August 16, 2010

INCH's A to Z: Mercyhurst's Mike Gurtler

MIKE GURTLER
Mercyhurst
Sr. | LW | Rochester, N.Y.

Key Statistics: Mike Gurtler has made steady improvement in his point production since arriving in Erie. He posted nine goals and 15 points as a freshman and 11 goals and 25 points as a sophomore. Last season he led the Lakers with 14 goals, ranked second in assists with 16 and led the team with 30 points. Likewise, he’s improved his plus/minus every season, from a minus-6 to a minus-2 to a plus-4. Gurtler made a little history last season, becoming the seventh player in NCAA Division I history to post three short-handed goals in one game against Holy Cross on Nov. 20, 2009, and his four man-down tallies led the nation. He has five power-play goals, five shorties and six game-winners at Mercyhurst. His junior days were also productive, posting 63 points (11 in the playoffs) for the Georgetown Raiders and earning all-star status in the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League in 2005-06. He had 11 points in 29 games with the Indiana Ice in 2006-07.

What He Does: Mercyhurst coach Rick Gotkin describes Gurtler as a prototypical power forward. He’s strong with the puck, but not fancy with it. He has a good shot and follows it to the net real hard. At 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, Gurtler would be one of the more imposing figures in Atlantic Hockey, but he’s smart enough to create space around a defenseman and not try to muscle his way through every time. On the defensive end, Gurtler is not afraid to give up his body for blocked shots and he smartly plays the puck.

The Bigger Picture: Gotkin says there’s no reason not to expect more from Gurtler this season, perhaps a 35- or 40-point season. He closed last season on a line with Grant Blakey and Derek Elliott but with nine freshmen coming in, Gotkin says he has no idea where he might pencil in Gurtler, except to say it would be on one of the Lakers’ top two lines. With good size and a solid work ethic, Gotkin believes Gurtler has definite pro potential.

Mercyhurst coach Rick Gotkin on Gurtler: “He quietly was our best forward, arguably the whole year last year, from a consistency standpoint. I believe he makes people around him better the way he plays. We expect Michael to hopefully pick up where he left off and maybe even have his best year.”