# 2024–25 Mercyhurst Lakers men's ice hockey season

The 2024–25 Mercyhurst Lakers men's ice hockey season was the 38th season of play for the program, the 26th at the Division I level, and the 1st in Atlantic Hockey America. The Lakers represented Mercyhurst University in the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, played their home games at the Mercyhurst Ice Center and were coached by Rick Gotkin in his 37th season.

## Season

In just about every way, Mercyhurst had a horrible season. While the offense regressed and was one of the worst in the nation, averaging just over 2 goals per game, the team allowed more than 4 goals on average for the entire season. While the goaltenders didn't receive much help from the defense, they managed to post the worst goals against average in the nation and allow an NCAA-high of 150 for the year. Only one skater (Mickey Burns) reached 10 goals on the season and no Laker finished the year with a positive plus/minus rating. While the team's penalty kill was among the worst in the nation (61st out of 64 teams), the power play was middle-of-the-pack, converting on just under 20% of its opportunities. However, even with a decent man-advantage, Mercyhurst ended the year winning just 4 of its 35 games. That paltry sum set a new low for the program while the Lakers finished dead-last in the national rankings.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Adrien Bisson | Defenseman | Canada | Graduation (signed with Florida Everblades) |
| Garrett Dahm | Forward | United States | Transferred to Clarkson |
| Tyler Gaulin | Forward | United States | Left program (retired) |
| Nicholas Kent | Defenseman | United States | Transferred to Hamilton |
| Matt Lenz | Goaltender | Canada | Graduate transfer to Albertus Magnus |
| Jackson McCarthy | Defenseman | United States | Left program (retired) |
| Marko Reifenberger | Forward | United States | Graduation (signed with South Carolina Stingrays) |
| Owen Say | Goaltender | Canada | Transferred to Notre Dame |
| Keanan Stewart | Forward | Canada | Graduation (signed with Cincinnati Cyclones) |
| Philip Waugh | Defenseman/Forward | United States | Signed professional contract (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins) |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Dominik Bartecko | Forward | Czech Republic | 20 | Prague, CZE |
| Michael Chambre | Goaltender | United States | 19 | Fort Myers, FL |
| Matteo Disipio | Forward | Canada | 21 | Nepean, ON |
| Riley Fitzgerald | Forward | United States | 21 | Wilmington, MA |
| Christian Kocsis | Forward | United States | 20 | Middletown, NJ |
| Brendan Lamb | Forward | United States | 20 | Battle Creek, MI |
| Carter McPhail | Goaltender | United States | 25 | Fenton, MI; graduate transfer from Miami |
| Kaden Muir | Defenseman | United States | 20 | Manchester, NH |
| Mateo Picozzi | Defenseman | United States | 21 | Morristown, NJ |
| Caleb Price | Defenseman | United States | 24 | Hooksett, NH; transfer from Lindenwood |

## Roster

As of August 21, 2024.

