Mercyhurst men’s hockey coach Rick Gotkin today announced the names of five players who will continue their academic and athletic careers at Mercyhurst College next fall.
Gotkin, whose 2007-08 squad made a dramatic playoff run down the stretch before bowing to Air Force in double overtime, will start his 21st year in September. The Lakers finished the 2007-2008 campaign with an overall mark of 15-19-7 and an Atlantic Hockey record of 11-10-7.
Brief bios of the five players are as follows:
GOALTENDER
·Max Strang / Gilbertsville, PA
Sioux Falls Stampede – United States Hockey League (USHL)
Goaltender
89 Birth year / 6-2 / 190 lbs
2007 – 2008 Regular season 31GP 16-10-4-1 / 2.73GAA / .906% / USHL Goalie of the week 2/25/08, 6th in league goaltending
2006 – 2007 Regular season 16 GP 10-4-0-1 / 3.02GAA / .893% / Member of USHL Championship (Clark Cup) Team, Teammate of Matt Lundin
Gotkin comments: Experienced, takes up a lot of net, smart, determined; excellent student
FORWARDS
·Derek Elliott / West Des Moines, IA
Des Moines Buccaneers – United States Hockey League (USHL)
Right Shot / Forward
87 Birth year / 5-10 175 lbs
2007 – 2008 55-11-14-25
2006 – 2007 58-7-13-20
Gotkin comments: Puck mover, skilled with hockey sense, effective on special teams; competes in triathlons
·Phil Ginand / Milford, MA
Tri-City Storm – United States Hockey League (USHL)
Left Shot / Forward
88 Birth year / 6-2 190 lbs
2007 – 2008 49-9-14-23 Injured leg during second half of season
2006 – 2007 New England Junior Huskies – Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) 45-34-32-66 / EJHL All-Star / Second in League Goal Scoring / Third in League Points
Gotkin comments: Tall, rangy, competitive; good student, brother plays for Northeastern (Hockey East)
DEFENSEMEN
·Patrick Goebel / Parma, OH
Ohio Junior Blue Jackets – United States Hockey League (USHL)
Left Shot Defense
87 Birth year / 5-8 150 lbs
2007 – 2008 57-10-16-26 / Fifth in Regular Season Goals for USHL Defensemen
2006 – 2007 45-1-7-8
Gotkin comments: Mobile, tough, tireless, understands the position; brother Tommy plays for Rochester Americans – American Hockey League (AHL) after playing at Ohio State (CCHA), brother John plays hockey at Merrimack (Hockey East)
·Kevin Noble / Calgary, AB
Nanaimo Clippers – British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL)
Left shot / Defense
87 Birth year / 6-0 185 lbs
2007 – 2008 Regular Season 59-13-29-42 / Sixth in BCHL Defensemen Regular Season Scoring / Playoffs 14-1-10-11 / Second in BCHL Defensemen Playoff Scoring
2006 – 2007 Regular Season 61-8-28-36 / Playoffs 24-0-8-8 / Team Won BCHL Championship
Gotkin comments: Savvy, competitive, good penalty killer who makes smart offensive decisions; Father is a Western Hockey League (WHL) scout
Mercyhurst will play a 36-game regular season schedule next season. 15 games will be at the Ice Center including an October 5th exhibition contest against Royal Military College.