# 2021–22 Mercyhurst Lakers men's ice hockey season

The 2021–22 Mercyhurst Lakers men's ice hockey season was the 35th season of play for the program, the 23rd at the Division I level, and the 19th season in the Atlantic Hockey conference. The Lakers represented Mercyhurst University and were coached by Rick Gotkin, in his 34th season.

## Season

Mercyhurst was hoping to build on an improvement in 2021 with a strong start to their season. Early returns were mixed as the team tied four of their first eight games. Defense was an issue as the Mercyhurst goal was consistently harassed by their opponents to the tune of nearly 34 shots a game. While the team had Hank Johnson and Kyle McClellan share the starting role, neither was able to shine against the constant barrage. The Lakers nearly pulled themselves back up to .500 at the end of November when they earned a surprising split with Ohio State and there was some hope that the team was ready to turn a corner.
Unfortunately, the defensive performance got even worse afterwards and Mercyhurst went 1–10 in their next eleven matches. In that stretch the Lakers allowed no fewer than 3 goals a game and, even when the offense had a good night, their two netminders couldn't keep the puck out of the net.
By the middle of January, the team was at the bottom of the Atlantic Hockey standings and it looked like the Lakers would have to wait for another year. However, Rick Gotkin decided to put his trust in McClellan as the team's starter and the sophomore began to respond with stellar performances by the end of the month. Seemingly overnight, Mercyhurst went from allowing 5 goals a game to surrendering 1. Mercyhurst arrested their downward descent and started winning games, the most surprising coming against conference-leader, American International in mid-February.
The winning came too late for Mercyhurst to finish any higher than 7th, but it did grant the Lakers home ice advantage in the first round of the conference tournament. McLellan continued to be called upon to save the team's season and he responded with two sterling efforts, winning consecutive 2–1 games while stopping 71 shots. McLellan then backstopped Mercyhurst to an upset over the #2 seed, Canisius; while he got a bit more help from the Laker offense in terms of shots, he still needed to make every save as both games were essentially 2–1 matches (Mercyhurst scored an empty-net goal in the second game).
Mercyhurst managed to lift itself into the conference semifinal and continued to play strong, putting a scare into American International. The Lakers twice took the lead in the game but a hat-trick from AIC's Blake Bennett erased both leads. The Lakers were forced to pull McLellan to try and tie the game but the Yellow Jackets ended up netting a 5th goal as a result. That marker proved critical after Mercyhurst answered with 80 seconds to play but they could not even the score and saw their tremendous postseason run end.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Khristian Acosta | Forward | United States | Transferred to Utica |
| Justin Cmunt | Forward | United States | Transferred to Geneseo State |
| Jac Lymn | Goaltender | United States | Joined club team |
| Devon Mussio | Defenseman | Canada | Transferred to Skidmore |
| Brendan Schneider | Forward | Canada | Left program (retired) |
| Dante Spagnuolo | Forward | Canada | Mid-season transfer to Adrian |
| Ashton Stockie | Forward | Canada | Signed Professional Contract (HCB Ticino Rockets) |
| Quinn Wichers | Defenseman | Canada | Graduation (signed with Rapid City Rush) |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Jake Beaune | Defenseman | United States | 21 | Livonia, MI |
| Mickey Burns | Forward | United States | 21 | Wayne, NJ; transfer from Vermont |
| Pierce Crawford | Forward | United States | 24 | Park Ridge, IL; graduate transfer from Notre Dame |
| Garrett Dahm | Forward | United States | 21 | Swansea, IL |
| Kyler Head | Forward | United States | 22 | Malone, NY; transfer from Robert Morris |
| Philip Waugh | Forward/Defenseman | United States | 21 | McLean, VA; already completed one year of classes |

## Roster

As of August 23, 2021.

