Lincoln gearing up for hockey

By Tom Perkins
Nov. 16, 2009    ·    8:52 a.m.

Last year the Lincoln hockey program earned the respect of their Southeast Conference counterparts by winning their first conference games ever and elevating themselves out of long-held spot in the basement of a talent-rich league.

This year, with a roster listing 20 seniors, head coach Mike Ferguson is looking beyond just earning respect – he sees no reason his team can’t win the league.

“I feel pretty good about this year,” he said. “I think with this much experience that if we’re going to have a big year, than this is it.”

The Railsplitters only graduated four seniors last season, but they were all big names. Gone are Nikko Keider, James Himes, Cory Pfeiffer and goalie Patrick Summers, who now plays for the University of Michigan.

But several unexpected transfers, two freshmen and a new student who was home-schooled last year, will fill in the gaps.

As far as the youth in the line up goes, Ferguson is particularly excited about freshmen defensemen Nick Smith, who will take Himes’s place, and freshmen forward Jerry Jordan.

“They are definitely going to add to our depth,” Ferguson said. “Nick coming in gives us four solid defensemen.”

David Skeans, who played for Lincoln his freshman year, on a club team his sophomore year and at Saline last season will once again don a Lincoln jersey for his senior year, and Ferguson expects high production out of the known-sniper.

“He’ll fit right in on our top line with Drew Harper and Jarrett Pfeiffer,” Ferguson said.

Harper and Pfeiffer led the Splitters in scoring last season, and with Chase Rieberger, Ryan Elkins and Blaze Keider all returning, offense is not a concern.

“We have pretty much all our top scorers back,” Ferguson said.

Justin Pfeiffer and Josh Eastman, who attends Milan, will split netminding duties. Ferguson said he is pleased with Pfeiffer’s strong showing in the summer and fall leagues.

“He has really improved,” he said.

Lincoln will see a far different schedule this season than they did last year. With the folding of the Mega Conference, Monroe has joined the SEC, meaning the Railsplitters will play 10 league games.

Their region now includes Dearborn, Taylor Unified and Monroe, which means they very well could advance past the early rounds of the post season.

Straightaway, Lincoln face several tests, opening their season at perennial power Hudsonville on Saturday and returning next weekend to face Troy at the Ann Arbor Tournament.

Following the tournament, Dexter visits to open up SEC play, and Lincoln must skate in the early match ups with several injuries, but Ferguson is confident about the season.

“For four years in a row we’ve had a better season each year in and this will be the fifth because we are going to have our best ever,” he said.