The Yeo Years

1976-77 With the departure of Rick Comley the Lakers where searching for a new head hockey coach for the second time in three years. LSSC reached to there former parent institution over in Houghton, Michigan and brought in former Michigan Technological University captain and MVP (1963-66), and current MTU assistant coach Rick Yeo. The 10 year anniversary of Laker hockey also saw the most significant change in the history of the program with the Lakers leaving their off campus home at Pullar Stadium located downtown on the shores of the St. Mary’s River to their new home on campus in the newly built Norris Center. The first season under new head coach Rick Yeo started off turbulently for the Lakers losing their first 7 games including 2 losses to Rick Comley’s Northern Michigan Wildcats, including a 12-2 drubbing on November 6th. Things didn’t get much better for the Lakers during the 76-77 campaign with the team going 3-13-0 in CCHA play and 10-23-0 overall to finish the first losing season in Laker history. 1977-78 The Lakers second season under Rick Yeo proved to be much better than their first season. Yeo brought in several freshmen including Bob Ciotti from Sault Ste. Marie, and Bryan Alexander. The Lakers returned to holiday tournament play for the first time since the 1973-74 season traveling to Detroit, Michigan to play in the Great Lakes Invitational losing to the University of Michigan, 4-3, in their opening contest before rebounding to top Western Michigan, 6-4, in the consolation game. The Lakers finished the season with a 7-10-1 record in the CCHA, 18-13-1 overall. 1978-79 The 1978-79 season proved to be much of the same for the Lakers in Yeo’s third season at the helm. The season was highlighted by going 4-1-1 against Rick Comley’s Wildcats from Northern Michigan. The Lakers went 11-12-1 in CCHA play, falling to Bowling Green State University with two straight losses in the CCHA Playoffs. The Lakers posted an 16-18-2 overall record to record only their second losing season in school history. 1979-80 Despite bringing in a talented freshman class with players such as Steve Mullholland, Steve Sherman, and John Wilson the 1979-80 version of the Lakers where unable to turn around the recent misfortune that had beset LSSC’s hockey team. The team struggled to a 12-21-1 overall record going 2-18-0 in CCHA play. 1980-81 The incoming freshman class in 1980 brought in some much needed talent to the Laker squad with players such as Monty Beauchamp, Mickey Candler, Kevin Collar, and Dave Keegan coming to the Soo to bolster the Laker lineup. Despite the influx of new talent the Lakers struggled through the season going 6-15-1 in CCHA play and 13-22-1 overall. Following the season the fourth losing season in the past five years LSSC parted ways with head coach Rick Yeo who posted a record of 69-97-5 in 5 seasons at LSSC. Yeo returned to Michigan Tech as director of annual giving for the Michigan Tech Fund.