## Standings

2024–25 Atlantic Hockey America 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 |
| Holy Cross † | 26 | 19 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 56 | 92 | 47 | 37 | 22 | 13 | 2 | 119 | 85 |
| Sacred Heart | 26 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 53 | 80 | 64 | 37 | 21 | 11 | 5 | 116 | 93 |
| Bentley | 26 | 16 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 51 | 79 | 57 | 36 | 20 | 14 | 2 | 100 | 75 |
| Niagara | 26 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 48 | 90 | 70 | 37 | 18 | 16 | 3 | 124 | 109 |
| Army | 26 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 44 | 84 | 74 | 36 | 16 | 18 | 2 | 102 | 109 |
| Canisius | 26 | 11 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 38 | 84 | 79 | 37 | 12 | 23 | 2 | 98 | 120 |
| Air Force | 26 | 11 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 37 | 59 | 58 | 40 | 16 | 21 | 3 | 86 | 112 |
| American International | 26 | 9 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 31 | 63 | 77 | 38 | 13 | 23 | 2 | 92 | 117 |
| RIT | 26 | 9 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 28 | 65 | 102 | 35 | 10 | 23 | 2 | 82 | 133 |
| Robert Morris | 26 | 7 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 72 | 86 | 35 | 10 | 20 | 5 | 95 | 115 |
| Mercyhurst | 26 | 4 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 59 | 113 | 35 | 4 | 27 | 4 | 77 | 150 |
| Championship: March 22, 2025 † indicates conference regular season champion (DeGregorio Trophy) * indicates conference tournament champion (Riley Trophy) Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll Updated: March 10, 2025 |||||||||||||||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Site | TV | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Regular Season ||||||||||
| October 5 | 7:07 pm | Bowling Green* | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Bucheler | L 1–2 | 1,156 | 0–1–0 |
| October 6 | 7:07 pm | Bowling Green* | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | McPhail | L 4–5 $^{OT}$ | 1,178 | 0–2–0 |
| October 11 | 7:00 pm | RIT | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Bucheler | W 4–2 | 876 | 1–2–0 (1–0–0) |
| October 12 | 4:00 pm | RIT | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Bucheler | L 2–4 | 939 | 1–3–0 (1–1–0) |
| October 18 | 7:00 pm | at Union* | Achilles Rink • Schenectady, New York | ESPN+ | Bucheler | L 2–6 | 1,605 | 1–4–0 |
| October 19 | 5:00 pm | at Union* | Achilles Rink • Schenectady, New York | ESPN+ | McPhail | L 2–3 | 1,983 | 1–5–0 |
| October 22 | 6:00 pm | at Canisius | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York | FloHockey | Bucheler | L 3–6 | 489 | 1–6–0 (1–2–0) |
| November 1 | 7:00 pm | at Niagara | Dwyer Arena • Lewiston, New York | FloHockey | McPhail | L 3–5 | 807 | 1–7–0 (1–3–0) |
| November 2 | 7:00 pm | Niagara | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Bucheler | W 3–4 $^{OT}$ | 891 | 2–7–0 (2–3–0) |
| November 4 | 7:00 pm | Robert Morris | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Bucheler | L 2–5 | 1,122 | 2–8–0 (2–4–0) |
| November 8 | 7:00 pm | Sacred Heart | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Bucheler | L 3–4 | 1,290 | 2–9–0 (2–5–0) |
| November 9 | 4:00 pm | Sacred Heart | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Bucheler | L 1–4 | 1,362 | 2–10–0 (2–6–0) |
| November 15 | 10:00 pm | at Air Force | Cadet Ice Arena • USAF Academy, Colorado | FloHockey | McPhail | L 0–1 | 2,176 | 2–11–0 (2–7–0) |
| November 16 | 10:00 pm | at Air Force | Cadet Ice Arena • USAF Academy, Colorado | FloHockey | McPhail | L 1–4 | 2,137 | 2–12–0 (2–8–0) |
| November 22 | 7:00 pm | Canisius | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | McPhail | L 2–3 | 1,257 | 2–13–0 (2–9–0) |
| November 23 | 5:00 pm | Canisius | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | McPhail | T 3–3 $^{SOW}$ | 1,237 | 2–13–1 (2–9–1) |
| December 6 | 7:00 pm | Bentley | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | McPhail | L 2–4 | 1,189 | 2–14–1 (2–10–1) |
| December 7 | 5:00 pm | Bentley | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | McPhail | T 2–2 $^{SOL}$ | 1,172 | 2–14–2 (2–10–2) |
| December 14 | 7:00 pm | Rensselaer* | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | McPhail | T 3–3 $^{OT}$ | 1,021 | 2–14–3 |
| December 15 | 4:00 pm | Rensselaer* | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Chambre | L 2–5 | 1,034 | 2–15–3 |
| January 3 | 8:00 pm | at #3 Minnesota* | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | Fox 9+ | McPhail | L 2–6 | 10,019 | 2–16–3 |
| January 4 | 6:00 pm | at #3 Minnesota* | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | Fox 9+ | Chambre | L 2–5 | 10,201 | 2–17–3 |
| January 10 | 7:00 pm | at Army | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | FloHockey | McPhail | L 1–9 | 1,754 | 2–18–3 (2–11–2) |
| January 11 | 7:00 pm | at Army | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | FloHockey | Bucheler | L 1–13 | 1,682 | 2–19–3 (2–12–2) |
| January 17 | 7:00 pm | Niagara | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | McPhail | W 5–1 | 1,238 | 3–19–3 (3–12–2) |
| January 18 | 7:00 pm | at Niagara | Dwyer Arena • Lewiston, New York | FloHockey | McPhail | L 3–6 | 551 | 3–20–3 (3–13–2) |
| January 31 | 7:00 pm | at Robert Morris | Clearview Arena • Neville Township, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | McPhail | W 4–2 | 787 | 4–20–3 (4–13–2) |
| February 1 | 7:00 pm | at Robert Morris | Clearview Arena • Neville Township, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Chambre | T 3–3 $^{SOW}$ | 786 | 4–20–4 (4–13–3) |
| February 7 | 7:00 pm | American International | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Chambre | L 0–5 | 1,286 | 4–21–4 (4–14–3) |
| February 8 | 4:00 pm | American International | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | McPhail | L 1–4 | 1,307 | 4–22–4 (4–15–3) |
| February 14 | 6:00 pm | at Holy Cross | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | FloHockey, NESN+ | McPhail | L 1–4 | 693 | 4–23–4 (4–16–3) |
| February 15 | 6:00 pm | at Holy Cross | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Chambre | L 3–7 | 742 | 4–24–4 (4–17–3) |
| February 21 | 7:05 pm | at RIT | Gene Polisseni Center • Henrietta, New York | FloHockey | McPhail | L 2–3 | 3,045 | 4–25–4 (4–18–3) |
| February 22 | 5:05 pm | at RIT | Gene Polisseni Center • Henrietta, New York | FloHockey | Bucheler | L 3–6 | 3,138 | 4–26–4 (4–19–3) |
| Atlantic Hockey America Tournament ||||||||||
| March 1 | 5:00 pm | at Canisius* | LECOM Harborcenter • Buffalo, New York (AHA First Round) | FloHockey | McPhail | L 0–2 | 293 | 4–27–4 |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. Source: ||||||||||

