# 2022–23 Mercyhurst Lakers men's ice hockey season

The 2022–23 Mercyhurst Lakers men's ice hockey season was the 36th season of play for the program, the 24th at the Division I level, and the 20th in the Atlantic Hockey conference. The Lakers represented Mercyhurst University and were coached by Rick Gotkin, in his 35th season.

## Season

Entering the year, Mercyhurst was seeing to continue its upwards swing but would have to first find a replacement for departed starting goaltender, Kyle McClellan. Graduate transfer Tyler Harmon eventually won the job to start the season but didn't keep the job for long. After just three games the two underclassmen, Owen Say and Matt Lenz, began seeing time in goal. Unfortunately, the change in goal didn't seem to provide any benefits for the Lakers. Mercyhurst began the year by losing each of its first six games and winning just once in its first twelve.
While the team was allowing an average of 4.5 goals against per game, the goaltending didn't appear to be the problem. Over the course of the season, the defense allowed all three of the team's goaltenders to come under a heavy barrage, allowing an average of nearly 37 shots against per game. In spite of those withering attempts, The team did show some life beginning in November. Once Harmon and Say began sharing the goal, Mercyhurst put together a 5-game winning streak and shot up into the top half of the conference standings.
Early December found the team's lack of offense begin to show and the Lakers went on an extended losing stretch. Over a more than three-month period, Mercyhurst went 2–11–1 and ended up near the bottom of the standings. During that time the team was able to score more than 3 goals on just 3 occasions, coincidentally, those were the only game that it did not lose. With on Eric Esposito showing any real offensive punch, the forwards were unable to provide enough scoring to offset the porous defense. Early January also saw the team abandon its goaltending rotation and stick with Harmon as the team's starter.
Mercyhurst ended the regular season 8th in Atlantic Hockey, just enough for them to receive the final berth into the conference tournament. Despite facing the bet team in the conference in the Quarterfinals, Mercyhurst was able to get a lead in both games. Unfortunately, as it had all season, the Laker's defense wasn't able to hold off the attack from RIT and allowed 96 shots in the two games. The Tigers scored the final three goals on both nights, sweeping the series and ending Mercyhurst's season.
Shortly after the end of the season, Carson Brière was charged with criminal mischief and disorderly conduct stemming from an incident where he took a double amputee's empty wheelchair and pushed it down a flight of stairs while at a local bar. Patrick Carrozzi, a member of the school's lacrosse team, was also charged.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Michael Bevilacqua | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Pierce Crawford | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Devon Daniels | Defenseman | Canada | Graduation (signed with Dundee Stars) |
| Wyatt Head | Defenseman | Canada | Left program (retired) |
| Austin Heidemann | Forward | United States | Transferred to Rensselaer |
| Steven Ipri | Forward | United States | Graduation (signed with Wichita Thunder) |
| Henry Johnson | Goaltender | United States | Graduation (signed with Macon Mayhem) |
| Noah Kane | Forward | United States | Transferred to Long Island |
| Geoff Kitt | Forward | Canada | Graduation (signed with Kansas City Mavericks) |
| Josh McDougall | Defenseman | Canada | Graduation (signed with Wichita Thunder) |
| Kyle McClellan | Goaltender | United States | Transferred to Wisconsin |
| Dante Sheriff | Forward | Canada | Left program |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Steven Agriogianis | Forward | United States | 23 | East Hanover, NJ; transfer from Northeastern |
| Tommy Bannister | Forward | United States | 21 | Clayton, NY |
| Adrien Bisson | Defenseman | Canada | 23 | Cornwall, ON; transfer from Maine |
| Ryan Coughlin | Forward | United States | 21 | Charlotte, NC |
| Eric Esposito | Forward | United States | 24 | West Haven, CT; graduate transfer from New Hampshire |
| Tyler Gaulin | Forward | United States | 20 | Kingston, NH |
| Tyler Harmon | Goaltender | United States | 24 | Jonesville, MI; graduate transfer from Vermont |
| Nicholas Kent | Defenseman | United States | 21 | Ladera Ranch, CA |
| Brendon Michaelian | Defenseman | United States | 24 | Wixom, MI; graduate transfer from Ferris State |
| Tyler Nasca | Defenseman | United States | 21 | Wheatfield, NY |
| Owen Say | Goaltender | Canada | 21 | London, ON |

## Roster

As of August 16, 2022.

