ERIE, Pa. - Head coach
Michael Sisti of the Mercyhurst University women's hockey team has announced the captains for the upcoming 2015-16 season. Senior forward
Emily Janiga will serve as the captain for the second consecutive year while senior forward
Hannah Bale and senior defenseman
J'nai Mahadeo will be the assistant captains.
Janiga, a native of East Aurora, New York, played in all 35 games last season and led the College Hockey America (CHA) in goals (27), points (45), and power-play goals (11). For her efforts, Janiga was named the CHA Player of the Year, earned the league's Scoring Champion Award, and was an All-Conference First Team selection.
She recorded 41 points in each of her first two seasons and, after being named to the College Hockey America All-Rookie Team as a freshman, was named to the All-CHA First Team as a sophomore.
Entering her senior season, Janiga has scored 61 goals and dished out 66 assists for 127 points in 109 career games.
Bale, a native of Oakville, Ontario, enjoyed her finest season in a Mercyhurst uniform last season. Entering her junior year, Bale had scored two goals and an assist for three points in 46 career games. But, last season, Bale broke out by scoring six goals and adding nine assists for 15 points while playing all 35 games. Her six goals last season was tied for fifth on the team.
Mahadeo, who hails from Airdrie, Alberta, also had her best season with the Lakers a year ago. After having three goals and nine assists for 12 points in 49 career games during her first two seasons, Mahadeo scored three goals and added 16 assists for a career-best 19 points last season. Her 16 assists were fifth on the team while she led the squad with a +19 plus/minus rating.
The Lakers finished the 2014-15 season with a 23-9-3 overall record and won the CHA regular season championship for the 13th consecutive time. Sisti (410-117-37) will be entering his 17th season as the Laker coach and will be looking to get Mercyhurst back into the NCAA tournament after a one-year hiatus a year ago. The Lakers were upset by Rochester Institute of Technology in the conference semifinals last March at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.
Mercyhurst will open the 2015-16 season with an exhibition game against the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL)'s Buffalo Beauts at the Mercyhurst Ice Center on Friday, September 25. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