## Standings

2021–22 Atlantic Hockey Standingsvte :
| | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record |
| | GP | W | L | T | OW | OL | SW | PTS | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| #18 American International †* | 26 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 97 | 61 | 38 | 22 | 13 | 3 | 134 | 95 |
| Canisius | 26 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 43 | 76 | 67 | 35 | 16 | 16 | 3 | 99 | 97 |
| Army | 26 | 12 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 42 | 75 | 68 | 35 | 14 | 17 | 4 | 98 | 100 |
| RIT | 26 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 41 | 69 | 82 | 38 | 18 | 16 | 4 | 92 | 115 |
| Sacred Heart | 26 | 11 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 40 | 72 | 70 | 37 | 15 | 18 | 4 | 95 | 100 |
| Air Force | 26 | 11 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 37 | 76 | 80 | 36 | 16 | 17 | 3 | 99 | 127 |
| Mercyhurst | 26 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 75 | 79 | 39 | 16 | 19 | 4 | 114 | 129 |
| Niagara | 26 | 10 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 70 | 79 | 36 | 11 | 22 | 3 | 82 | 122 |
| Bentley | 26 | 10 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 70 | 78 | 36 | 14 | 20 | 2 | 94 | 117 |
| Holy Cross | 26 | 10 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 56 | 72 | 37 | 12 | 23 | 2 | 77 | 108 |
| Championship: March 19, 2022 † indicates conference regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion (Riley Trophy) Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll |||||||||||||||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Site | TV | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Exhibition ||||||||||
| October 2 | 7:35 PM | at Vermont* | Gutterson Fieldhouse • Burlington, Vermont (Exhibition) | | | L 2–4 | 0 | |
| Regular Season ||||||||||
| October 8 | 8:00 PM | at #4 Minnesota* | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | BSN+ | Johnson | L 4–7 | 6,372 | 0–1–0 |
| October 9 | 6:00 PM | at #4 Minnesota* | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | BSN | McClellan | L 3–5 | 6,396 | 0–2–0 |
| October 15 | 7:05 PM | Holy Cross | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | | McClellan | T 4–4 $^{SOW}$ | 813 | 0–2–1 (0–0–1) |
| October 16 | 3:05 PM | Holy Cross | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | | Johnson | W 5–2 | 512 | 1–2–1 (1–0–1) |
| October 24 | 5:05 PM | USNTDP* | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania (Exhibition) | | | W 7–3 | | |
| October 29 | 7:05 PM | at RIT | Gene Polisseni Center • Henrietta, New York | | Johnson | T 3–3 $^{SOL}$ | 2,222 | 1–2–2 (1–0–2) |
| October 30 | 7:05 PM | at RIT | Gene Polisseni Center • Henrietta, New York | | McClellan | L 1–3 | 1,718 | 1–3–2 (1–1–2) |
| November 5 | 7:05 PM | Sacred Heart | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | | Johnson | T 3–3 $^{SOL}$ | 889 | 1–3–3 (1–1–3) |
| November 6 | 4:05 PM | Sacred Heart | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | | McClellan | T 3–3 $^{SOL}$ | 697 | 1–3–4 (1–1–4) |
| November 12 | 7:05 PM | at Holy Cross | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | | Johnson | W 3–2 | 435 | 2–3–4 (2–1–4) |
| November 13 | 5:05 PM | at Holy Cross | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | | McClellan | L 4–5 $^{OT}$ | 302 | 2–4–4 (2–2–4) |
| November 19 | 7:05 PM | Canisius | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | | Johnson | L 1–6 | 747 | 2–5–4 (2–3–4) |
| November 20 | 7:00 PM | at Canisius | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | | McClellan | W 5–2 | 502 | 3–5–4 (3–3–4) |
| November 26 | 5:00 PM | at #17 Ohio State* | Value City Arena • Columbus, Ohio | | Johnson | W 5–4 | 3,277 | 4–5–4 |
| November 27 | 5:00 PM | at #17 Ohio State* | Value City Arena • Columbus, Ohio | | McClellan | L 2–3 | 2,554 | 4–6–4 |
| December 3 | 7:05 PM | at Bentley | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | | Johnson | L 3–4 | 1,131 | 4–7–4 (3–4–4) |
| December 4 | 5:05 PM | at Bentley | Bentley Arena • Waltham, Massachusetts | | McClellan | L 1–3 | 965 | 4–8–4 (3–5–4) |
| December 12 | 3:05 PM | at Miami | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | | McClellan | L 4–7 | 858 | 4–9–4 |
| Ledyard Bank Classic ||||||||||
| December 30 | 4:00 PM | vs. #20 Boston College* | Thompson Arena • Hanover, New Hampshire (Ledyard Bank Semifinal) | | Johnson | L 2–4 | 87 | 4–10–4 |
| December 31 | 4:00 PM | vs. New Hampshire* | Thompson Arena • Hanover, New Hampshire (Ledyard Bank Consolation Game) | | Johnson | L 1–7 | 48 | 4–11–4 |
| January 4 | 7:05 PM | at Miami* | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | | Johnson | W 5–4 $^{OT}$ | 894 | 5–11–4 |
| January 14 | 1:05 PM | at American International | MassMutual Center • Springfield, Massachusetts | | Johnson | L 4–5 | 70 | 5–12–4 (3–6–4) |
| January 15 | 1:05 PM | at American International | MassMutual Center • Springfield, Massachusetts | | McClellan | L 3–6 | 79 | 5–13–4 (3–7–4) |
| January 21 | 7:05 PM | Air Force | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | | McClellan | L 2–5 | 120 | 5–14–4 (3–8–4) |
| January 22 | 4:05 PM | Air Force | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | | McClellan | L 3–5 | 120 | 5–15–4 (3–9–4) |
| January 28 | 7:00 PM | at Niagara | Dwyer Arena • Lewiston, New York | | McClellan | W 4–1 | 638 | 6–15–4 (4–9–4) |
| January 29 | 5:00 PM | at Niagara | Dwyer Arena • Lewiston, New York | | McClellan | L 0–1 | 767 | 6–16–4 (4–10–4) |
| February 4 | 7:05 PM | at Army | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | | McClellan | W 4–0 | 1,238 | 7–16–4 (5–10–4) |
| February 5 | 4:05 PM | at Army | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | | McClellan | L 1–5 | 1,284 | 7–17–4 (5–11–4) |
| February 11 | 7:05 PM | RIT | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | | McClellan | W 1–0 | 758 | 8–17–4 (6–11–4) |
| February 12 | 7:05 PM | RIT | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | | McClellan | W 4–2 | 812 | 9–17–4 (7–11–4) |
| February 18 | 7:05 PM | American International | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | | McClellan | L 1–5 | 1,214 | 9–18–4 (7–12–4) |
| February 19 | 3:05 PM | American International | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | | McClellan | W 6–3 | 779 | 10–18–4 (8–12–4) |
| February 25 | 7:00 PM | at Canisius | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | | McClellan | W 3–0 | 732 | 11–18–4 (9–12–4) |
| February 26 | 7:05 PM | Canisius | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | | McClellan | W 3–1 | 858 | 12–18–4 (10–12–4) |
| Atlantic Hockey Tournament ||||||||||
| March 4 | 7:05 PM | Niagara* | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania (First Round game 1) | | McClellan | W 2–1 $^{OT}$ | 687 | 13–18–4 |
| March 5 | 7:05 PM | Niagara* | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania (First Round game 2) | | McClellan | W 2–1 | 704 | 14–18–4 |
| March 11 | 7:00 PM | at Canisius* | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York (Quarterfinal game 1) | | McClellan | W 2–1 $^{2OT}$ | 513 | 15–18–4 |
| March 12 | 7:00 PM | at Canisius* | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York (Quarterfinal game 2) | | McClellan | W 3–1 | 443 | 16–18–4 |
| March 18 | 4:05 PM | vs. American International* | Adirondack Bank Center • Utica, New York (Semifinal) | | McClellan | L 4–5 | 1,072 | 16–19–4 |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. Source: ||||||||||