## Standings

2022–23 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 |
| RIT † | 26 | 18 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 57 | 85 | 55 | 39 | 25 | 13 | 1 | 127 | 100 |
| American International | 26 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 47 | 87 | 62 | 39 | 18 | 14 | 7 | 124 | 98 |
| Sacred Heart | 26 | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 45 | 87 | 72 | 37 | 17 | 17 | 3 | 107 | 112 |
| Canisius * | 26 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 41 | 76 | 71 | 42 | 20 | 19 | 3 | 118 | 119 |
| Army | 26 | 12 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 39 | 72 | 81 | 37 | 14 | 19 | 4 | 98 | 119 |
| Niagara | 26 | 10 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 38 | 73 | 86 | 40 | 19 | 18 | 3 | 119 | 129 |
| Holy Cross | 26 | 12 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 37 | 73 | 71 | 41 | 17 | 21 | 3 | 98 | 119 |
| Mercyhurst | 26 | 9 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 35 | 77 | 80 | 36 | 10 | 23 | 3 | 98 | 122 |
| Bentley | 26 | 8 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 27 | 61 | 89 | 34 | 11 | 21 | 2 | 81 | 124 |
| Air Force | 26 | 8 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 63 | 87 | 36 | 12 | 22 | 2 | 95 | 128 |
| Championship: March 18, 2023 † indicates conference regular season champion (DeGregorio Trophy) * indicates conference tournament champion (Riley Trophy) Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll |||||||||||||||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Site | TV | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Regular Season ||||||||||
| October 1 | 7:05 PM | #16 Ohio State* | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Harmon | L 2–4 | 1,500 | 0–1–0 |
| October 2 | 4:05 PM | #16 Ohio State* | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Harmon | L 1–4 | 716 | 0–2–0 |
| October 7 | 7:00 PM | at Rensselaer* | Houston Field House • Troy, New York | ESPN+ | Harmon | L 3–6 | 1,278 | 0–3–0 |
| October 8 | 7:00 PM | at Rensselaer* | Houston Field House • Troy, New York | ESPN+ | Lenz | L 2–3 | 1,732 | 0–4–0 |
| October 13 | 7:00 PM | at #20 Penn State* | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | | Harmon | L 3–6 | 6,038 | 0–5–0 |
| October 14 | 7:05 PM | #20 Penn State* | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | | Say | L 1–4 | 1,098 | 0–6–0 |
| October 21 | 7:00 PM | at Clarkson* | Cheel Arena • Potsdam, New York | ESPN+ | Say | W 2–1 $^{OT}$ | 2,564 | 1–6–0 |
| October 22 | 7:30 PM | at Clarkson* | Cheel Arena • Potsdam, New York | ESPN+ | Say | L 1–5 | 3,003 | 1–7–0 |
| October 28 | 7:35 PM | at Niagara | Dwyer Arena • Lewiston, New York | FloHockey | Lenz | T 4–4 $^{SOL}$ | 708 | 1–7–1 (0–0–1) |
| October 29 | 7:00 PM | Niagara | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Say | L 2–3 | 612 | 1–8–1 (0–1–1) |
| November 4 | 7:05 PM | Sacred Heart | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Say | L 3–6 | 624 | 1–9–1 (0–2–1) |
| November 5 | 4:05 PM | Sacred Heart | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Harmon | T 3–3 $^{SOL}$ | 212 | 1–9–2 (0–2–2) |
| November 12 | 1:00 PM | at Ferris State* | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan (Exhibition) | FloHockey | Lenz | L 1–5 | 1,872 | |
| November 18 | 6:00 PM | at Holy Cross | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Say | W 3–1 | 517 | 2–9–2 (1–2–2) |
| November 19 | 2:30 PM | at Holy Cross | Hart Center • Worcester, Massachusetts | FloHockey | Harmon | W 4–1 | 307 | 3–9–2 (2–2–2) |
| November 25 | 7:05 PM | Air Force | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Say | W 5–3 | 400 | 4–9–2 (3–2–2) |
| November 26 | 4:05 PM | Air Force | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Harmon | W 4–2 | 300 | 5–9–2 (4–2–2) |
| December 9 | 7:05 PM | Army | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Say | W 4–3 | 1,184 | 6–9–2 (5–2–2) |
| December 10 | 7:05 PM | Army | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Harmon | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | - | 6–10–2 (5–3–2) |
| December 29 | 7:00 PM | at Sacred Heart | Total Mortgage Arena • Bridgeport, Connecticut | FloHockey | Say | L 3–4 $^{OT}$ | 804 | 6–11–2 (5–4–2) |
| December 30 | 4:00 PM | at Sacred Heart | Total Mortgage Arena • Bridgeport, Connecticut | FloHockey | Harmon | L 1–4 | 981 | 6–12–2 (5–5–2) |
| January 7 | 7:00 PM | at USNTDP* | USA Hockey Arena • Plymouth, Michigan | | Say | L 1–6 | 1,367 | |
| January 13 | 7:05 PM | at RIT | Gene Polisseni Center • Henrietta, New York | FloHockey | Harmon | T 4–4 $^{SOW}$ | 2,060 | 6–12–3 (5–5–3) |
| January 14 | 5:05 PM | at RIT | Gene Polisseni Center • Henrietta, New York | FloHockey | Harmon | L 0–1 | 3,181 | 6–13–3 (5–6–3) |
| January 20 | 7:05 PM | American International | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Harmon | W 4–1 | 600 | 7–13–3 (6–6–3) |
| January 21 | 4:05 PM | American International | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Harmon | L 1–2 $^{OT}$ | 354 | 7–14–3 (6–7–3) |
| January 27 | 7:05 PM | Bentley | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Harmon | W 4–3 | - | 8–14–3 (7–7–3) |
| January 28 | 4:05 PM | Bentley | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Harmon | L 3–5 | 682 | 8–15–3 (7–8–3) |
| February 3 | 9:00 PM | at Air Force | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | Altitude 2 | Harmon | L 3–4 $^{OT}$ | 1,854 | 8–16–3 (7–9–3) |
| February 4 | 7:00 PM | at Air Force | Cadet Ice Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | Altitude 2 | Harmon | L 2–4 | 2,290 | 8–17–3 (7–10–3) |
| February 10 | 7:05 PM | Canisius | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Harmon | L 3–4 | - | 8–18–3 (7–11–3) |
| February 11 | 4:00 PM | Canisius | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Harmon | L 0–2 | 473 | 8–19–3 (7–12–3) |
| February 17 | 7:00 PM | at Army | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | FloHockey | Harmon | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 1,441 | 8–20–3 (7–13–3) |
| February 18 | 4:00 PM | at Army | Tate Rink • West Point, New York | FloHockey | Harmon | W 7–3 | 1,700 | 9–20–3 (8–13–3) |
| February 24 | 7:05 PM | Niagara | Mercyhurst Ice Center • Erie, Pennsylvania | FloHockey | Harmon | W 3–2 | 783 | 10–20–3 (9–13–3) |
| February 25 | 7:00 PM | at Niagara | Dwyer Arena • Lewiston, New York | FloHockey | Harmon | L 3–5 | 1,115 | 10–21–3 (9–14–3) |
| Atlantic Hockey Tournament ||||||||||
| March 3 | 7:05 PM | at RIT* | Gene Polisseni Center • Henrietta, New York (Quarterfinal Game 1) | FloHockey | Harmon | L 3–5 | 2,259 | 10–22–3 |
| March 4 | 7:05 PM | at RIT* | Gene Polisseni Center • Henrietta, New York (Quarterfinal Game 2) | FloHockey | Harmon | L 3–4 $^{OT}$ | 2,901 | 10–23–3 |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. Source: ||||||||||

