2020–21 Mercyhurst Lakers men's ice hockey season

The 2020–21 Mercyhurst Lakers men's ice hockey season was the 34th season of play for the program, the 22nd at the Division I level, and the 18th season in the Atlantic Hockey conference. The Lakers represented Mercyhurst University and were coached by Rick Gotkin, in his 33rd season.
The start of the college hockey season was delayed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. As a result, Mercyhurst's first scheduled game was in mid-November as opposed to early-October, which was the norm.
==Season==
As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the entire college ice hockey season was delayed. Because the NCAA had previously announced that all winter sports athletes would retain whatever eligibility they possessed through at least the following year, none of Mercyhurst's players would lose a season of play. However, the NCAA also approved a change in its transfer regulations that would allow players to transfer and play immediately rather than having to sit out a season, as the rules previously required. 
Mercyhurst managed to recover after the program's worst season, posting a middling record amidst an ever-changing schedule. Despite playing 14 fewer games, the Lakers won three more games than they had the year before. including three over ranked opponents.
Ashton Stockie and Carver Watson sat out the season.
==Departures==
Player 	Position 	Nationality	Cause
James Anderson 	Forward 	 	Graduation
Stefano Cantali 	Goaltender	 	Signed Professional Contract (Chiefs Leuven)
Cory Caruso 	Forward 	 	Left Program
Colin DeAugustine	Goaltender	 	Graduation
Ethan Johnson 	Forward 	 	Left Program
Jonathan Lazarus 	Forward 	 	Graduation
Garrett Metcalf 	Goaltender	 	Transferred to Long Island
Brendan Riley 	Forward 	 	Graduation
==Recruiting==
Player 	Position 	Nationality	Age	Notes
Carson Brière 	Forward 	 	21 	Haddonfield, NJ
Wyatt Head 	Defenseman	 	21 	Kelowna, BC
Austin Heidemann 	Forward 	 	21 	Maple Grove, MN
Hank Johnson 	Goaltender	 	24 	Minneapolis, MN; transfer from Bemidji State
Noah Kane 	Forward 	 	20 	Buffalo, NY
Matt Lenz 	Goaltender	 	21 	Calgary, AB
Jac Lymn 	Goaltender	 	19 	Charlotte, NC
Kyle McClellan 	Goaltender	 	21 	Manchester, MO
Devon Mussio 	Defenseman	 	21 	Vancouver, BC
Marko Reifenberger	Forward 	 	21 	Hastings, MN
Dante Sheriff 	Forward 	 	21 	Woodbridge, ON
Rylee St. Onge 	Forward 	 	22 	St. Catharines, ON; transfer from Alaska Anchorage
Keanan Stewart 	Defenseman	 	20 	Guelph, ON
==Roster==
As of December 31, 2020.
==Standings==
==Schedule and Results==
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!colspan=12 style=";" | Regular Season
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!colspan=12 style=";" | 
==Scoring Statistics==
Name 	Position	Games	Goals	Assists	Points	
 	C/RW 	21 	5 	14 	19 	10
 	LW 	21 	11 	4 	15 	2
 	F 	19 	5 	10 	15 	31
 	F 	21 	4 	9 	13 	16
 	D 	20 	1 	12 	13 	8
 	F 	16 	7 	5 	12 	9
 	C 	19 	3 	6 	9 	4
 	D 	19 	0 	9 	9 	8
 	D 	21 	5 	3 	8 	8
 	LW 	21 	3 	5 	8 	28
 	D/F 	17 	1 	7 	8 	0
 	F 	11 	4 	2 	6 	12
 	C 	19 	4 	2 	6 	6
 	C 	21 	1 	5 	6 	4
 	D 	21 	2 	3 	5 	14
 	C 	9 	2 	2 	4 	5
 	LW 	9 	1 	3 	4 	0
 	D 	18 	1 	3 	4 	0
 	LW 	11 	2 	1 	3 	8
 	C 	13 	1 	2 	3 	10
 	F 	13 	1 	2 	3 	17
 	RW 	8 	0 	3 	3 	2
 	D 	17 	0 	3 	3 	4
 	F 	7 	0 	1 	1 	4
 	G 	15 	0 	1 	1 	0
 	D 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	3 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	6 	0 	0 	0 	0
Total	 	 	64 	117 	181 	214
==Goaltending statistics==
Name 	Games	Minutes	Wins	Losses	Ties	Goals Against	Saves	Shut Outs	 	
 	6 	355 	2 	4 	0 	12 	164 	1 	.932	2.03
 	15 	904 	6 	8 	1 	52 	469 	0 	.900	3.45
Empty Net	- 	13 	- 	- 	- 	3 	- 	- 	- 	-
Total 	21 	1273 	8 	12 	1 	67 	633 	1 	.904	3.16
==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
Poll 	Pre 	1 	2 	3 	4 	5 	6 	7 	8 	9 	10 	11 	12 	13 	14 	15 	16 	17 	18 	19 	20 	21 (Final)	 	 	
USCHO.com	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 	 	 	
USCHO did not release a poll in week 20.
==Awards and honors==
Player 	Award 	Ref
Joseph Maziarz 	Atlantic Hockey Second Team	
Jon Bendorf 	Atlantic Hockey Second Team	
Carson Brière 	Atlantic Hockey Second Team	
Carson Brière 	Atlantic Hockey Rookie Team	
Austin Heidemann	Atlantic Hockey Rookie Team	
 	Atlantic Hockey Rookie Team	
==References==
Category:Mercyhurst Lakers men's ice hockey seasons
Mercyhurst Lakers 
Mercyhurst Lakers 
Mercyhurst Lakers