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| Carson Brière | C/RW | 31 | 13 | 14 | 27 | 20 |
| Austin Heidemann | F | 38 | 12 | 15 | 27 | 18 |
| Dante Sheriff | RW | 33 | 8 | 19 | 27 | 43 |
| Rylee St. Onge | LW | 36 | 15 | 8 | 23 | 37 |
| Jonathan Bendorf | LW | 36 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 4 |
| Gueorgui Feduolov | F | 36 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 8 |
| Pierce Crawford | F | 38 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 50 |
| Cade Townend | D | 39 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 37 |
| Josh McDougall | D | 39 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 2 |
| Noah Kane | C | 26 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 8 |
| Owen Norton | D | 36 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 52 |
| Marko Reifenberger | C | 32 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 21 |
| Mickey Burns | LW | 23 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 2 |
| Geoff Kitt | C | 35 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 6 |
| Paul Maust | LW | 37 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 26 |
| Steven Ipri | F | 21 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 41 |
| Devon Daniels | D | 38 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 29 |
| Kyler Head | F | 18 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 11 |
| Jake Beaune | D | 35 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 16 |
| Michael Bevilacqua | D | 35 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 44 |
| Dustin Geregach | D | 16 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Keanan Stewart | F | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Wyatt Head | D | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Garrett Dahm | F | 22 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| Dante Spagnuolo | C | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Dalton Hunter | RW | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Philip Waugh | D/F | 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Kyle McClellan | G | 27 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Matt Lenz | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hank Johnson | G | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | | | 114 | 192 | 306 | 503 |

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut Outs | SV % | GAA |
| Kyle McClellan | 27 | 1616 | 12 | 13 | 2 | 69 | 939 | 3 | .932 | 2.56 |
| Hank Johnson | 13 | 741 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 54 | 369 | 0 | .872 | 4.37 |
| Matt Lenz | 1 | 9:56 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | .889 | 6.04 |
| Empty Net | - | 12 | - | - | - | 5 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 39 | 2389 | 16 | 19 | 4 | 129 | 1316 | 3 | .911 | 3.24 |

## Rankings

| Poll | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 (Final) |
| USCHO.com | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | - | NR |
| USA Today | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
Note: USCHO did not release a poll in week 24.

## Awards and honors

| Player | Award | Ref |
| Carson Brière | Atlantic Hockey Third Team | |