Supplied by the City of Sault Ste. Marie…
Sault Ste. Marie, ON (2019 09 23) – Lake Superior State University (LSSU) in
association with the City of Sault Ste Marie are pleased to announce that the LSSU
men’s hockey team will host the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers in a Western Collegiate
Hockey Association (WCHA) season game, 7 p.m. February 15, 2020 at the GFL
Memorial Gardens. This will be the first game played by the University in Sault Ste
Marie, Ontario.
The Lakers, who are set to open their 54th season of collegiate play, have instilled a
proud hockey tradition throughout their history. The LSSU men’s hockey team has
clinched five National Championships, qualified for 10 National Collegiate Athletic
Association (NCAA) Tournaments, produced 18 All-Americans, and has had two players
named as U.S. College Hockey Player of the Year. Laker hockey has been guided by a
legendary group of head coaches including U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Ron
Mason, Rick Comley, Frank Anzalone and Jeff Jackson. The current program is run by
sixth-year Head Coach Damon Whitten along with senior co-captains Max Humitz and
Collin Saccoman.
“Laker hockey is very excited to partner with the City of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and
the GFL Memorial Gardens for this event. It is great to be involved in an event that can
connect the storied hockey history that these sister cities share. We hope to continue to
build this relationship and there’s no better way to do it than through the great game of
hockey,” said Lake Superior State Head Coach Damon Whitten.
“The Lakers are coming off their best season in 23 years, and the community is looking
forward to this historic event,” expressed Dr. Rodney Hanley, Lake Superior State
University President. “It’s a great way to bring the Twin Saults together for an exciting
night of Division I hockey.”
“This is certainly exciting news for hockey fans in our area. As we all know, Sault Ste.
Marie is a tremendous hockey community, and the GFL Memorial Gardens is a great
location for this game. I encourage people to buy tickets, and I hope to see many of our
neighbours from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan in attendance,” says Mayor Provenzano,
Sault Ste. Marie Ontario.
“This is a fantastic opportunity certaintly for Lake Superior State University and the City
of Sault Ste. Marie to showcase the great calibre of hockey in our area. We thank the
administration of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and LSSU for coordinating this tremendous
opportunity,” says Mayor Bosbous, Sault Ste. Marie Michigan
“There is a unique and rich hockey tradition on both sides of the St. Mary’s River. With
only 3.5 miles separating them, no NCAA Division I hockey program and Major Junior
program are closer in proximity. We see this as an opportunity to celebrate the game at
all levels as well as a stage to showcase the many positive aspects of our university.
We’re thrilled to be in partnership with GFL Gardens,” says Dr. David Paitson, Director
of Athletics at Lake Superior State University.
“All of us at the Western Collegiate Hockey Association are excited to see Lake
Superior State and Alabama Hunstville take our game north of the border, I want to
congratulate David Paitson, Damon Whitten and the athletic department staff at Lake
Superior State for their work to make this unique opportunity a reality. This is a great
day for the WCHA and collegiate hockey,” says Bill Robertson, WCHA President and
Men’s League Commissioner.
Soo Greyhounds season ticket holders will have the opportunity to purchase discounted
tickets for this event beginning September 23 at 10 a.m. until October 7 at 5 p.m. at the
GFL Memorial Gardens Box Office only.
Laker season ticket holders will be issued tickets for this event as part of their ticket
package. They will be assigned a seat location similar to their seat in the Taffy Abel
Arena. Their tickets will be available for pickup at the Norris Center ticket office
beginning mid-October.
Tickets go on sale to the public on October 11 at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased at
the GFL Memorial Gardens Box office, online at www.gflgardens.ca or by calling 1-866-
775-9422.
Group tickets of 10 or more may be available for purchase on a first come first serve
basis. Please contact Jenn at 705-759-5254 for more details for groups.