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| Mickey Burns | LW | 32 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 23 |
| Steven Agriogianis | RW | 34 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 8 |
| Dustin Geregach | D | 35 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 10 |
| Ryan Coughlin | F | 35 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 12 |
| Riley Fitzgerald | F | 33 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 6 |
| Boris Skalos | F | 34 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 12 |
| Will Margel | C/W | 24 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 16 |
| Dominik Bartecko | F | 31 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 2 |
| Sean James | LW | 34 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 10 |
| Trent Sambrook | D | 35 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 18 |
| Brendan Lamb | F | 33 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 4 |
| Tyler DesRochers | D | 27 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 16 |
| Barrett Brooks | RW | 26 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 2 |
| Connor Pelc | RW | 28 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 29 |
| Caleb Price | D | 24 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| Matteo Disipio | RW | 16 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| Tyler Nasca | D | 31 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Spencer Smith | C | 32 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Jake Beaune | D | 26 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 36 |
| Jaryd Sych | D | 30 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 12 |
| Christian Kocsis | LW | 25 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| Davis Fry | F | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Kaden Muir | D | 21 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 16 |
| Cameron Ricotta | LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michael Chambre | G | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kyler Head | F | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Simon Bucheler | G | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Carter McPhail | G | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Total | | | 77 | 138 | 215 | 284 |
Source:

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals against | Saves | Shut-outs | SV % | GAA |
| Carter McPhail | 22 | 1168:12 | 2 | 14 | 3 | 67 | 680 | 0 | .910 | 3.44 |
| Michael Chambre | 6 | 304:06 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 22 | 186 | 0 | .894 | 4.34 |
| Simon Bucheler | 11 | 625:26 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 46 | 328 | 0 | .877 | 4.44 |
| Empty Net | - | 25:18 | - | - | - | 15 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 35 | 2123:02 | 4 | 27 | 4 | 150 | 1194 | 0 | .888 | 4.24 |

## 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 | 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 | 26 (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 | | | |
| USA Hockey | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | – | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | | | |
Note: Neither USCHO nor USA Hockey released a poll in week 12.