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| Eric Esposito | LW | 35 | 17 | 15 | 32 | 14 |
| Steven Agriogianis | RW | 23 | 4 | 15 | 19 | 2 |
| Mickey Burns | LW | 36 | 11 | 7 | 18 | 22 |
| Rylee St. Onge | LW | 24 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 8 |
| Garrett Dahm | F | 32 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 8 |
| Marko Reifenberger | C | 36 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 23 |
| Cade Townend | D | 36 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 12 |
| Kyler Head | F | 28 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 18 |
| Carson Brière | C/RW | 30 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 14 |
| Jonathan Bendorf | LW | 34 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 2 |
| Dustin Geregach | D | 32 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 10 |
| Gueorgui Feduolov | F | 35 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 20 |
| Keanan Stewart | F | 34 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 12 |
| Brendon Michaelian | D | 18 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| Joseph Maziarz | D | 23 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| Paul Maust | LW | 24 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 22 |
| Dalton Hunter | RW | 28 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 18 |
| Adrien Bisson | F | 36 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 13 |
| Tommy Bannister | F | 16 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Philip Waugh | F/D | 31 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 16 |
| Owen Norton | D | 36 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 41 |
| Jake Beaune | D | 30 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 22 |
| Tyler Gaulin | F | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Ryan Coughlin | F | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Matt Lenz | G | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Owen Say | G | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tyler Harmon | G | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | | | 98 | 145 | 243 | 321 |

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut Outs | SV % | GAA |
| Matt Lenz | 8 | 153:46 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 78 | 0 | .929 | 2.34 |
| Tyler Harmon | 25 | 1423:17 | 6 | 16 | 2 | 75 | 806 | 0 | .915 | 3.16 |
| Owen Say | 14 | 602:06 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 34 | 317 | 0 | .903 | 3.39 |
| Empty Net | - | 14:41 | - | - | - | 7 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 36 | 2193:50 | 10 | 23 | 3 | 122 | 1201 | 0 | .913 | 3.34 |

## 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 | 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 | 27 (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 | NR | NR |
Note: USCHO did not release a poll in weeks 1, 13, or 26.

## Awards and honors

| Player | Award |
| Eric Esposito | Atlantic Hockey Regular Season Scoring Trophy |
| Eric Esposito | Atlantic Hockey Second Team |
| Owen Say | Atlantic Hockey Rookie Team |