Athletic Sidebars

Welcome to the 2025–26 season. I’m Matt Pocket, and I recently joined Lake Superior State as the Director of Athletic Communications on August 18^th. Many of you may recognize me from my years broadcasting Laker hockey, basketball, and volleyball. I look forward to working with you and to another exciting year of Laker Athletics.

Athletic Highlights and Upcoming Events:

• Volleyball
  • Opened the season with an exhibition match against Michigan on Mackinac Island.
  • Competing in the Illinois-Springfield Tournament to start the regular season on September 5^th-6^th.
  • On the road throughout September.
  • First home matches: October 3^rd vs. Michigan Tech (7:00p) and October 4^th vs. Northern Michigan (4:00p).
  • View all road matches by subscribing at FloCollege, the official live and on-demand streaming service of the GLIAC.
• Cross Country
  • Began the season at the 40th Annual Jeff Drenth Memorial on Friday at Central Michigan University and recorded a number of program-best finishes.
  • Alex Tyndall posted the best time by a freshman in Laker history in the 5K. Gavin Guggemos, Derian Kumfer and Birk Seagren all finished in the top 50, and all within 13 seconds of Tyndall.
  • Izzy Yeoman and Noel Black also earned program-best times by sophomores in the 5K for the women’s team.
  • Both teams are positioned for strong performances and more potential new program records.
• Women’s Basketball
  • Hosting a golf outing fundraiser on September 20^th at Sault Ste. Marie Country Club.
  • Find full details and register to participate here.
• Hockey
  • Season opens in early October.
  • Subscribe to watch all Laker road games at Midco Sports Plus, the official home of the CCHA.
  • Great Lake State Weekend: October 24^th–25^th vs. CCHA rival Bowling Green.
• Laker Athletics Social Media Video of the Week
  • Check out Seamore's Mackinac Island Adventure
  • We're now on Tik Tok

Additional Notes:

• The Arbuckle Student Activity Center is open and available for students and staff to assist with total well-being goals.
• Lakercast Studios in the Kenneth J. Shouldice Library are available for students interested in media production.
• Student employment and internship opportunities are available in athletic communications (writing, video, audio, statistics). Interested students may contact me or Steve Habusta at [email protected].

We look forward to your continued support at games this year. Go Lakers!

Matt Pocket
Assistant AD - Director of Athletic Communications

The Lake Superior State (LSSU) hockey program has unveiled its full 2025-26 schedule, as announced by Head Coach Damon Whitten this summer. In addition, season ticket packages for the 2025-26 season are available now for $265 for adults and $160 for children for a 16-game regular-season home schedule. All season packages include first round CCHA playoff tickets as well.

Single-game tickets will cost $17 for adults, $13 for seniors/military, and $9 for children with the exceptions of Superior Series games (Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech) which will cost $25 for adults/seniors/military and $12 for children. See the full schedule here.

Lake Superior State University is thrilled to announce Roschard Watkins as Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Academic Services, Leadership, and Life Skills Development. Watkins arrives on campus with a strong student-athlete academic support background at multiple NCAA Division I institutions.

"We are incredibly excited to bring Roschard Watkins to Lake Superior State," said LSSU Director of Athletics Tory Lindley. "His knowledge and energy make him a perfect fit for our staff and student-athletes. Roschard is a fantastic professional who will provide high-level support to supplement our active Lake State faculty."

To read more about Roschard and his position, click here!

LSSU Athletics welcomed Tim O'Neill as the new Director of Intercollegiate Swimming and Aquatics this summer. He brought with him a strong track record both as a leader and former swimmer. Recently, Tim guided Lewis University to 42 NCAA qualifying times and 10 new school records during his first season as a coach. When he was an athlete himself, Tim was in the all-time top 10 in the 100m fly. He also helped bring his team to three Atlantic 10 Conference Championships.

In June 2025, former Laker Hockey Head Coach Jeff Jackson earned a U.S.A. Hockey Distinguished Achievement Award for his great contributions to hockey in the U.S.

Jackson was named head coach and senior director of U.S.A. Hockey's National Team Development Program in the summer of 1996 following a successful run at LSSU. During his six seasons as head coach at LSSU, Jackson led Laker Hockey to win two NCAA Division I titles, as well as four others when he was an assistant coach. This experience set him up as the right person to gather the top young American hockey talent and improve their skill level to put U.S. men's hockey at the top of the international stage.

At his first event as head coach with the NTDP, Jackson's strategy led the U.S. team to finish with a silver medal — the highest finish in American hockey history. Since then, the U.S. has secured seven gold medals, five more silver, and five bronze.

Jackson is credited by his peers for his passion, dedication, and innovation. Putting U.S. men's hockey on the map and sustaining their success was no easy feat in a state so far from home for many of the best players and and limited space at the rink. However, Jackson's strategy of focusing on development rather than wins and losses proved successful both on and off the ice. Players improved their hockey skills while maintaining their academics rather than neglecting their schooling in favor of more time on the ice.

While U.S. hockey still has a ways to go to reach the ultimate goal of an Olympic gold, the program has evolved into the formidable foe Jackson fought for. While he has since retired from coach, Jackson's legacy has set the U.S. team on track for continued success.