I head coach.) BY PERCENTAGE Coach, School Yrs W L T Pct. 1. Jeff Jackson, Notre Dame Red Berenson, Michigan Don Lucia, Minnesota Richard Umile, New Hampshire Jack Parker, Boston U Mike Schafer, Cornell Scott Owens, Colorado Col Rand Pecknold, Quinnipiac Rick Gotkin, Mercyhurst Jerry York, Boston College BY VICTORIES Coach, School Yrs Wins 1. Jerry York, Boston College Jack Parker, Boston U Rick Comley, Michigan St Red Berenson, Michigan Don Lucia, Minnesota George Gwozdecky, Denver Bill Wilkinson, Wayne St. (Mich.) Joe Marsh, St. Lawrence Richard Umile, New Hampshire Rick Gotkin, Mercyhurst Mercyhurst Ice Hockey

7 Bobby Ferraris Assistant Coach Bobby Ferraris begins his third year at Mercyhurst. He serves as the recruiting coordinator in addition to on-ice coaching. Prior to his arrival in Erie, Ferraris served for two years as assistant coach at American International College (AIC). During his stay with the Yellow Jackets, Ferraris was the recruiting coordinator, served as defense and special teams coach, and coordinated video breakdown and game analysis. Prior to American International, Ferraris spent a combined three years as assistant coach for both New Haven (Conn.) and Utica (N.Y.) of the United Hockey League while playing for six. He spent the season as head coach of the Connecticut Junior Wolves (MJHL). Ferraris received his bachelor s degree (sociology) from Saint Anselm College (Manchester, NH) in 1997 and his master s from AIC (educational psychology, guidance) in Brian Burke Assistant Coach at Mercyhurst after working as an assistant coach at Adrian College last season. Prior to Adrian, Burke was head coach for the Victory Honda Midget Major U-18 team for four seasons. Under his leadership, the including two in 2006, and won the state championship in Most recently, the squad He also had head coaching stints with the Michigan Ice Dogs Midget Minor U-16 team in and Ann Arbor Pee Wee & Bantam Teams in Burke earned his B.S. degree at Eastern Michigan University. Laker Staff Jayson Martineau Volunteer Assistant Coach Jayson Martineau begins assistant. He graduated from the University of Ottawa in 2007 and spent the last two years as an assistant coach with the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees. Mike Folga Head Trainer and Equipment Manager Mike Folga begins his sixth year as head trainer for the men s varsity hockey program. Folga is no stranger to the Erie area. He graduated from Cathedral Prep in 1973, then obtained his B.S. in sports medicine from Mercyhurst in He served as an assistant baseball coach at Penn State Behrend from , before taking over as head coach in While at Mercyhurst, Folga began a 16-year career as either head medical trainer or head equipment manager for a number of professional sports teams, including an 11-year stint in the National Hockey League (NHL). From , he worked as head medical trainer for the Midwest, and Appalachian Leagues. In 1988, Folga began a lengthy career in the NHL as head medical trainer for the St. Louis Blues. Five years later, he worked as the head medical trainer for the Indianapolis Ice, the Chicago that year, Folga returned to the NHL as head equipment manager for the New York Rangers. He was among the support staff for the 1994 NHL All-Star Game that season, then culminated the year by watching Mark Messier and the Rangers win the Stanley Cup. Folga worked for the Rangers until the end of the campaign, then joined the staff of Team USA in the 2000 World Hockey Championships, held in St. Petersburg, Russia. 7