It is difficult to imagine a more successful season than the one that the Grand Valley State University Division II hockey club is currently experiencing.

After an uneven start during their first month, which earned the team a loss, a win, and a tie, the Lakers (20-2-1) have surged, winning all but one of their October games and are currently riding a 19-game winning streak, which the team has seldom equaled in their history.

“This is, by far, the largest winning streak I’ve ever been a part of,” said senior forward Brad Keough. “Everyone is playing hard and everyone knows what they have to do. The execution has been there, and it’s been working out for us.”

After defeating every opponent that came their way in the past two and a half months, including traditionally powerful Division I teams like Western Michigan and Davenport universities, the Lakers are now approaching the final stretch of their season, which promises to provide greater challenges than anything the team has seen thus far.

“Nobody thinks that we’re this invincible team, but I think we’re where we need to be in order to succeed,” Keough said. “Our full-team defense is holding us together, and everyone helps out. Some teams send guys flying towards the goal without caring that they’re out-numbered, but we play a good defensive game.”

In this month alone, the team will face six top-tier schools, such as Michigan State, Central Michigan, and Ohio State universities, which will try their best to steal the Lakers’ thunder.

“We’re all anxious and excited because we want to keep the winning streak going,” said junior defender Craig Marrett. “We can’t be cocky. We beat Davenport, so you might think we can walk over everyone, but it’s the complete opposite. Everyone’s going to want to defeat us now, so that’s going to make it that much harder for us.”

The Lakers play next at home on Sunday against the Oakland University Grizzlies (14-9-1), winners of the 2007 Division I National Championships, and the game looks to be the most difficult of the regular season for the team.

Despite the challenges, the Lakers agree that with teamwork and some additional practices under their belt, they should be able to take on the best-of-the-best and rise to the top.

“I think that we will keep playing to the best of our ability this season,” said freshman forward Brad Wilhelm. “We have to practice hard, and that will allow us to stay calm and go out there and win.”

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